The NBA playoffs are creeping ever closer as most teams in the NBA have just three games remaining on their schedule. The Eastern Conference has been a tight race throughout the regular season and the New York Knicks are in the thick of it. After suffering a hard-fought loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, panic had stricken the New York Knicks fan base.
The Knicks haven't been to the playoffs since the 2013-14 season. The team has been a surprise to many this year, as Julius Randle has played out of his mind, averaging 24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Randle had a monster game on Tuesday against the Lakers, putting up an impressive 31 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Even so, it wasn't enough to keep the Lakers at bay. New York had the opportunity to go one game ahead of the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks and failed to do so. This organization now sits in sixth place in the Eastern conference, which could be detrimental to their potential playoff run.
Finishing as the four or five seed should be the goal for New York, as it would allow the Knicks to avoid playing one of the top three teams in the first round. Facing off against either Miami or Atlanta would give New York a better chance of advancing to the second round.
The latest loss to the Lakers might have some Knicks fans down, but there is plenty to be positive about as New York heads towards the playoffs. Here are three reasons the Knicks need not to panic after the loss to the Lakers.
Will Avoid the Play-in Tournament
As mentioned above, the Knicks are currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. This could spell danger of possibly participating in the play-in tournament. However, they're three games ahead of the seventh-place Boston Celtics with just three games remaining on the schedule.
Mathematically, the Knicks will not have to partake in the play-in tournament as long as they win one more game or the Celtics lose one more game. For an organization that hasn't made the postseason in eight years, this bodes well for their chances of finally snapping that streak. Although remaining in sixth place likely means they play the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, Knicks fans should at least find solace that they're in the playoffs.
With everything that seems to go wrong for New York throughout the years, it's going to be a nice feeling for the fan base to watch the Knicks in the postseason. This franchise could really use a boost, and this season has proven to be a stepping stone in the right direction.
Immanuel Quickley Should Return Soon
Immanuel Quickley burst onto the scene as a prolific rookie for this Knicks team. He's not a polished player yet, but New York could really use his skills in the postseason. The depth at guard in New York is rather weak and during his absence, the backcourt has struggled.
It'll be a nice change of pace once he returns, as his 11.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists averages will be needed in the postseason. New York's roster is shaping up to be solid, especially next year, as Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley have the potential to be the Knicks' top performers for years to come.
After missing the Lakers game on Tuesday night, it's possible Quickley sits out Thursday night's game as well against the San Antonio Spurs. It wouldn't be the worst-case scenario, as the Spurs aren't the most dangerous team in the NBA. Look for New York to take their time with Quickley, as he is more important for the future and their playoff run than he is right now. However, he is likely to return for the postseason, which bodes well for the Knicks' chances in the playoffs.
Miami Could Fall
The Heat, Hawks, and Knicks are all tied with the same 38-31 record. Each team has just three games remaining on their schedule. Of the three, the Hawks have the easiest remaining schedule and have the best chances of pulling away from Miami and New York.
As for the Knicks, New York has a competitive schedule, but they're not playing any of the top teams in the league. The final three games on the Knicks schedule are very winnable for this organization, which gives New York the potential to jump back into fourth or fifth place.
Miami on the other hand has a very tough final stretch. In two of their last three games, the Heat will have to play against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks. Philadelphia will come out swinging as they're trying to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks will play hard as they are chasing the Brooklyn Nets.
If the Knicks can win two of their last three while the Heat loses two of their final three, New York will be guaranteed either a fourth or fifth place spot. This would likely mean the Knicks would face off against Atlanta, which is a much more favorable matchup than the Bucks.
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