If the New York Knicks were not a laughing stock this year, that would be cause for celebration, but if they happened to be one of the better teams in the league, well, the video below is the best description.Ā 

With New York's thrilling overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks last Wednesday, the team has climbed up to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Perhaps even the most avid Knicks fans did not expect such a season to unfold.Ā 

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After all, this is a team that last finished over .500 in the 2012-13 campaign. That also marked the last time the Knicks were in the playoffs. New York is one of the most storied franchises in the league, but its fanbase has had to endure years of mediocrity or worse. Their performances in recent years have been so upsetting that they were the butt of a joke in the animated film, ā€œSoul.ā€

This iteration of the Knicks is different though. First-time All-Star Julius Randle is on a whole different level, as he is stuffing the stat sheet and has improved his game holistically. Randle's touch from outside has gotten much better, but he remains a force when barreling to the rim. His playmaking is one of the most underrated aspects of his game.

New York plays a brand of slow-paced, defensive-minded basketball that while may not be as exciting as lighting up the scoreboard but is certainly effective. The Knicks are nothing to scoff at anymore and would be a tough test in the postseason.