The New York Knicks have burst onto the NBA scene, going 10-1 in the last 11 games and rescuing the team from the clutches of another dreadful season. So, is this 13-9 New York Knicks team suddenly a contender? Or, is this simply a bubble waiting to be burst, sending the Knicks fans into a state of depression?
Well to begin, of the 11 games they have played, only three had winning records at game time. The Knicks went 2-1 against these teams (the Warriors, Hawks, and Hornets). Otherwise they have beat up seven weaklings (they played the Bobcats twice).
This does not mean the team’s performance since November 17 is something to ignore. The Knicks beat the teams a good team should and have a winning record against other winning teams. This is something to celebrate, along with Raymond Felton’s discovery that Amare Stoudemire is a pretty good pick and roll partner.
Stoudemire and Felton have discovered they can play together, especially over the last five games. The proof is on the stat sheet. Stoudemire is averaging 34.2 points a game with five straight games of 30 points or more. Felton is averaging 10.6 assists a game over the same time period, with four games in double digits and a low of 8 assists. For me, the most impressive outing came against the Hornets. Stoudemire scored 34 points and Felton dished out 13 assists while scoring 17. This came in a winning effort against a very good home team that came into the game 8-1 at New Orleans Arena.
I have to assume the success over the last 11 games will continue throughout December. This two-man game is accentuated with a cartel of outside shooters. They may not be the deadliest shooters in the league, but the success of forward Danilo Gallinari (37.3 3P%), Felton (37.7 3P%), forward Wilson Chandler (34.9 3P%), guard Toney Douglas (33 3P%), and shooting guard Bill Walker (35.9 3P%) means the ball can rotate out of the post and into an effective open shooter’s hands.
The upcoming schedule brings a much tougher slate of contenders to Madison Square Garden. Knicks tickets to Madison Square Garden over the rest of the month will be there for games against the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Chicago Bulls. This is a very tough part of the schedule. If the Knicks survive playing .500 basketball then I can safely assume New York will be seeing playoff basketball at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2004.
