Sunday afternoon’s victory brought the Knicks up to a whopping 10 games above .500 for the first time since 2013.
And while their upcoming playoff run remains unpredictable, there is a lot of optimism stirring about what they could do.
In a recent interview, former Knicks star John Starks explained why he’s so proud of the team this year:
“I love the way they’re playing, I love their mentality. I said when Thibodeau got here – the one thing you’re going to see in the Knicks is they will have an identity, which they haven’t had for some years. That they’re gonna come out there and play defense, and they’re gonna get after you. And it’s the same crew that they had last year, with the exception of a couple of rookies that came in — IQ [Immanuel Quickley] [and] [Obi] Toppin — but the same crew. They come in there and they battle.
They get after you on the defensive end of the court… They’re one of the top defensive teams in the league – and their record has shown that. They got guys who are tough-minded and are going to go out there and give it their all every single night. And that’s what it takes in order to win in this league. Defense has been frowned upon for many years in this league, with the focus and attention being on the offensive end of the court.”
Despite having a roster that doesn’t quite stack up compared to other Eastern powerhouses, the Knicks have made themselves a threat, thanks to the energy and chemistry they play with on the court.
A well-rounded and deeply talented bunch, they’re facing the 2021 postseason head-on, and don’t be surprised to hear them make some noise.
