Seriously.
We know they were one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, but are they one of the best teams in that group?
The difference as slight as it might be is giant in scope.
It’s the difference between the Atlanta Hawks and the Bostn Celtics. It’s the chasm between the
Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls.
You get the idea.
In a city that is dealing with the misery that is the New York Jets, a slumping New York Giants and whatever the Yankees have become, the Knicks are a perfectly timed change-of-pace.
Nobody can gloat like New Yorkers can and for the immediate future, you can’t say that there are any holes in their argument as the Knicks are 5-0 for the first time since the 1993-94 season.
On Tuesday the Knicks imposed their will upon a wounded Magic team in a 99-89 win.
In doing so Carmelo Anthony led three Knicks that scored at least 20 points.
Anthony put in 25 points while J.R. Smith and Raymond Felton added 21 apiece.
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler came through with 12 points and six rebounds.
The game was a tale of two cities as the Magic sunk their fifth straight.
So beating up on the Magic in a fourth quarter surge doesn’t really prove that much.
What it does say is that the Knicks beat a team they were supposed to beat even if they were not undefeated and basking in the glow of not etching a loss.
If New York ‘s defense can stick it to the West’ hottest commodity in the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday to go 6-0, you have to raise up and start to ponder about whether or not they have turned the corner.
There is zero probability of any team going undefeated in an NBA season.
But for some time now, we have sat back and waited for the Knicks to become those guys.
With a full off-season under Mike Woodson, the Knicks just might take the Bulls’ spot as the second-best team in the Eastern Conference.
The confidence gained by putting down the Spurs might just be all they need to push on under that mission statement.
With crossed arms the world outside of New York awaits and says ‘we’ll see.’
Adrian GloverBe sure to check out other great articles at Players View.
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