The Knicks prevailed over the Bulls on Easter Sunday despite a plethora of inconsistencies, but as they found out Tuesday night, there are holes they cannot dig themselves out from, as will be the case in the playoffs.
On Sunday, after a strong start, the Knicks shot just 38.2 percent from the field, were out-rebounded 59-47 and allowed Derrick Rose to completely dominate the second half. And yet, they won.
Tuesday night was the same story, different ending. The Bulls improved to 16-7 without the reigning MVP Rose as they defeated a Knicks team that appeared less than disinterested after the first quarter.
This was a game with serious playoff implications—the Knicks now lead the Bucks by just one game for the East’s final playoff spot—but New York played like it was a pre-season contest.
From start to finish, neither team looked pretty, but the Bulls’ ugly was a hell of a lot better looking than the Knicks’. Chicago out-rebounded New York 51-33—including 18-5 on the offensive end—while blocking 10 shots and shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc.
Failing when it counts most has become a staple for the Knicks this season. Sure, they split a home-and-home against Chicago, the best team in the league, but their victory was whimsical, not dominant or very encouraging, outside the performance of Carmelo Anthony.
And that’s the Knicks biggest problem heading into the postseason. Strike that, it’s the biggest obstacle standing between them and making the playoffs.
The Knicks head into Milwaukee on Wednesday to face a Bucks team that has won six of their last 10 and has an Oklahoma City-sized chip on their shoulder.
That’s far from ideal, especially at the tail end of a back-to-back that began with a loss to the Rose-less Bulls.
The Knicks came into Tuesday’s game riding what should have been an emotional high. Now, their heading into Milwaukee attempting to steer out of an all familiar low. All season, the Knicks have struggled to rebound, struggled to maintain leads and struggled to put forth a complete effort for a full 48 minutes. And look at where it has got them, in an unnecessary race for the eighth and final playoff spot.
It’s mid April and the time for just “getting by” is over. The Knicks cannot afford to play catch-up, they cannot afford extensive lapses in effort and judgment and they cannot afford to convey anything but urgency. There come’s a time when you dig a hole you just cannot climb out from, and the Knicks are approaching that time.
It’s time for the team to put up or shut up. Are they a legitimate playoff team or are they a club that feigns competency from time to time?
Should the Knicks fall to the Bucks, they essentially fall to ninth place, just outside the Eastern Conference playoff bubble. And once again, they’ll find themselves playing catch-up, this time in the form of chasing a playoff berth.
Again, that’s dangerous, because as we saw from the Knicks against the Bulls on Tuesday tonight, there’s only so many come from behind victories a team has in them.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His basketball musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
