The Knicks won their first six-game winning streak in an eight-round game in 2014, suddenly putting them in a better position to avoid playoff scenarios for the NBA playoffs.
The rise, which the Knicks will seek to extend with another home game on Tuesday night against Hornets at the Garden, has thrown them into the coveted place no. 6 of the Eastern Conference. The Knicks (31-27) were half a-half behind the Heat in seventh place ahead of Monday’s game in Miami against Houston – and only half a game behind the Hawks and Celtics, who are level on fourth place.
The first six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, with teams finishing seventh to 10th in the east and west requiring additional games to win the last two berths.
Qualifying focused more than ranking for Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks, a franchise that has missed the playoffs 14 times in the last 18 seasons and every year since their last appearance in 2013.
The last 14 games of the program present another discouraging collection of opponents for the Knicks. Only the May 2 game in Houston involves an opponent who does not compete for at least 10th place in any of the conferences.
The play-in tournament will favor teams that finish in seventh and eighth place, each having to win an additional game after the end of the regular season to qualify for the post-season game.
These two teams will face at home at the club in seventh place, the winner advancing as team no. 7 in the playoffs. The loser will face the winner of the match between the teams that finish nine and tenth for the number 8 seed, with the playoffs of 16 teams scheduled to start on May 22.
While Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spoke out against the play-in format last week – after struggling in the offseason, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau believes there are “a lot of benefits” to the setup, which has been designed to keep more teams in contention later. in season.
“I think it depends on what perspective you look at,” Thibodeau said last week. “I think Mark has articulated this very well. He initially talked about who voted for it, all the benefits. And I saw that I think everyone felt the same way.
“I think we have to let it go first and then re-evaluate it. But I think a lot of teams are involved in important games, I think it’s good for the league. ”
Veterans Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson are the only Knicks players to have appeared in at least 20 playoff games in their careers, appearing in 45 and 66, respectively. Top scorer Julius Randle has zero playoff appearances in the CV- his in seven NBA seasons.
“I choose my spots, brother. I’m just coming to the team, I’m a newcomer and I just feel for everyone, “Rose said recently.” Thibs, she’s going to talk, so she makes sure all the guys are aware of what’s going on and she’s giving us great details. “What we have to do and preface each game. So I let him worry about it.”
However, Thibodeau said the 32-year-old Rose took on more of a leadership role during her second internship in New York. Rose and Gibson have previously played for Thibodeau in both Chicago and Minnesota.
“Whenever I feel the need to express my opinion or be vocal, I choose and choose when I need to do this,” Rose said. “I don’t want to sound like I’m here for BS or anything. I just want to win. … So we have to go out and make sure we do business, play as much as we can and see if we can get as many victories as possible. ”