Knicks style of play could propel them to success
On Sunday, the New York Knicks won a hard-fought game against the Chicago Bulls, earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference as a result. They will face the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat in the opening round of the playoffs.
According to former NBA champion Antonio Daniels, the Knicks' gritty style of play should be a concern for opposing teams. He believes it could give Tom Thibodeau's team the edge in the playoffs.
"It's a grittiness that the Knicks have, that other teams just don't," Daniels said on a recent episode of NBA Radio on Sirius XM. "It's the way that they play, that other team's just don't. They play harder. Josh Hart plays harder than everybody else. They're not the most skilled team. But the thing that you're never going to do against the Knicks...You're not gonna play harder than they do. You're not gonna out dawg the Knicks."
Thibodeau has his team playing a distinct brand of basketball. The addition of OG Anunoby has allowed New York to remain highly competitive despite Julius Randle being ruled out for the season due to a shoulder injury. Currently, New York is among the favorites to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
If the Knicks can sustain their defense-first mentality and look to stifle opposing offenses, they will be a tough out in the playoffs. New York has been building to this moment for years. Now, the Knicks are ready to prove they're among the elite in the East. Jalen Brunson's emergence as a genuine MVP candidate has also expedited the team's ability to compete at the highest level.
Earning the second seed in the East was a strong end to the season for New York. Now, the hard work begins. This is where the Knicks can prove they're trending toward a potential NBA championship run in the coming years. Anything other than a competitive second-round exit will likely be deemed a failure. Such is the level of expectations on a team that has clawed its way to a top-two spot in its conference despite an injury-riddled season.
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