Will The Knicks Miss The Playoffs?

Ben Stinar and Haley Jordan sat down to talk about the New York Knicks in the latest episode of Stinar For 3.

The New York Knicks went 41-31 last season, which gave them the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the playoffs. 

Although they lost in five games to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, the season was a big surprise to the rest of the NBA and its fans. 

Tom Thibodeau won the NBA's Head Coach of The Year, and Julius Randle made the first All-Star game of his career. 

Despite the loss, what a season from the Knicks:

• Finished last in division last season (12th in East)
• Best defense in NBA this season (opponent PPG)
• Julius Randle made his first All Star team
• 4th-best record in East
• First playoff app since 2013 pic.twitter.com/GlACKQdZ8M

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 3, 2021

Unfortunately, they have not been able to carry the momentum over from last season to this season.  

Knicks last 3 games:

— Blew 23-point lead
— Blew 11-point lead
— Blew 28-point lead

They are 3-13 in their last 16 games. pic.twitter.com/zJusjzu4CB

— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 17, 2022

After starting out the year 5-1, they have gone just 21-37 in the 58 games played since then.  

On Sunday night, they beat the Los Angeles Clippers, but the win snapped a seven-game losing streak, and they are still just 1-9 in their last ten games overall.  

The Knicks win BIG over the Clippers in LA 😎 pic.twitter.com/qpTOUBFaq1

— ESPN (@espn) March 7, 2022

They have 18 games left in their season, and currently they are five-games behind the  Hawks for the tenth seed, which is the final seed for the play-in tournament. 

The play-in tournament is not out of the question, but they will have to go on a big winning-streak at some point in the next few weeks. 

Crazier things have happened, but it will be an uphill climb. 

Even if they pulled off the unthinkable and got into the play-in tournament, the playoffs will still be a tall task. 

The question for the Knicks should turn to their future, and if Thibodeau is the right coach and if Randle is the right star to lead the franchise going forward.