Are Knicks' Biggest Threat to Celtics' Eastern Dominance?

Despite dropping all four head-to-head meetings, the New York Knicks could present a sizable challenge to the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics.

Feb 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Despite a plethora of injuries, the New York Knicks are currently tied for fourth place in the NBA's Eastern Conference. With the regular season in its final stages, the Knicks are a hard team to assess going into the playoffs.

Listing the top storylines going into the final weeks, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes the last games will be a chance for Eastern Conference contenders to make their case to remove the Boston Celtics from the top. Though the Knicks won't be able to catch them in the standings, a fully healthy ... or at least something close to it ... New York would give Boston pause.

"The New York Knicks have plenty of bodies to toss at the Celtics' best arrangements," Favale writes. "But this presumes OG Anunoby is close to 100 percent, ditto for Julius Randle, and even then, (Kristaps) Porziņģis is a uniquely tough cover for this team whether it's rolling out Isaiah Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson at the 5."

Feb 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks have lost several major contributors due to injuries: Robinson and Randle have been out since December and January respectively while OG Anunoby is indefinitely sidelined again after a brief return. Plenty have stepped up in their absence, allowing New York to keep pace with the Eastern leaders.

Tom Thibodeau's defensive approach has served the Knicks well, allowing them to muscle victories away from some high-profile rivals. That style has worked against almost everyone: the Knicks are 25-13 since Jan. 1, the second-best mark in the East ... but they remain winless against the Celtics this year, having dropped each of the first four to date.

The Knicks have one more chance to beat the Celtics when they travel to Boston on April 11. In the meantime, New York faces the Detroit Pistons on Monday night at home (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).