The end of the season for the Knicks isn’t trending in the right direction as the most important time approaches.
After Friday’s embarrassing 108-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers — a matchup in which the Knicks relinquished a 23-point lead while Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson rested key starters — their losing streak now sits at three.
And there’s just one game remaining — Sunday’s season-finale against the Nets — for the Knicks to right the ship before facing a young Pistons team filled with confidence in a first-round series of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Despite the loss, the Knicks didn’t fall in standings because No. 4 seed Pacers rolled out their D-team and lost to the Orlando Magic.
“That’s a good young team,” Josh Hart said of the Pistons. “We know the type of brand of basketball that they play so we have to go out there and not just match their physicality, but we’ve got to exceed it. So we’ve got one more game, we’ve gotta focus on that, but we’ve got a week to prepare for ’em.”
Only one game.
And just one week left to rectify the poor play that’s been on display to end the season.
On Friday, the Knicks failed to win a game they should’ve won.
Darius Garland, who scored on all six shots attempts in the fourth quarter, exploded for a team-high 26 points and 13 assists. The Knicks also lost sight of Max Strus, who poured in 19 points and provided timely three-pointers as Knicks defenders failed to cover him on the perimeter. It was enough for a Cavs team that opted to rest Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome, Sam Merrill and De’Andre Hunter.
On Thursday, the front set of a back-to-back, the Knicks rested three key players in a loss against the Pistons that showcased a lack of late-game execution.
And in Tuesday’s overtime loss against the defending champion Boston Celtics, the Knicks showcased a mix of issues that’s been present to end the season — inability to stop the bleeding from deep, poor late-game execution and a disappearing offense other than captain Jalen Brunson.
“We got to be honest with ourselves, look at what we did wrong. We got to get it fixed. And we got to get it fixed fast,” Tom Thibodeau said after Friday’s loss.
There’s no choice but to get these issues fixed quickly. With the postseason set to begin in a week, Thibodeau’s squad doesn’t have the luxury of much in-game action to get things right.
The Knicks ending the season with a healthy roster works in their favor as a hungry Cade Cunningham-led Pistons team awaits. But even with their stars fully healthy, the Knicks suffered a five-point defeat at Madison Square Garden in a January matchup against the Pistons. And that was a month after Detroit walked into the Garden and secured the first road victory against the Knicks.
Judging by how the regular season went, J.B. Bickerstaff should have confidence his team can split the first two road games in the upcoming playoff series.
And he could expect to protect home court after the series shifts to Little Caesars Arena, just like his team did Thursday night.
That’s because his ...
