NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks fall short of their aspirations and find themselves further from their goal than they were 25 years ago.
They were committed to contending for the NBA title when they traded Mikal Bridges over the summer and then secured Karl Anthony-Towns in a preseason blockbuster, showing their intent to enhance their lineup with elite defenders and All-Star centers alongside Jalen Branson.
Despite these bold moves, they didn’t advance as far as they had hoped.
Eliminated by the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, the Knicks remain without a championship since 1973. Nevertheless, after a back-to-back second-round exit and reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, they can take solace in feeling closer to success.
“It’s an improvement from last year, but ultimately it’s not what our final aim is,” stated coach Tom Thibodeau.
With Boston securing a spot in the 2024 title race by retaining essential players, the Celtics were considered front-runners in the East. However, since Leon Rose took over as team president in 2020, the Knicks have not yet challenged the champions.
They re-signed OG Anunoby to the largest contract in the team’s history and traded five first-round picks to acquire Bridges from Brooklyn. As they prepare for training camp, the Knicks also brought in Towns from Minnesota, pairing him with All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who set a record for three-pointers in a season.
This movement positioned the Knicks to potentially pass the Celtics in the second round. However, they ultimately lacked the right roster against the deep and swift Pacers, resulting in their elimination for the second consecutive season.
“It’s difficult not to bring the championship opportunities to the city,” Towns commented. “We have a great group in the locker room, and the goal is to position ourselves for success again.”
First, Rose and the front office need to evaluate how close the Knicks are to their objectives.
With a 51-31 record, they placed third in the East, trailing Cleveland and Boston. They finished the regular season 0-8 against those teams, despite defeating the Celtics after Jason Tatum suffered an Achilles injury in Game 4.
With two All-NBA selections in Branson and Towns, their starting lineup is among the most formidable in the NBA. However, their bench lacks the depth of the Cavaliers, Celtics, and certainly the Pacers.
Still, after nearly two decades of struggle, the Knicks have transformed into viable contenders. They have achieved 50 wins in consecutive seasons and made the playoffs four times in five years under Thibodeau. Even following Saturday’s defeat, optimism remains that the Knicks could soon get another chance.
“I’m confident. Even overconfident,” Branson remarked when asked if he believed this group could defeat the Knicks.
“Seriously. There’s no doubt that this group is confident.”
The contract extension their captain accepted last summer was below the maximum, potentially enabling further improvements. The Knicks must avoid letting this opportunity slip by without making the necessary adjustments.
There was visible disappointment after the Game 1 collapse at home, where they squandered a 14-point lead in the final 2:45 of the fourth quarter.
Such misfortunes were commonplace for New York in the 2000s, but currently, hope prevails.
“The challenge for us is to understand what it is,” Thibodeau noted. “We finished in the top three, but we haven’t achieved our ultimate goal. Therefore, it’s about channeling our motivation and determination throughout the summer to take that final step and continue our progress.”
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Source: apnews.com