Knicks center Nerlens Noel doesn’t even want to know the format of the NBA’s experimental play-in tournament that puts Nos. 7 through 10 seeds in a multi-game lineup to qualify for the actual play- offs.
Not when the Knicks are on a six-game winning streak, playing their best basketball since the late 2013-14 playoff run that just fell short. The Knicks are in fifth place with Boston. They host the Hornets on Tuesday and the Hawks on Wednesday in a critical back-to-back.
The Hawks are in fourth place – and that’s what Noel is aiming for. Fourth place guarantees an advantage on the home field in the first round, when the Garden will increase its capacity to approximately 5,000 fans.
“We have a great responsibility to ourselves,” said Noel before facing eighth place Hornets. “We have a mindset, there is no seventh, eighth seed for us. It’s strictly targeting the 4-5-6 making sure we have a solid spot. We have worked very hard this season. It would be difficult to get so much work done and to play something in. We need to take advantage of the position we are in now and finish strong during this last part of the season, so we are able to have one of those regular spots. “
A shot-blocking physical anchor for the defense, Noel is a major reason why the Knicks are on the cusp of their seven-year playoff drought. He has seamlessly filled in for injured starting center Mitchell Robinson, who would be back for the playoffs at the earliest.
The Knicks can only break the playoff drought by finishing sixth or better. The play-in event does not guarantee the play-offs. In fact, the losers are going back to the lottery.
The Knicks have the longest winning streak in the NBA – their record of 31-27 has them at number 9 in the NBA in a weekly power-ranking poll. It seems like ancient history that Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks blew all those games at the end of the fourth quarter.
“The pieces will definitely come together,” said Noel after Tuesday morning’s shootaround. “At one point, when we lost those close games like we did, we’re still in good shape. We’ve turned the corner where we’re closing these games and knowing what kind of energy and effort and focus and attention to detail we need to close these games for the fourth quarter. “
Noel and Julius Randle, the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, have formed a formidable Kentucky front court tandem. Mr. Defense and Mr. Attack.
“We complement each other well,” said Noel, who signed a $ 5 million team-friendly deal in the off-season. “I told him at the beginning of the year that I would try to help his game, work off each other. It works because we are disinterested players. Julius knows what he is good at. I know what I’m good at. I’ll take care of the defensive ending. You provide the attacking ending. “