The Knicks are driving their first six-game winning streak since an eight-game run in 2014, suddenly putting them in a better position to potentially avoid the play-in scenarios for the NBA playoffs.
The rise, which the Knicks will try to expand with a new home game Tuesday night against the Hornets at the Garden, has vaulted them to the coveted number 6 spot in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks (31-27) were 1 ½ games away from the seventh place Heat for Monday night’s Miami game against Houston – and only half a game behind the Hawks and Celtics, who are in tie for fourth place.
The top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, with teams finishing seventh through 10th in East and West needing extra games to earn the last two places.
Qualification has been more of a focus than seeding for Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks, a franchise that missed the playoffs a total of 14 times in the previous 18 seasons, and every year since their last appearance in 2013.
The last 14 games of the schedule still feature a daunting roster of opponents for the Knicks. Only their May 2 game in Houston has an opponent competing for at least 10th place in neither conference.
The play-in tournament will favor the teams that finish in seventh and eighth place, with each having to win an additional game after the regular season has ended to qualify for postseason play.
Those two teams will compete in the club’s seventh-place home ground, with the winner moving up as the number 7 playoff team. The loser will take on the winner of the match-up between the teams finishing ninth and tenth for the number 8 seed, with 16 teams’ playoffs starting on May 22.
While Mavericks owner Mark Cuban scolded the play-in format last week – after pushing for it in the off-season – Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau believes there are “many benefits” to the lineup, which was designed to accommodate more teams. late in the fight. in season.
“I think it depends on what perspective you look at it from,” Thibodeau said last week. ‘I thought Mark put that very well. He talked about his initial vote for it, all the benefits. And we saw that I think everyone felt the same.
“I think we should let it play first and then reassess it. But I think a lot of teams are involved in important games, I think that’s good for the competition. “
Veterans Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson are the only players on the Knicks roster to have appeared in at least 20 playoff games in their career, in 45 and 66 respectively. Top scorer Julius Randle has zero playoff appearances on his resume for seven NBA games. seasons.
‘I pick my spots, bro. I just come to the team, am a newcomer and just get a feel for everyone, ”Rose said recently. “Thibs, he’s already going to do the talking so he makes sure all the guys know what’s going on and gives us very good details on what to do and prefaces each match. So I let him worry about that. “
Still, Thibodeau has said 32-year-old Rose took on more of a vocal leadership role during his second stint in New York. Rose and Gibson also previously played for Thibodeau in both Chicago and Minnesota.
“When I feel like I have to express my opinion or be verbal, I choose when to do so,” said Rose. ‘I don’t want it to look like I’m here for BS or anything like that. I just want to win. … So we have to get out there and make sure we take care of things, play hard and see if we can get as many victories as possible. “