It’s not so much the losses, which have ended up in a much more regular clip of late than at any other point in this season. It’s the kind of lose. It’s the way those losses happened. If the Knicks’ doors had been blown off and chased out of the gym night after night, it would almost be easier to explain.
Almost everyone had pinned them down for 22 wins; they already have 25.
Just about everyone thought they would play the chord now, counting down the days to design, to free choice, to recalibration of the grid; instead, they walked into TD Garden on Wednesday-evening, flush with the Celtics, who only played in the Eastern Conference final a year ago. That speaks just as much about Boston’s struggles as it does the Knicks’ surprises, but Stands are the ultimate truth-teller.
And that also applies to the final scores.
This time, the scoreboard above told the story of Celtics 101, Knicks 99, another close loss, added to a growing pile of them. In the past 23 days alone, the Knicks have lost 3 points and 1 point to the 76ers; to the Nets through 5 and through 2, to the Timberwolves through 1. Now the Celtics through 2. They are 2-8 in games decided by three points or less.
That’s great, and that’s awful.
That is a clear sign of progress; it is a surer sign of how far they still have to go.
“Every day we work to develop winning habits,” said Tom Thibodeau, perhaps half an hour after the Celtics pushed a game for his Knicks to the east, putting them under .500 (25-27) for the first time in two games. came to lie. February 23.
“We try to do the right things and understand what it takes to win, analyze and learn, and you want to learn from every game.”
The coach could never, ever, admit this, even with a long sip of truth serum, but making it to the playoffs has always been a minor concern this year. Most important was formulating positive momentum after nearly two solid decades of the train going the other way.
That happened. The Knicks play defense every night. They refuse to be intimidated on nights when they are outclassed from a talent standpoint – which, despite the record and the absence of Boston’s Kemba Walker, was certainly the case on Wednesday.
The hope was that Julius Randle’s talent could be exploited to the full under Thibodeau; there is no discussion about that. There was hope that RJ Barrett would improve in his twentieth season, and that has become an even greater reality and a better surprise. Barrett actually plays himself into the conversation as the most improved player in the entire league, and that progress is starting to show itself every night.
“He got into this with the right attitude,” said Thibodeau, “and it’s starting to pay off.”
That is all true. It also doesn’t lessen the growing frustration when winable games go the other way against good teams. You can, if you like, take comfort in knowing that the Knicks are light years ahead of where even ardent optimists thought they would be in the second week of April. It doesn’t change the annoyance of seeing a seven-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter. Nor should it.
And that doesn’t change the fact that closing the deal during games like this is part of the progression – and a late one, after establishing credibility and demanding competitiveness. Those elements are there. The last part is devising a way to close. That trick is still around the corner.
“We have to realize where we are every night,” said Thibodeau. “Someone is playing for something, fighting for something, the intensity is accelerated. We have to understand that we have to respond to it. I’m sure we will. “
Barrett said (29 points, 6-for-6 out of 3): “Everyone is playing for something. We are too. We have to keep bringing that intensity. “
Thibodeau’s methods have left a mark – “It’s the NBA,” said Barrett, his star student, “and we’ve got another Friday, we’ve got to focus and get it” – and now there’s another obstacle to this one. edition of the Knicks to negotiate. At some point, close is no longer the goal. Shutdown is.