The Knicks are Vastly Outplaying Expectations

New Yorkers actually have something to be thankful for this year!

via the New York Times

The Knicks are back! Okay, kidding…maybe? They’re 9–7 currently, having just finished off a 107–85 drubbing of the Clippers. Their best player (and otherworldly savior) Kristaps Porzingis had 25 points on a mediocre 7–20 (2–7 on 3PA, 9–9 FT) shooting night, with 7 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, to finish with a team leading +/- of +27 (!!!!) After getting smacked on the road in Toronto 104–87, they’ll have a chance at redemption on Wednesday as the Raptors come to MSG. The team is 8–3 at home and 1–4 on the road — a huge performance disparity which makes you question which team you’re going to see on a nightly basis.

Regardless of their home and away splits, its hard to say that anyone expected this kind of solid play from the team this early into the Post-Melo era. But after missing the playoffs the last 3 seasons, the thought going around the city is, “Melo who?”. Going into the season, the team’s Over/Under was 30.5 wins, which seems like a pretty certain number to break at this point. Even the most optimistic of basketball minds believed there would be a transition period as the team turned its first-option duties over to KP and that this year would be a bust.

We were supposed to bottom out and try and get another foundational player for the future. Nope. The Latvian Lord has slid seamlessly into his new role, putting up superstar numbers, averaging 27 points (4th in the league), 7 boards, and 2 blocks per game. Personally, I would’ve accepted yet another year (what’s one more as a Knicks fan?) of losing for a chance at a top draft prospect (have you seen Michael Porter or Marvin Bagley III play?) and team development. Instead, the team has proved to be a solid offensive team (109 ORTG, 9th in the league) which has allowed them to win some games. Having Phil Jackson not try to shove the Triangle Offense down the team’s throat has been a big help in that department.

Along with the Yankees nearly making the World Series (also in a rebuilding year), New Yorkers have actually had a lot to cheer for in the last two months. New York is a city of spoiled fans (rightfully so, cough 27 rings cough), and the teams have not had much success in recent years, which makes it even sweeter. There are no atmospheres in sports like Yankee Stadium or Madison Square Garden when the home teams are playing well, and the two buildings have certainly been rocking.