The New York Knicks know that they have a terrific group of players as they currently sit third in the Eastern Conference standings.
While they’re still behind teams such as the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, fans believe that they’re only a couple of pieces away from truly contending for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
The team is working out on its issues to ensure their competitiveness once the postseason kicks in. The front office is linked to making a move for Moses Brown after Ariel Hukporti recently went down with an injury. The 7’2″ big man could also provide cover for Karl-Anthony Towns should push come to shove.
However, the biggest addition to the Knicks’ roster is one fans have been yearning for since the start of the season.
Mitchell Robinson makes his New York Knicks debut vs. the Memphis Grizzlies
New York fans may remember their Friday-night win over the Grizzlies for the OG Anunoby buzzer-beater or the hilarious moment Jalen Brunson shared with Bill Kennedy.
However, fans who patiently waited for Mitchell Robinson’s return to the roster were treated to a solid 12 minutes and 21 seconds of action.
Robinson, who was sidelined for much of the season due to his ankle issues, had a good start to his seventh year at the MSG. He finished the 114-113 thriller with six points, five rebounds, and one assist on 3-of-4 shooting.
The Block Ness Monster has always been a reliable big for the Knicks, and his return would allow Towns to shift back to the four the same way he did when the Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert.
While the new-look Knicks would change how Tom Thibodeau runs his team, Yahoo! Sports’ Kurt Helin doesn’t think he would swing the odds in NYK’s favor significantly:
Since the season tipped off, if anyone brought up the Knicks’ currently 20th-ranked defense as its Achilles heal, a segment of fans countered, “Wait until Mitchell Robinson gets back before you judge.” It’s just one game after a long layoff, but that was a promising debut. Robinson, however, will not be enough to close the gap between New York and Cleveland/Boston. The Knicks’ biggest problem is that its two All-Stars — Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — are negative defenders who will get targeted by the best teams in a series, but Tom Thibodeau has to leave them on the court.
It’s going to be a long adjustment period for these new-look Knicks, but it’s fair to say that the future looks bright for them.
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