WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks smiles during an interview after the Knicks' win against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Doris Burke give Knicks recognition they deserve
Are the New York Knicks… good? Yes. There are people out there that are still coming to terms with that, but the Knicks are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The past decade has been full of far more downs than ups for fans (except 2020-21), so to say it’s been satisfying to watch New York play this season would be an understatement.
If the season ended today, the Knicks would be in the playoffs without having to go through the play-in tournament. The 2021-22 season was supposed to be promising for the Knicks after they finished as the No. 4 seed in the conference the year before, but instead, the team finished out of reach of the play-in.
This year’s team has already made up for what happened last year. Although New York didn’t trade for a star player over the summer, Julius Randle earned his second All-Star honor this season and Jalen Brunson should’ve been there in Salt Lake City with Randle. It’d be misleading to say that the Knicks don’t have a star on their roster.
New York could end up making some noise in the playoffs, and ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Doris Burke think so, too.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Doris Burke gush over the Knicks’ success this season
On Zach Lowe’s podcast, The Lowe Post, he and Doris Burke discussed whether or not the Knicks are a true threat in the Eastern Conference. As Lowe noted, New York and Cleveland could square off in the first round of the playoffs in what he dubbed “The Donovan Mitchell Bowl.”
Lowe said:
“I’m in on the Knicks. I was high on them to start the season. I did not see this coming, I thought seventh and 44 wins. Whatever the over/under was, I was telling people to bet the over. I think they could beat Cleveland in the playoffs. I’m not sure I would pick, but I think that’s an even matchup. I think they could beat Philly in a playoff series. I can’t go to the Milwaukee/Boston stratosphere quite yet with these guys. I think something real is going on.”
Doris Burke chimed in and added how instrumental Jalen Brunson’s addition has been to the Knicks. She said that she doesn’t want to credit all of New York’s success to Brunson, but she complimented him on his ability to do what needs to be done and his ability to be coached.
Burke said, “Do I love everything that’s going on? Of course, I do.”
Lowe said that after the Knicks signed Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract in free agency, he never thought it was an overpay. His initial grade was a B, but it’s since turned into an A+.
Lowe and Burke made it clear that this New York team is far different than the one that secured the No. 4 seed a couple of seasons ago and got “exposed” in the playoffs.
There are still 17 games left to be played in the regular season, but fans can go ahead and prepare to see the Knicks in the playoffs. Lowe and Burke think New York is going to be “a really dangerous playoff team.” We couldn’t agree more. It’s important to not get your hopes up too high, but it’s hard to deny that this team is playing the best basketball that fans have seen in a long time.
What a time to be alive.
