At the beginning of the season, Knicks fans hoped they would be rooting for their team come this point in the calendar. Unfortunately, with the NBA Playoffs underway, New York is not taking part, at least on the court.
Saturday’s Game 1 between the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz did feature a Knicks contingent watching from the stands, to what end can only be speculated. But there are plenty of reasons why Knicks brass and fans alike should be tuning in, even if their team isn’t competing.
Disgruntled stars getting bounced early
It’s no secret that stars make championships in this league, and New York brought Leon Rose in to lead this latest era of Knicks basketball by accumulating some of those stars. While he’s done well to try and build through the draft, free agency hasn’t provided many options on this front, leaving the trade market as his best bet.
The Knicks have the pieces to trade for an elite player, it’s now just a matter of who will want out, and specifically to New York. Donovan Mitchell appeared in some rumors already, and another early postseason exit would certainly escalate those murmurs.
Will James Harden and Kyrie Irving be content on their teams if they got knocked out of the first round? Both can opt into free agency and likely want longer deals. Zach LaVine also hasn’t signed his extension with Chicago yet, ditto for Deandre Ayton on the Suns.
Knicks fans may want to pay attention to which teams disappoint early on, they could be watching the next Knicks star.
Acquisition tryouts
Waiting on a franchise-altering player to force their way onto the Knicks has disappointed the franchise to this point, and New York will undoubtedly look to improve however it can. If that means signing Jalen Brunson to start at point guard for over $20 million a year, having this postseason serve as a preview of what they might be getting is valuable.
Brunson has the strongest ties to the Knicks, but there are others to watch out for. Tyus Jones, backing up Ja Morant in Memphis, would be a viable pick-up. Chris Boucher of the Raptors or Serge Ibaka of the Bucks could end up being Mitchell Robinson replacements.
How these guys perform on the biggest of stages against the toughest of opponents is a great marker of how they might do in bigger roles on the Knicks. Plus, it gives us an eye into their playoff caliber.
Coaching comparisons
The best teams facing off in the postseason also means we see the best coaches do the same. From Erik Spoelstra, to Doc Rivers, to Nick Nurse and so on, the greatest minds currently working in basketball are taking center stage.
The Knicks have their head coach — that much is clear from Rose’s appearance on MSG and his letter to season ticket holders praising him. Tom Thibodeau is here to stay, at least for the time being, despite this year’s disappointing record and some issues carrying over from his first season.
While Thibs is one of the most brilliant defensive minds of all time, he comes with his share of weaknesses, and watching the league’s best tacticians battle out their schemes and adjustments can help shine a light on where he can improve. Fans are sure to watch his decision-making with a keen eye next season, but can learn what to pinpoint by watching his peers now.