The New York Knicks are the third-best team in the Eastern Conference, which means they currently have a good shot of making the playoffs.
But fans are a bit nervous about their chances in the postseason due to one pesky fact: they aren’t doing well against the best teams in each conference.
According to Underdog NBA, per Legion Hoops, the Knicks are 0-5 against the two strongest teams in the East and West.
They have a -86 point differential in those games, proving that they just cannot figure out the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets.
The Knicks against the Top 2 teams in each conference:
0-5 record
-86 point differential😳😳😳 (via @Underdog__NBA) pic.twitter.com/LUHEZVJ6K9
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 11, 2025
The Knicks played against the Thunder on January 10 and were easily taken down 126-101.
Just a week before, they were also beaten by OKC.
They have also fallen to the Rockets, the Celtics, and the Cavaliers, and that is a really troubling fact.
Unless something drastic happens, all four of those teams will be front and center when the playoffs begin.
If the Knicks can’t make their way past them, do they have any chance of going far?
The good news is that there is still a lot of season left and the Knicks can outsmart and outplay each of these teams, but it’ll just require a lot of dedication and work.
Plus, regular season games are very different from playoff matches, and they could win a best-of-seven series.
But fans would be much more optimistic if they saw them compete better against the best of the best.
The Knicks will face the Rockets again on February 3, and that will give them a chance to finally score a victory over this group of tough teams.
If they don’t, people will be even more worried about the rest of the season for New York.
NEXT: 4 Knicks Players Are Among NBA Leaders In Minutes Played
