All in With John Jastremski

The Notch Below Knicks..

This past weekend laid out to be a fascinating and telling litmus test for the 2024-2025 New York Knicks. 

There was a simple narrative staring this current team right in the face despite their very impressive record and Top 3 spot within the Eastern Conference. 

Can the Knicks play with and go beat the best teams the league has to offer? 

Before this past weekend, the Knicks were 0-5 against the Celtics, Cavaliers and Thunder. 

After this weekend, they are now 0-7. 

Not only 0-7, but non-competitive in a good majority of these matchups. 

The Knicks performance this past weekend did nothing to silence the narrative that this current group simply can’t beat the NBA’s elite. 

It only enhanced that narrative. 

The Knicks were outscored 142-105 in Cleveland, the worst loss in the Tom Thibodeau Knicks era. 

On Sunday against the Celtics, it was yet another double digit loss and it was a loss that brought upon a feeling of despair amongst a good chunk of the fan base. 

It’s very easy to understand that the Knicks have a really good team this season. 

They have one of the best records in the NBA. 

They also are clearly a notch below the two teams they played this past weekend. 

It’s no coincidence that the Knicks have been outscored by 60 plus points in the 3 matchups against the Celtics this season. 

The Knicks simply cannot match up with the champs. 

The Celtics size and shooting ability with all five players on the floor can be incredibly frustrating to defend. 

The entire NBA could lecture the Knicks on that one, but what’s been noticeable is how the Celtics have exploited the defensive liabilities of both Karl Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson. 

The Knicks offseason centered around Mikal Bridges and the re-signing of OG Anunoby as two wing players who would be able to contend with the Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown duo. 

On Sunday, it felt like Bridges could not have been more invisible. 

When the Knicks had their starting five on the floor, the Celtics attacked Karl Anthony Towns at will off the dribble. 

When the Knicks adjusted to try a lineup with smaller players, the Celtics killed them with size. 

Despite the fact that the Knicks cut what was once a 27 point lead into a 4 point lead early in the 4th quarter, you never got the sense the Knicks could get over the hump. 

So the Knicks failed once again against the best teams the sport has to offer. 

It’s late February and yes a lot can change between now and the middle of May. 

However, unless you’re drinking orange and blue koolaid, it’s hard to imagine this group having much of a prayer against the champs in a second round playoff series. 

Right now the truth hurts. 

The Knicks are a really good basketball team and one that is a notch below the best of the best that the league has to offer.  

That’s the narrative until you see otherwise..