The New York Knicks are playing their best basketball in years, but ESPN’s BPI still gives them a slim chance to make the postseason.
The New York Knicks were viewed as one of the “tanking teams” in the 2017-18 season in the wake of the Carmelo Anthony trade. That was before everyone realized just how good Kristaps Porzingis already was. The expectations of some have shifted to the playoffs.
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) doesn’t share that sentiment. It gives New York a 12.7 percent chance to make the postseason, and that was before Friday’s blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors that dropped the Knicks to 8-7.
BPI predicts that New York will win 36 games. Only Brooklyn, Atlanta, and Chicago will finish with worse records in the Eastern Conference. Even if New York wins 36, that’s a lot more than anyone thought they would get.
Other Headlines
- Tim Hardaway Jr. is exceeding expectations (Elite Sports NY’s Robbie Stratakos)
- Enes Kanter is the new Charles Oakley (Elite Sports NY’s Robby Sabo)
- Michael Beasley wishes he was playing more (New York Post’s Marc Berman)
- Hardaway’s foot injury is lingering (New York Post’s Marc Berman)
Up Next
The Knicks host Blake Griffin and the Clippers on Monday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Clippers are desperate for a win. They’ve lost eight games in a row and 10 of their last 11 games.
Griffin has historically beat up on the Knicks. In 11 career games, he’s posted phenomenal averages of 23.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on a slash line of .544/.500/.594.
The new leader of the Clips will be looking for another big game on Monday to try and snap his team out of their vicious losing streak. LA has been without Patrick Beverley and Danilo Gallinari recently due to injury.
That will benefit the Knicks. Especially if Hardaway misses Monday — which is apparently a possibility now.
