The New York Knicks had been cruising with a comfortable double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, seemingly in control against the surging Los Angeles Lakers.
But championship aspirations require closing out games like this, and this overtime loss served as a painful reminder of a troubling pattern for the Knicks.
As the playoffs loom, serious questions about their ability to compete with the NBA’s elite are becoming impossible to ignore.
“The Knicks are now 0-9 against the Top 4 teams in the NBA this season: vs. Celtics (0-3), vs. Thunder (0-2), vs. Lakers (0-2), vs. Cavs (0-2),” Legion Hoops wrote on X.
The Knicks are now 0-9 against the Top 4 teams in the NBA this season:
vs. Celtics (0-3)
vs. Thunder (0-2)
vs. Lakers (0-2)
vs. Cavs (0-2)
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/lKF31kArgV
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 7, 2025
Last season’s playoff run gave New York fans reason for optimism, but this year carries weightier expectations, which the team hasn’t consistently met against top competition.
The Knicks’ path through the Eastern Conference looks particularly daunting given their 0-3 record against the Boston Celtics and two losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Perhaps most concerning is the nature of these defeats. Four of the five losses to the Eastern Conference powers were embarrassing blowouts, each by a double-digit margin.
On paper, the Knicks feature one of the league’s most impressive starting lineups as Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson represented the franchise as All-Star starters, making New York the only team with two such honorees.
The supporting cast features defensive stalwarts and versatile wings Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
However, their Achilles’ heel has been painfully obvious: bench production.
The Knicks rank last in the NBA in scoring from non-starters, forcing their first unit to shoulder an unsustainable workload.
As a grueling playoff schedule approaches, this lack of depth threatens to undermine their championship aspirations.
NEXT: Insider Provides Update On Jalen Brunson Injury