New York or Nowhere: Are the New York Knicks for real?

The New York Knicks will be a handful come playoff time. 

In only three games, we might have already seen what to expect from the New York Knicks this year. From an epic high of winning a thrilling double-overtime season-opening win over the Boston Celtics to a puzzling loss as they split a two-game series with a banged-up Orlando team.

In usual Knicks fashion, no game is easy and nothing is ever guaranteed. The Knicks are a team of cast-offs that know very well they are in the shadow of their neighbors in Brooklyn.

The Knicks are no stranger to having to prove themselves, as last season nobody believed in this team until they finally clinched the playoffs.

So, are the New York Knicks for real?

The answer is the Knicks are whatever they have to be to win. The Knicks have no superstar player but they have an All-Star in Julius Randle. A player who not only won Most Improved Player but helped guide them to a 41-31 record last season.

While the Knicks have still not acquired a top 10 player they have found a way to improve their lineup with more subtle moves. The Knicks took a low-risk flyer on Kemba Walker, acquiring him after he was bought out by the Thunder. Adding Kemba adds more depth to their backcourt and eases some of the ball-handling duties from Derrick Rose and Quickley.

The Knicks also made waves by grabbing French swingman Evan Fournier. A knock-down shooter that can help space the floor for their point-forward Randle. Fournier came up big scoring 32 points in his Knicks debut to help them outlast The Celtics.

In addition to adding a pair of high-profile free agents, the Knicks will also welcome back Mitchell Robinson who was lost last season to injury. Robinson is still only 23 years old and is a force on the glass averaging 12 boards a night through the first three games.

The Knicks are not a contender but they are also not a pretender. The Knicks are real because they will show up every night. When Tom Thibodeau coaches your team you know you will get two things, one is defense and the other is your starters playing 38 minutes a night.

The Knicks will continue to show up every game this year. Nothing will be easy and no game no matter the opponent will be a sure thing. The Knicks are frisky and they can beat the best in the NBA, like the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks are still the Knicks so they will still lose games that they should win, like how they lost to the Magic over the weekend.

The Knicks are back while they won’t be atop the Eastern Conference come playoff time, they will be in the playoffs. Any team that has to face them will get an all-out performance for 48 minutes because that is New York Knick basketball.