New York Knicks: It’s now or never to save their season

Can the New York Knicks save their season? 

It’s difficult to gauge exactly what the New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference. Though, if they’re going to strike back and get back into playoff contention, they’re going to need to take advantage of the next couple of weeks on their schedule.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, the Knicks will play six non-playoff teams over their next eight games – it begins Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The other team that they’re playing twice that is a projected playoff team is the Boston Celtics.

The Knicks, who are 15-18, will have the opportunity to work their way back to .500, at the very least, or perhaps jump a few games over it.

If New York can be successful over the next couple of weeks and go, say 6-2, they could find themselves all the way up to the sixth spot in the East – the Philadelphia 76ers, who currently hold the sixth spot at the moment, are 17-16.

If the Knicks are going to salvage their season, this might be the stretch to start doing so. And while it could be difficult as you never know who’s going to be available on any given night due to health and safety protocols or injury, the Knicks simply have to start playing better basketball.

Perhaps they can build off what they did on Christmas Day against the Atlanta Hawks. Even though they were without Trae Young, the Knicks flexed their muscles and handled Atlanta fairly easily.

Julius Randle looked a little more like his previous self in that game and it’s quite clear that it all begins with him. When he’s playing at a high level and is aggressive on the offensive end of the floor, the Knicks are much more of a strong threat.

Kemba Walker is back in the lineup after the injury to Derrick Rose and New York is going to need him to continue to play at a high level. RJ Barrett also needs to get back on track as he’s had an up-and-down start to this season.

Nevertheless, the next couple of weeks could be huge as it pertains to what the Knicks will be for the remainder of the year.

Are they going to fade into the abyss and chalk this campaign up as another lost season after taking such a big step forward just a year ago, or are they going to shake off their up-and-down start to the season and make a move up the East standings?