Despite earning the second seed in the East, taking the first two home games against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in thrilling fashion, and leading the series 2-1 overall, it still feels like the New York Knicks aren’t getting the credit they deserve. In the aftermath of Game 2, where the Knicks scored eight unanswered points in the final 27 seconds to secure one of the great comebacks in franchise playoff history, the game was sidetracked by the Sixers filing a grievance over the officiating. There’s been plenty of focus on Embiid’s health and how well Tyrese Maxey played in the first two games. Yet little attention has been given to Donte DiVincenzo‘s clutch three-point shooting. Also, Josh Hart has flown under the radar despite owning the series to this point on both sides of the ball.
This is nothing new for the plucky Knicks. Despite their excellent season, they’ve been slighted by the national media. Heck, even other coaches are slow to credit them. Case in point, after the Knicks beat current title favorites the Boston Celtics toward the end of the regular season, head coach Joe Mazzulla dismissed it as the Knicks simply playing ‘desperate.’ Building up a 30-point lead to force the Celtics to essentially wave the white flag deserved slightly more credit. Desperate doesn’t seem to be a word choice associated with the second-best team in the conference.
Are the Knicks Getting the Credit They Deserve?
Media Slow To Credit Knicks
Media-wide, legends such as Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal have dismissed the Knicks’ chances from the get-go. Becky Hammon said New York didn’t have the personnel and that Jalen Brunson was too small to be ‘that dude.’
Kenny Smith poorly claimed on TNT that the Knicks always have the “second-best players on the court every night.” This argument didn’t age well, considering the season Brunson had.
Despite beating Damian Lillard in every metric, Brunson also missed out on being an All-Star starter.
Knicks fan extraordinaire Stephen A. Smith remarkably claimed Quentin Grimes was playing well for the Knicks just a few weeks ago, despite him being traded to the Detroit Pistons months prior without much of a role on the team. This makes one wonder how much he pays attention to their games.
Kendrick Perkins has consistently been behind the Knicks’ chances from the start to his credit. Apart from him, are they getting the credit they deserve in media circles?
Key Knicks Overlooked For Awards
Remarkably, no Knicks are finalists for awards despite their 50-win season. Brunson may still get top five in MVP voting, but currently being ranked on NBA.com as outside that is quite remarkable.
By the true definition of the term most valuable player, I’d argue there wasn’t a single player in the Eastern Conference who played better or meant more to their team than Brunson. Let’s not forget the Knicks were missing their entire starting frontcourt post-All-Star break. Julius Randle had season-ending surgery, and All-NBA defender OG Anunoby missed the majority of the second half of the year. As did Mitchell Robinson.
Not a problem for Brunson. He’s carried the scoring load on a nightly basis. He averaged 28.7 points per game, fourth in the NBA in scoring. He’s in the top 10 in assists, ranked fourth in points scored, seventh in efficiency, and fourth in offensive win share. Brunson is also amongst the leaders in three-point percentage and value over replacement player.
Somehow, DiVincenzo isn’t eligible for the league’s Most Improved Player despite playing 81 games. By any metric, he’s improved across the board, reaching career highs in points scored, efficiency, and three-point shooting. He finished third in the NBA in three-pointers behind Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry. Incidentally, he broke the Knicks’ all-time record for threes made with 283. It’s quite bizarre he’s not in the running for that award.
Isaiah Hartenstein has also had a career year, quickly becoming New York’s starting center. An unusual quirk also denies him MIP.
Also, Tom Thibodeau missed out on the running for Coach of the Year despite his players’ career years, overcoming injuries, and helping the Knicks to the best season in a decade.
Tom Thibodeau Deserves More Respect League-Wide
Despite a 50-win season and the second seed in the East, according to a poll on The Athletic, Thibodeau was voted the coach players least wanted to play for.
This poll says more about those players who don’t wish to work hard than it does anything Thibodeau is or isn’t doing. What is clear is that, with all his toughness and brashness, he makes people better.
Brunson and Randle have become All-NBA talents under his watch. DiVincenzo has gone from a solid role player to an indispensable starting level two guard having a career year. Other career years include Miles McBride and Hartenstein.
He’s improved Hart and Robinson. He’s also developed Immanuel Quickley, now succeeding in Toronto. Jimmy Butler said in the past how much he owes to Thibodeau.
His defensive schemes still remain in the top echelon of the league. Consistently coaching elite defensive teams, this year is no different.
He’s demanding, but that should be expected from a coach. He just wants to win. Perhaps it’s time to change the narrative and give Thibodeau the credit he deserves.
The Knicks Have Overcome a Lot to Get to This Point
Considering they lost All-Star scorer Randle for the season, the Knicks continue to find a way.
When they made the huge trade for Anunoby in December, only getting him back a week before the playoffs, they still found a way to the second seed. Despite Brunson being slighted in the national media, he still found a way to be a top-five scorer in the league. New York scored eight unanswered points in the final 27 seconds of Game 2 to complete a historic comeback, still finding a way.
They’ll need to dig deep again, as Embiid continues to make a name for himself not just for the 50 points but for somehow avoiding being ejected on three occasions in Game 3. Embiid benefited from being a superstar despite clearly injuring Robinson on purpose. It’s clear that no Knick would get that same level of leniency. Once again, New York must find a way for the rest of this series.
Whatever happens, it’s time to give the Knicks the credit they deserve.
