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BOSTON (AP) — The New York Knicks, who aimed to strengthen their competitiveness against the Eastern Conference’s top teams over the offseason, are still grappling with how to break into the upper echelon following their last two games.
Compounding their challenges, this marked the third instance this season in which they were decisively defeated by the reigning champion Boston Celtics, suffering a 118-105 setback on Sunday.
“We’re not focused on narrowing the gap with the Boston Celtics,” stated Knicks guard Josh Hart. “They are the champions for a reason, boasting All-NBA players and All-Stars—a formidable group. Our priority is to ensure we are where we need to be by season’s end, and at this moment, we are not there.”
Following a 37-point defeat to the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, the Knicks still appear to be in the thick of sorting things out. On Sunday, Boston established a 27-point advantage in the third quarter before the Knicks mounted a comeback that ultimately fell short in the fourth.
“We all need to rise to the occasion,” said Hart. “It’s essential for us to start building momentum. There’s a possibility we might encounter Boston again further along in the playoffs, so we must keep improving.”
The revamped Knicks were touted as the main challengers to the Celtics in the conference after acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges during the offseason.
“It’s a continuous journey,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau remarked when asked about closing the distance with Boston. “That team is a finely-tuned machine with a lot of cohesion. We need to keep learning and enhancing our game.”
Currently positioned third in the East, trailing behind the second-seeded Celtics and the Cleveland team, the Knicks must regroup following this recent challenging duo of games.
Defensively, they have struggled against high-caliber offenses.
“I think it’s likely a mix of factors,” Thibodeau commented on his team’s defensive performance. “First, those are elite teams, and when facing heavy 3-point shooting, even a brief lapse can lead to a scoring run against you.”
Thibodeau recognizes the necessity for defensive improvement to compete effectively.
“That’s an aspect we need to persistently work on,” he noted. “It’s a test in this league.”
Towns emphasized that just coming close to the Celtics is insufficient.
“We’re still a work in progress,” he reflected after the two games. “That will be our reality throughout the season until we step into the playoffs.”
This season, Boston has defeated New York by margins of 23 and 27 points in their previous encounters.
