Gotham On The Rise

This season was one to remember at Madison Square Garden. I, like many, had the Knicks near the bottom of the conference. I had them finishing 13th in the East with a mere 26 wins. But they surprised every body and then some this season. New York finished with a 41-31 record and a 4th place finish in the East, hosting the Atlanta Hawks in the opening round. Sure, that series didn't end the way the Knicks wanted, getting ousted in five by the Hawks. 

The fact that the Knicks were even there, speaks volumes for the way this team is set up and the direction they are heading in. This was a team that was projected by many to not win more than 26 games this season. Instead they turned the basketball world on its ear by winning 41 games and finishing 4th in the East. The young guns, guys like RJ Barrett, really started to step up their game. He wasn't the only one who really stepped it up this year. Immanuel Quickley had a good year in his rookie year. He averaged just over 11 points a game and was able to hit big shots as the season went along.

Then we had the story of the year, Julius Randell. Randell was, beyond any shadow of a doubt, the best player on this team. He was a massive reason the Knicks took as giant a step this season as they did. All of this was being done under the leadership of Tom Thibodeau, who did a pretty good capping off his first season here in New York. He got them to buy into the system and play at a different level, one that hasn't been seen around these parts in a long, long time.

Yes, it wasn't the ending to the season that anybody wanted, but man was it a hell of a ride. This season showed that the Knicks are on the right track and back to soon be challenging for a championship in the NBA. This aws New York putting people on notice. They will be a threat again soon.