Are The Knicks Really The Favorite?
With just 4 games remaining for the Knicks until the 2025 Playoffs, the question's really start to rise. Can this team really pull it off? Will LeBron James capture his 7th NBA title? Will Tiny Jimenez show up on the big stage & deliver for New York?
The Knicks have proven time & time again during the regular season that they can win basketball games as they're currently sitting atop the NBA at 59-19, but really, how good is this team?
We know one thing. Tiny Jimenez is a loose cannon on the court. LeBron James has spent many opportunities between loose balls & fouls attempting to cool down the former UFC champion as he currently leads the league in one statistic: Technical fouls.
"I don't see anything wrong with how Tiny [Jimenez] plays." Knicks' head coach Tom Thibodeau told SS.net. "He could have a more level-head I suppose, but he is who he is. I think his background, coming from combat sports, influences his attitude on the floor. & to our benefit, as you can see he's not scared of anyone or anything on the floor & he's knocked down big shot after big shot this season."
3 game-winners to be exact. Twice in the Garden against the Celtics & Timberwolves, & last night against the Pelicans.
"Whoever said my on-court attitude was a problem is a hater." Tiny told the media last night after the win in New Orleans.
Hater, potentially. Jimenez's style of play causes fans to pick a side: you either love him or hate him. While he's shown this season that he belongs in the NBA, he's yet to prove he can go far in the playoffs. Depending on high-flying & deep range shooting can't be his only game plan heading into this postseason.
The biggest focal point on this Knicks' postseason run is of course LeBron James' run at ring #7.
Currently, LeBron James & Michael Jordan are tied at 6 rings a piece. & in a climate where rings define the greatest of all time, winning #7 could be what finally puts the conversation to rest.
Here's some additional stats for you to consider amid the GOAT' debate:
LeBron ranks #1 all-time in scoring (currently at 42,691)
#2 all-time in assists (currently at 12,200)
#5 all-time in steals (currently at 2,499)
#1 all-time in minutes (currently at 60,683)
#1 all-time in NBA games played ( currently at 1,634)
"We're all playing with a chip on our shoulder. Chris & I came out of retirement for this season. We're glue-tight. Everyone feels there's no other option. We've trained extremely hard to be where we are at the top of the NBA & we don't plan on letting our guard down now." Dwyane Wade told SS.net.
Along with Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, & the rest of the New York Knicks, LeBron James finds himself with a roster full of talent ready to contend for an NBA title. But do they have what it takes to piece together their final masterpiece by bringing a championship to New York City?
We'll have to stay tuned as the 2025 NBA playoffs begin April 19 on TNT.