Look, the New York Knicks are on a tear. Seven straight wins. Jalen Brunson playing like an All-NBA guard, dropping 41 points against the Pacers on February 1. Donte DiVincenzo just set a franchise record with 11 threes against Detroit, finishing with 38 points in that February 26 blowout. It's easy to get swept up in the Madison Square Garden euphoria, especially after years of futility. But my man Stephen A. Smith? He's pumping the brakes, and honestly, he's got a point.
The core of his argument, and mine, revolves around the competition. Or lack thereof. Yeah, the Knicks beat the Sixers, 110-96, back on February 22. Tyrese Maxey had a rough night, only 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting. They also took down the Celtics, 118-109, on February 24, a solid win where Brunson again led the way with 34 points. Those are legitimate victories against good teams. But what about the rest of the streak? The Pistons, the Magic, the Warriors, the Kings, the Blazers. That's five wins against teams either struggling to make the playoffs or actively tanking. The Pistons, in particular, are a lingering stain on any impressive win streak. They were 8-49 when the Knicks played them on February 26. You can't ignore that.
Real talk: beating the Detroit Pistons, who at one point lost 28 games in a row earlier this season, doesn't tell you much about your championship mettle. DiVincenzo's record-setting night was fantastic, sure, but it came against a team that's statistically one of the worst in NBA history. The Warriors game on February 29? Golden State is battling just to stay in the play-in picture, currently sitting tenth in the Western Conference. The Blazers game on March 5 was another easy one, a 123-103 victory where Portland shot just 38% from three.
Here's the thing: injuries have also played a significant role for New York. OG Anunoby has been in and out of the lineup since his trade, missing a chunk of time with an elbow issue. Julius Randle is still out with a dislocated shoulder suffered on January 27, and Mitchell Robinson only just returned to practice after ankle surgery. The fact that the Knicks are winning without two of their starters speaks volumes about Brunson's leadership and Tom Thibodeau's coaching, no doubt. But it also means they haven't been truly tested as a full unit against top-tier competition. They've been feasting on the weak.
My hot take? Despite this winning streak, the Knicks are still a second-round exit at best. They're good, absolutely. Brunson is phenomenal. DiVincenzo has stepped up. Isaiah Hartenstein has been a revelation at center, averaging 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in February. But when they face the Celtics or the Bucks in a seven-game series, with Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jayson Tatum firing on all cylinders, the cracks will show. They still lack that consistent second scorer when Randle is out, and even with Randle, their offensive creativity outside of Brunson can be stagnant.
They have a tough stretch coming up, with games against the Magic again, then the 76ers, and then a road trip that includes the Nuggets and the Blazers. That Magic game on March 8 will be a real test, as Orlando has quietly climbed to fifth in the East, fueled by Paolo Banchero's emergence.
I'm telling you, the Knicks will finish as a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference, but they won't make it to the Conference Finals.