What is Knicks' Second Half Ceiling After Anunoby Trade?
Entering Saturday play, the New York Knicks hold the sixth seed on the NBA's Eastern Conference playoff bracket. Their recent play, however, has observers thinking about how far they can rise.
Though Thursday's 128-124 loss to the Dallas Mavericks ended a five-game winning streak, the Knicks (22-16) have looked like a much better team with OG Anunoby in their lineup.
With the future in mind, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report offered a bold prediction for every NBA team. When it comes to the Knicks, Buckley foresees the team landing a top-four seed and an All-Star Game starting bid for point guard Jalen Brunson.
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"The Knicks are 5-1 with a gargantuan plus-15.9 points per 100 possessions since OG Anunoby debuted," writes Buckley. "It's a tiny sample, sure, but the defense-first swingman looked like the best non-star addition this club could make, and that's exactly how things have played out. Plus, this front office has the resources needed to add more should it feel so inclined."
The last time the Knicks finished with a top-four playoff seed was during the shortened 2020-21 season, when Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks spoiled their first playoff appearance in eight years. But Brunson's breakout and Anunoby's arrival (not to mention the continued work of two-time All-Star Julius Randle) hints that the Knicks can do something truly special this spring.
Though Brunson is in the midst of his finest professional season to date, he has some work to do if he's going to leap into the Eastern Conference's starting five: the second-year Knicks sat sixth among guards in the second fan voting returns released on Thursday, with Tyrese Haliburton of the hosting Indiana Pacers leading the way at over 2.1 million tallies.
Brunson and the rest of the Knicks will be back in action on Saturday night against the injury-ridden Memphis Grizzlies (14-24) at FedExForum (8 p.m. ET, MSG).
