Knicks Struggling After Championship Win, Facing Questions About Consistency

The Knicks have gotten off to a sluggish start to the 2024‑25 season, raising concerns that the team may still be feeling the effects of their recent NBA championship.

After opening 0‑3, New York is 3‑1 in its last four games. Two of those victories came against struggling opponents—Chicago (1‑6) and Brooklyn (1‑6). The defeats include two losses to Philadelphia and one to Boston, both considered top contenders.

“We just haven’t played our best, and we haven’t executed at a high level,” Karl‑Anthony Towns said.

Historical perspective is unforgiving: only one team— the 1990‑91 Chicago Bulls— started a season 0‑3 and went on to capture the NBA title. The Bulls, after a 0‑3 deficit, ultimately defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals.

New York’s run toward another championship has been built on dramatic comebacks. Key moments include:

• A 22‑point comeback against Cleveland in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
• Overcoming a 14‑point lead by San Antonio in three Finals games, ultimately winning the series in five.
• A 29‑point deficit in Game 4 of the Finals (81‑52) that the Knicks erased to win 107‑106 on an OG Anunoby tip‑in with 1.2 seconds left.

Early in the current season, the Knicks have struggled to recover from large deficits. They trailed by at least ten points in each of their first six games, a pattern that has become a recurring issue.

When asked why New York has fallen behind so often, Josh Hart told The Athletic, “I wish I could tell you that one. If I could tell you that one, and the reason why, then maybe it would stop happening. I think we all have a great will to win. I think sometimes it takes us a little longer to find a game, whether that’s the flow, fatigue, whatever it is.”

“We have to do a better job of finding the game early, making it easy and then not relying on double‑digit comebacks because it’s taxing,” Hart added.

The Knicks managed a 103‑90 win over Brooklyn on Monday after trailing by four entering the fourth quarter. It was New York’s 15th straight victory over Brooklyn, a streak that began in 2023. However, Hart cautioned, “The issues are still there… Our offense has to get in a better flow, and that’s kind of what’s holding us back right now.”

November offers a relatively forgiving schedule, giving New York an opportunity to regroup and address its offensive inconsistencies.

With the Larry O’Brien Trophy not up for grabs until June, the team has time to work out the kinks and build momentum for the playoffs.

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