Knicks' Odds to Make the Playoffs: Can New York Make a Run at the NBA Play-In Tournament?
By Peter Dewey
The New York Knicks have 17 games remaining, currently sitting 4.5 games out of the NBA's Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference.
You may have already wrote the Knicks off this season, especially when they had one of the five hardest schedules remaining after the All-Star break. I mean, the Knicks lost seven in a row at one point, and looked completely done.
However, heading into Wednesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks all of a sudden are winners of two straight games, and their remaining schedule is now just the 13th toughest in the NBA.
Do the Knicks Have a Path to the Play-In Tournament?
That's still not easy, but the Knicks have a path, as the Charlotte Hornets, who play the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, have gone just 6-12 this season without Gordon Hayward and are tied with the Atlanta Hawks in the No. 9 and No. 10 spots in the East.
The reason the Knicks are still in the conversation comes down to their opponents to end this season, as they play the four teams above them in the standings seven times over their final 17 games.
Knicks Could Have Value Based on Remaining Schedule
I know I'm in the minority that still thinks this team can put things together, but let's look at the Knicks' remaining matchups:
- Two games vs. Charlotte Hornets
- Two games vs. Brooklyn Nets
- Two games vs. Washington Wizards
- One game vs. Atlanta Hawks
New York has to make a 4.5-game gap up, but it could gain two games on the Hornets, one on the Hawks, two on the Wizards and two on the Nets by simply winning their remaining matchups. It's not easy, but it gives them a chance.
Right now, the Knicks are just +50000 to win the NBA Finals at WynnBET, tied with the Wizards, while the Hornets (+20000) and Hawks (+8000) are way ahead. Clearly, oddsmakers think the Hornets and Hawks have a much better chance of competing in the play-in tournament.
Even if the Knicks make the play-in, they are unlikely to make any noise, but I still believe there's a chance this team can at least finish in the top-10 in the East, especially if Derrick Rose re-joins the lineup before the end of the season.
Everyone may have already counted out this team, but if the Knicks beat the Mavericks on Wednesday, the play-in tournament noise is going to keep getting louder.