The past nine days have been excruciating for Knicks fans, feeling like nine long weeks. Perhaps some have found other distractions to fill their basketball void, while others have taken a well-deserved break, just like Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks were on a roll, winning three in a row and five out of six games, bringing their record to six games over 500 and securing sixth place in the Eastern Conference, closing in on the fifth-ranked Nets.
But then, suddenly, there was nothing.
Coach Tom Thibodeau took the All-Star break to assess where the team is and where they need to go. Meanwhile, Julius Randle enjoyed his All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City, while Josh Hart celebrated his brother’s engagement in Cabo.
For Knicks fans of a certain age, nine days without basketball used to be a welcome relief, but not anymore.
The Knicks were playing at a level as high as their 2012-13 team that won 54 games and the franchise’s only playoff series since 2000.
The Knicks kick off the final quarter of their season with a tough schedule ahead.
Their first two games back will be against the red-hot Wizards and the Pelicans, who may not have been performing well lately but are still a force to be reckoned with.
The Knicks will face the eighth-toughest schedule the rest of the way, including a four-game-in-six-days road trip through Sacramento, L.A., and Portland that could define their season.
The team believes they have another level to reach and can make a run in the playoffs, but they need to keep building on their consistent play.
Coach Thibodeau is optimistic, saying they can always improve, and if they take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves.
These next two games against the Wizards and at home against the Pelicans will be crucial benchmarks for the Knicks, especially since the Wizards dominated the Knicks in their previous matchup.
The Garden, known for its home-court advantage, has not been as kind to the Knicks this season.
The team is eager to start the 22-game sprint and make the playoffs for the first time in years. The break is over, and basketball is back, and the Knicks are ready to take on the challenge.