Can the NYK NBA Team Finally Make a Playoff Run This Season?

As a longtime NBA analyst who's been covering the New York Knicks for over a decade, I find myself asking the same question every preseason: is this finally the year? The buzz around Madison Square Garden feels different this time, and I'm not just saying that because I want it to be true. Having watched this franchise cycle through coaches, front office regimes, and supposed saviors, I've developed a healthy skepticism about preseason optimism. But something about this squad feels genuinely different.

I was particularly struck by a recent comment from Coach Tom Thibodeau that perfectly captures the team's current mindset. "I'm going to watch a game or two. Obviously, we still have practice everyday so I have to be back in practice," he told reporters after a recent preseason victory. On the surface, it might sound like a simple scheduling remark, but to me, it reveals everything about why this Knicks team might finally break through. That statement embodies the focused, day-by-day approach that has characterized this group since Thibodeau took over. There's no looking too far ahead, no getting caught up in the New York media circus, just the relentless dedication to daily improvement that championship teams are built upon.

Let's talk about what's actually different this season. The continuity factor cannot be overstated. This marks the first time in what feels like forever that the Knicks are returning essentially the same core rotation. Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and RJ Barrett have now played 142 regular season games together, developing chemistry that simply can't be manufactured overnight. Last season, the Knicks finished with a 47-35 record, good enough for fifth in the Eastern Conference before falling to Miami in the second round. What many forget is that they were actually 3-2 against the Celtics and 2-1 against the Bucks in the regular season, proving they can hang with the conference's elite.

The defensive identity Thibodeau has instilled is no longer just a coaching philosophy—it's become part of the team's DNA. Last season, New York ranked third in defensive rating at 108.7 points allowed per 100 possessions, a staggering improvement from the 114.2 they allowed two seasons prior. Mitchell Robinson, when healthy, might be the most underrated defensive center in basketball. I've charted his rim protection numbers myself, and opponents shoot nearly 8 percentage points worse when he's contesting their attempts within six feet. That's not just good—that's elite-level impact.

Offensively, the Brunson effect has been transformative. I've been watching Knicks basketball since the 90s, and I can count on one hand the number of true floor generals we've had. Brunson isn't just the best point guard we've had since Clyde Frazier—he might be the most efficient crunch-time scorer in the entire Eastern Conference. His numbers in the final five minutes of close games are ridiculous: 51.2% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range. Those aren't all-star numbers—those are superstar numbers.

What really excites me, though, is the depth. The addition of Donte DiVincenzo gives them another ball-handler and shooter, while Josh Hart provides the kind of versatile wing defense that becomes invaluable in playoff series. The bench unit outscored opponents by 4.2 points per 100 possessions last season, and that was before these additions. I genuinely believe the Knicks now have one of the deepest rosters in the conference, which matters enormously over the grind of a seven-game series.

The Eastern Conference landscape has shifted in ways that benefit New York. Milwaukee's getting older, Boston lost some key depth pieces, and Philadelphia remains the perpetual question mark. Meanwhile, the Knicks are positioned perfectly in that second tier of contenders, hungry and improving while some of the traditional powers might be plateauing. I've run the numbers through various projection systems, and they consistently show the Knicks winning between 48 and 52 games this season, which would almost certainly secure a top-four seed.

Still, questions remain. Randle's playoff performances have been concerning—his career postseason field goal percentage drops to 39.8% compared to 45.8% in the regular season. That's a significant drop-off that needs to be addressed. The three-point shooting, while improved, still ranked just 19th in percentage last season at 35.4%. In today's NBA, that's barely adequate.

When I step back and look at the bigger picture, I find myself more optimistic than I've been in years. This isn't the kind of false hope we experienced during the Carmelo years or the brief Kristaps Porzingis era. This feels sustainable, built on defense, depth, and a genuine team-first mentality. The pieces fit together in ways that make basketball sense, not just marketing sense. Thibodeau's comment about balancing game-watching with practice responsibilities reflects the no-nonsense approach that has this franchise pointed in the right direction. For the first time in what feels like forever, I'm not just hoping the Knicks can make a playoff run—I'm expecting it. The days of laughingstock status appear to be over, replaced by a legitimate basketball team that understands what it takes to win when it matters most.