New York lost 100-106 to the 76ers and 103-107 at Boston, and a title team now sits 14th in the East. The answer to what that means depends on Brunson, Bridges and the depth behind them.
The Question
Is this a champion's slow start or the first sign the roster is thinner than the banner suggests? Two games is a small sample. The way the Knicks lost is not.
Case for Alarm
Boston won the third quarter 33-24 and turned a 50-49 game into an 83-73 lead. Mikal Bridges was a minus-12 in 22 minutes. OG Anunoby was a minus-11. Jose Alvarado played 11 minutes, scored 2 points and finished minus-10. Jalen Brunson shot 7-17 and missed both free throws with three seconds left, down 107-103. The payroll is $220.4 million, $20 million over the tax line, so there is no easy fix from outside. Karl-Anthony Towns also said on October 11 he was very disappointed that extension talks were paused. No new decision has been reported.
Case for Calm
This team went 53-29 last season, posted a net rating of 6.4 and won the title. Towns hit 9 of 13 for 22 points and 10 rebounds. Anunoby had 20, 10 and 8. Miles McBride went 6-of-8 from three for 20 points. When Boston led 94-82 with 7:39 left, the Knicks answered with a 9-0 run and cut it to three. Both losses came by six points or fewer. With 80 games left, they are one game behind sixth place.
The Test Sunday
Orlando comes to the Garden also 0-2. The Magic are missing Paolo Banchero and Jonathan Isaac, both out, and Anthony Black is day-to-day. Sean Sweeney's team went 45-37 last season. This is the kind of game a champion wins. Then come Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
Bottom Line
This is a hangover with a warning attached. The core is good enough to fix a bad week. Brunson has to finish, Bridges has to show up, and Mike Brown needs reliable minutes from the bench. If Orlando without Banchero becomes a third straight loss, the question stops being about the calendar.
Are the Knicks in trouble after an 0-2 start?
Not yet. Both losses were by six points or fewer, and 80 games remain for a team that went 53-29 last year and won the title.
Who do the Knicks play next?
The Orlando Magic visit on October 25, followed by the Pistons on October 27. Banchero and Isaac are out for Orlando.
