The defending champions opened 1-3 and fell from fifth to 26th in the power rankings in a week. The question is whether this core has slipped, and Tuesday's 111-97 rout of Detroit says no, for now.
Hangover or Slide
One question decides this season: is this a hangover or the start of a decline? A year ago this team went 53-29, beat San Antonio in the Finals and ended a 53-year title drought. Four games in, New York is 1-3, seeded 13th in the East, and the current pace projects to 21-61. Nobody buys that number. Champions should never have to hear it.
The Case Against
The losses were real. Philadelphia won 106-100 at the Garden. Boston won 107-103. Orlando won 111-102. Losing by six, four and nine can be bad luck once. Three times is a pattern. Even in the win, Brunson shot 5 of 18 and 0 of 5 from three, and he got to 23 points on 13 of 16 free throws. Towns coughed it up seven times. ESPN's Vincent Goodwill reported that assistant Chris Jent has stepped away for personal reasons, so the staff is a man down too.
The Case For
Then unbeaten Detroit came to the Garden and got buried. The Pistons led by 13 and then scored 25 points across the second and third quarters. New York ran off 14 straight points around halftime and led by as many as 27. Hart hit both of his shots, both threes, piled up five steals and finished plus 19. Bridges hit 4 of 8 from three. Towns put up 27 and 20 boards, a night the Post's Jared Schwartz framed as his answer to a halftime challenge from Mike Brown. That is the same defense that helped this team to a plus 6.4 net rating last season, fifth in the league.
No Help Coming
Don't wait for a trade to rescue this. The 2027 and 2029 first-round picks belong to Brooklyn. Towns at $57.1 million, Anunoby at $42.5 million, Brunson at $37.7 million and Bridges at $33.5 million soak up the cap. Alvarado is sidelined, with a return targeted for October 30. These players won it, and these players have to fix it.
Bottom Line
Hangover, not decline. A team in decline doesn't hold a 3-0 opponent to 25 points over two quarters. One rout doesn't cancel three losses, though, and Brunson won't win many nights shooting 5 of 18. The schedule is friendly: Chicago tonight at 1-3 and without Nic Claxton, then Philadelphia, Brooklyn and the Bulls again. New York sits half a game out of 10th. Win this stretch and the panic ends. Lose it and the panic was right.
Are the Knicks in trouble after a 1-3 start?
Not yet. The three losses came by six, four and nine points, and the 111-97 win over previously unbeaten Detroit showed the defense that won a title is still there.
When will Jose Alvarado return for the Knicks?
Alvarado is out with a left ankle issue, and his estimated return date is October 30.
