The New York Knicks are starting to make believers out of people. Ever since bringing on Phil Jackson as president of operations, the team is playing with a new confidence that is resulting in a solid win streak, putting the playoffs in sight. A month ago, the Knicks looked like they would ending their season early, However, fresh off a win over the playoff-bound Brooklyn Nets, a few players are ready to make some noise in the postseason.
Tyson Chandler told media after the win that he has never lost faith in New York's ability to make the postseason this year despite some pretty ugly moments throughout the season. The big man said that if and when the Knicks get into the playoffs, they will certainly make some noise in the Eastern Conference. JR Smith agrees with his teammate.
"Without a doubt," Smith said, via ESPNNewYork.com"The way we're playing, especially on the defensive end -- making plays, moving the ball, making shots -- we definitely feel that way."
The Knicks have pulled off 12 wins in their last 15 games, surging into eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Placing both Smith and Amar'e Stoudemire in the starting lineup has paid off and the Knicks now control their own destiny. With the Atlanta Hawks dropping off thanks to injuries, the Knicks' playoff shots are not crazy to think about. Their remaining schedule is against teams that have all already clinched playoff berths, so remaining focused with be key.
"It's funny how things work, that we are in this situation right now having a chance to make the playoffs," Carmelo Anthony said. "We control our own destiny. I am going to keep on saying that. We can't worry about what Atlanta is doing or what anybody else is doing. We got to win basketball games. If we continue playing the way we've been playing, we'll be there at the end of the season."
The issue is that the Hawks own the tiebreaker for the eighth spot, so the Knicks need Atlanta to drop off. New York finishes the season facing Washington, Miami, Toronto, Chicago, Brooklyn and Toronto again. Atlanta's remaining games are also against teams that above .500 with matches against Cleveland, Indiana, Detroit, Boston, Brooklyn and Miami. Their run is slightly easier than New York's, but the Hawks have lost three players in recent games, hurting their chances.
"Everybody would say the schedule is not in our favor. There's nothing we can do about that. We got to go play. Our backs are against the wall right now," Anthony said. "We control our own destiny. Sometimes we've been real inconsistent as far as coming out with energy and playing. Tonight was a total opposite. Everybody came out focused, locked in and we didn't look back since the tipoff."