James L. Edwards III of The Athletic examined the possible playoff seeding scenarios for the Knicks and which position might ultimately benefit them the most.
Although the No. 1 seed is still technically within reach, Edwards notes it is highly unlikely that New York will catch Detroit, making a finish somewhere between the second and fourth seeds the most realistic outcome.
While ending up outside the No. 2 spot could feel somewhat disappointing, the analyst argues that the No. 4 seed might actually work in the Knicks’ favor, since it could set up a first-round matchup against Toronto, a team New York has handled well this season.
Edwards also points out that while the Knicks’ defense has improved significantly since the All-Star break, the offense has become less consistent.
Over the past 26 games, New York’s offensive ranking has dropped from fourth in the league to 10th.
The team relies heavily on three-point shooting, a style that can fluctuate greatly, and recently, the Knicks have struggled when those shots haven’t fallen.
Turnovers have also become more common during that stretch.
Despite those issues, Karl-Anthony Towns believes the team still has what it needs to succeed.
“The last two games, we’ve done a great job of giving ourselves chances to win games, but we just haven’t shot well,” he said Wednesday.
“Then we weirdly shoot well at points in the game to give ourselves a chance. It’s just sometimes how the game goes. We just have to stay confident.“
The Knicks remain heavily dependent on Jalen Brunson: https://t.co/iPD61HppbC
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 12, 2026
