The Knicks Have a Toughness Problem

^{Article graphics by Omar Zahran (@omarzahran.bsky.social on Bluesky)}

With double-digit losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics in a 48-hour span, the Knicks remain winless against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference and the best team in the Western Conference (Oklahoma City). In those losses, the team has looked like one that doesn’t belong, one that is below the level of a true championship contender.

My colleague Remi Se summed it up best in his recap following the loss to Boston: this year’s Knicks team feels soft. They lack a certain level of toughness that has been the trademark of successful Knick teams of the past. A hard-nosed team is one that fans get behind, one that we love to root for. With the way things have turned lately, the mental fortitude of this team has come into question but also, we must ask ourselves how important toughness is to us in our basketball team.