The Knicks hardly have been playing with their food throughout the holiday season, and they certainly do not need to apologize for fattening up against a softer portion of their schedule versus some of the NBA’s lesser weights.
If Memorial Day is the first true mile marker of legitimacy within the baseball season, Christmas Day or thereabouts generally is that indicator in the NBA.
And following a disjointed 5-6 start while integrating two new starters, Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks have taken off over the past six weeks.
They have posted 15 wins in 19 games since mid-November to establish themselves as a viable contender in the Eastern Conference with a top-5 record in the entire NBA.
Friday’s game in Orlando will come against another of the East’s better squads — and the one right behind them in the standings — even if the Magic continue to play without injured All-Star forward Paolo Banchero.
