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To be a real Knicks fan, you must own a fortitude that other team fanbases aren’t required to have.
Your patience, passion, emotional disconnection, recognition and resolve must be strong if you plan on keeping your mental capacity intact.
Real Knicks fans know what I’m talking about because they’ve experienced the pain of bleeding blue and orange.
The Knicks will give you thrilling moments and then rip your heart out in the biggest games.
They will dominate the best teams for three quarters and then falter in crunch time.
That’s what I, along with Knicks fans of my age, have experienced as we continue to hope for a revival of the glory days of the 70s and 90s.
The 2022-23 team is led by All-Star Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson, who more than deserved to be an All-Star this year.
Randle, the Knicks’ 2x All-Star is having a career year in points (25.2), rebounds (10.4) and three-pointers attempted (8.3) and deserves his accolades.
Barrett is a model of consistency. He’s averaged double digits in scoring every year, including this season (19.8).
Brunson, the floor leader the team has lacked for so long, has surprised many with his play. The fifth-year player out of Villanova is averaging a career-high in points (23.8), assists (6.1) and three-point shooting (41.4%). His play has silenced the doubters who questioned whether he’s worth his hefty four-year, $104 million contract.
The Knicks also have good depth off the bench with Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Isaiah Hartenstein and the newly acquired Josh Hart.
The team is currently in the sixth playoff spot with 12 games remaining and has a good chance at moving up a few spots before the end of the season.
That the Knicks are relevant, and in the playoffs, is great for New York and the NBA in general.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
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