Last night, Monday, March 12, 2012, the New York Knicks lost to the Chicago Bulls, 104-99, in a game that could very well be a preview for the opening round of the 2012 NBA playoffs.
Derrick Rose
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago Bulls in First Place in East While New York Knicks Tied for Eighth
The Chicago Bulls currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference of the NBA at 35-9. That is two games ahead of the Miami Heat who have a record of 31-9.
The New York Knicks have a record of 18-24. They are currently tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference of the NBA.
Knicks Have Lost Six Straight Games
After getting back to 18-18 on the season by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 29, 2012, the Knicks have since lost six straight games to fall into the tie with the Bucks for the last playoff spot.
I'm a big Carmelo Anthony fan, and have been following the Knicks since they acquired Melo in a trade in February of 2011. I live in the New York City area, and when the Knicks were sitting at .500 on the season at the end of February, a lot of the media in New York kept talking about the Knicks moving up in the playoff standings so they would not have to face Chicago or Miami in the first round.
Knicks Will Get Back On Track Once Their Schedule Gets Easier
That talk was premature, as the Knicks faced a very tough part of the schedule, which they have not handled well. Once the tough stretch is over, the Knicks will start to face lesser teams, and they will start winning games again and probably make the playoffs as the eighth seed.
So the question most people should be asking now is can the New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs? If last's night game was any indication, you have to say the Knicks would certainly have a chance vs the Bulls.
Knicks Got Out-Rebounded by 18 Last Night, but Only Lost to Bulls by Five Points
The Knicks only lost last night by five points, 104-99, and they got out-rebounded by 18 off the glass (56 rebounds for the Bulls to 38 for the Knicks). The Bulls grabbed 22 offensive rebounds in the game. If not for all those offensive rebounds, the Knicks could have won the game for sure.
Knicks Played Without Defensive Specialist Jared Jeffries Last Night vs Bulls
The Knicks are missing defensive specialist Jared Jeffries right now, as Jeffries is out with a knee injury. Jeffries has not played in the last four games. Had Jeffries played last night, I don't believe the Bulls would have out-rebounded the Knicks by 18 off the glass.
Based Upon Last Nights' Game Knicks Would Have a Chance vs Bulls in Playoffs
Except for getting killed on rebounds last night, the Knicks were right there in the game with the Chicago Bulls. Add Jared Jeffries back into the mix, and the Knicks should be able to do better off the glass against the Bulls. That makes one think that the Knicks would have at least a chance to beat the Bulls in a playoff series this year.
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