The way New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler sees it, if his team sneaks into the postseason, whoever gets the top seed between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers would be in trouble going up against the Knickerbockers. Per the NY Post:
“I always thought we’d really give our ourselves a shot of making the playoffs,’’ Chandler said late Monday after the Knicks finished their Western trip 3-2 after a 92-83 win in Utah. “I still believe if we get in there, somebody’s going to be in trouble.’’
As April dawns, the Nets become the first obstacle in the way of the Knicks (32-43) making a miracle finish, stunning James Dolan, Phil Jackson and Steve Mills and stealing the eighth seed from the slumping Hawks. Atlanta holds a one-game lead, two in the loss column, but its management may have an eye on the lottery.
The Knicks host the revived Nets Wednesday at the Garden, with the rematch April 15 in the season’s second-to-last game. Whether the Knicks still are ticking by then remains to be seen.
After all, the Knicks finish with seven games against Eastern Conference playoff teams.
“These last seven games are big for us, against teams that are going to give us a run for our money,’’ Carmelo Anthony said. “We have to go out there and accept that challenge. This schedule is not in our favor right now, but we got to go take games.”
On March 3 in Detroit, the Knicks had blown another big lead, lost their seventh straight game, fell 19 games under .500, dropped 6 ½ games out of the eighth seed and Chandler questioned his future as a Knick.
“We dug this hole, we’re trying to dig out,’’ coach Mike Woodson said. “Our guys are fighting. I love that.’’
