The NBA play-in tournament is just over a month away, making every game count. With that, we’ve decided to give you, the fans, a watching guide.
We’ll keep this post updated as much as possible, so you know exactly which non-Knicks team you should be rooting for and against going forward, with a deep postseason run—and why not a Finals triumph!—in mind.
March 8th
Kicking things off in our inaugural week is a big Sunday. Just hours before the Knicks take on the Lakers, the Celtics and the Cavaliers — the two
teams sandwiching the Knicks — go head-to-head in a big Eastern Conference matchup. This one, unlike some of the other games, doesn’t have the most clear-cut answer as to who to root for. It’d make the most sense for you to root for the Cavaliers, as the Celtics currently sit 1.5 games ahead of the Knicks for the two seed in the East. But, if you don’t think the Knicks will catch the Celtics, or don’t think that they can, or will beat the Lakers today for some reason, then it may make more sense to root for the Celtics to keep the Cavaliers off the Knicks’ tail. Overall, though, if you have high hopes and expectations for this team, root for Cleveland.
There’s also the Mavericks vs. Raptors game later on at 6:00 pm ET. While the Raptors aren’t necessarily within reaching distance of the Knicks, sitting five games back entering today, I think most Knicks fans would rather play them than the currently sixth-seeded Magic in the first-round. The Knicks should beat either team in a seven-game series, but given the Magic’s record against the Knicks and their physicality, the Raptors provide a much easier path and matchup. For that reason, the Knicks should root against the heavily favored Raptors today. For that same reason, fans should also look to root for the Magic when they face off against the Bucks later today.
And last, but not least, is the game between the Pistons and the Heat. As a rule of thumb, until further notice, the Knicks and their fans should look to root for whatever team the Pistons are playing. Detroit entered today with the third-best record in the league, and sits firmly atop the conference with a 45-17 record, which happens to be five whole games ahead of the Knicks. But they are trending in the wrong direction. Boston has gone 7-3 in their last 10, while New York and Cleveland have gone 7-3, but Detroit, after last night’s disappointing loss to Brooklyn, has gone just 6-4 and has lost three straight games. The first seed may seem like a long shot for the Knicks, but never say never.
March 9th
Philadelphia, which just lost Tyrese Maxey and has been without Joel Embiid for some time now, will take on Cleveland to start off the night. The 76ers will be heavy underdogs here, but get ready to root for them. Outside of the Knicks vs. Clippers game later that night, no other game will have standing implications. But go ahead and root for the Grizzlies if you want to see the Nets lose.
March 10th
It’s highly unlikely that they drop two straight to the woeful and tanking Nets, and as a Knicks fan, rooting for the Nets may feel ridiculous. But as stated above, it doesn’t matter who the Pistons are playing; you have to root against them if you want what’s best for the Knicks.
In the cross-conference matchups between the Raptors and Rockets, root for the Rockets to take down the Raptors. And when the incredibly hot Spurs take on the Celtics, root for the former. If everything goes well, the Knicks could take over the second seed by Tuesday night.
March 11th
The Cavaliers and the Magic play in a pretty meaningful game, one that could very well be a first-round preview, to kick off Wednesday’s slate. If the Magic, who could be the fifth seed by this point, win, it would further improve the odds of the Knicks playing the Raptors in the first round, as it also hands the Cavaliers an extra loss. All eyes should be on this game, and be rooting for the Magic.
The Pelicans take on the Raptors in what should be an easy win for Toronto. Slim odds for a Raptors loss, but root for the Pelicans anyway. They need it.
March 12th
It feels weird…. scratch that. It’s downright annoying having to root for the 76ers. But they play against the Pistons, which means, yup, you guessed it, root for them anyway. And after that, root for the Magic to beat the Wizards to continue improving their odds of finishing as the fifth seed. And finish the night off by rooting for the Thunder to come out victorious against the Celtics.
March 13th
Are the Pistons ever going to play a good team again? Unsure. Have fun rooting for the Grizzlies against them to start off the day, while you watch the Knicks, hopefully, take care of business against the Pacers. On the side, don’t forget to root for the Suns against the Raptors, and root for the lowly Mavericks to somehow come away with a win against the Cavaliers.
March 14th
Light day of homework today. Root, at your own risk, for the Wizards (good luck) against the Celtics. Maybe Boston will sit Jayson Tatum, who is coming off his Achilles injury, and will likely have a few load management days built in. And maybe they’ll be kind enough to sit Jaylen Brown and Derrick White as well. Or, New York’s favorite, Trae Young, may uncharacteristically have a good game? The Celtics will likely win regardless of who plays and who sits, but root against them anyway.
Oh, and as for the 8:00 pm ET in-state matchup between the Heat and the Magic, root for the Heat (insert vomit emoji here) so the Magic don’t get too close to the Knicks for a potential late-season run at a second or third seed.
Eastern Conference Standings Through March 7th
