This new look Knicks squad with head coach Tom Tibado has demonstrated toughness and grit this year that has brought back passed memories from Knicks team from the 90s that were really competitive and played physical basketball. This team has been led by Julius Rhandle who was has taken a giant jump in his game for his second year with the Knicks. All his stats have jumped of the page and has just been announced as an all star reserve  for this years all star teams.

Another stud on this Knicks team is second round pick Immanuel Quickley who has become a fan favorite this season. Coach Tibs has changed the culture of the Knicks as soon as he walked into the building and brought his rough rider mentality with him. The new look Knicks are actually watchable now and fans can sit through a whole game knowing that they are playing at a respectable level. This isn’t the same old New York Knicks of old this team has new gritty hard playing culture to it with young guys hustling, diving for loose balls, fighting for boards, playing hard. Even when their up 15 in garbage time they are still playing like the game is tied with a minuet left on the clock in the fourth quarter.

The mediocre Knicks teams off the past were a disgrace to the New York Knicks name by not showing effort day in day out and finishing at the bottom of the eastern conference and even wasting their top lottery picks on players such as Frank Ntilikina and Kevin Knox who are still on their rookie contracts but will most likely not be on the team after that because of their awful and inconsistent play these past years. Fans won’t have to deal with bum coaches like Fizdale, Jeff Hornacek, or even Isiah Thomas that can’t produce or lead a team as a head coach in the NBA.

But this team still has a ways to go like any young team.  Obi Toppin, the Knicks first round pick this year, hasn’t produced the way we all thought when they picked him 8th overall.  Scouts thought he would be a plug and produce player. To be fair he is only seeing the floor 13 minutes a night and only putting up 4.7 points a game. Hopefully when Obi gets the opportunity we can see the player that they drafted out of Dayton college that was racking awards in his senior year and was one if or not the most exiting college basketball player too watch last season. Obi is in this years dunk contest and he can show what was the main reasons the Knicks drafted him for in bringing a spark to the offense of the team and lead some fast break drives to get the team rolling when they need too.

This team has shocked everyone in the NBA world with the Knicks even being in the playoff non the less the 4th seed in the eastern conference. They have brought back the energy to fans of the team that were embarrassed to even be seen with any Knicks apparel now are proud to say that there team is kicking some butt and taking names. This team certainly has a bright future if they keep playing the way they do and hit on their next couple of draft picks or free agency this team will be a team to watch in the upcoming years.