NBA
NBA In-Season Tournament: What result do the Knicks need to qualify for the quarterfinals?
On Friday night, the New York Knicks dodged elimination with a victory over the Miami Heat, but what are their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals?
The New York Knicks are currently in a solid position to clinch Group B in the inaugural in-season tournament. The stakes are high as they aim to secure their spot in the quarterfinals and potentially arise as a wildcard.
To clinch Group B, the Knicks must win their next game and hope the Milwaukee Bucks lose theirs. Additionally, the Knicks must win the tiebreaker over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat. If all of these events happen, New York will be at the top of Group B, stomping their dominance in the last stage of the tournament.
However, if the Knicks cannot win Group B, they have other pathways to secure a wildcard spot in the quarterfinals. One scenario is for the Knicks to win another game while the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets all lose. Another way is for the Knicks to finish as the second team in Group B and win the tiebreaker over any second-place team from other groups with a 3-1 record.
Lastly, if the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets all lose and the Knicks win their tiebreaker, they could secure the wildcard berth. This would be a remarkable achievement for the Knicks, as it would mean they have emerged as one of the top teams in the tournament.
Overall, the Knicks have much to play for in the upcoming final game of the In-season Tournament group stage. They can make a statement and show that they are a force to be reckoned with in the tournament. They will also try to find some motivation to raise their game for the rest of the league season and finally give the all-demanding Knicks fans some reason to celebrate.