Here is what the Knicks need, more than anything else right now. They need to chisel their magic number to clinch the 3 seed in the Eastern Conference to zero as quickly as possible. Entering Wednesday night’s game in Cleveland it was three.
It remains three. The Knicks (no surprise) were unable to maintain an early 15-point lead over the Cavaliers, falling 124-105. The Pacers (no surprise) throttled the woeful Hornets in Indianapolis 119-105. Both teams have six games left. The Knicks have enough remaining against bad teams and the Pacers enough against good teams that the math should work out fine.
It would just be helpful for the Knicks if it happened sooner rather than later.
There are many reasons the Knicks should be grateful that they are far, far away from the Western Conference, but right now the most meaningful one is this: In the West, the 3, 4 and 5 teams are separated by only two games. The 6 and 7 are just one game farther back. There is still much jockeying for position to be had out West. Every game still ferociously matters. One of those teams is going to find itself in a play-in. The others surely have private preferences whom they’d like to avoid in the first round thanks to matchups.
