Things 'Bout to Get Tough (Bring on the Bucks)

Yes, the Knicks are riding a three-game winning streak, but two of those victories came against the Pistons and the Magic, who are a combined 1-9 through their first ten contests. And New York registered their most recent win over a Hornets team playing without their three best players. 

Beginning Friday night in Milwaukee, when the Knicks take on the undefeated Bucks, we'll get a better sense of where NY stacks up against some stiff competition. 

But, yes, there are reasons to be optimistic. 

New York's most impressive showing this season may have actually been the one game they lost when they forced the Grizzlies into overtime in Memphis. Furthermore, despite ranking sixth in the NBA in Offensive Rating (averaging 116.6 points per 100 possessions), the Knicks aren't yet firing on all cylinders. RJ Barrett is putting up more than 18 shots a night but shooting just 37% from the floor, including a putrid 14.3% from downtown (3-for-21). Evan Fournier has converted less than 40% of his FG attempts. IQ is shooting below 36% from the field and 28% from behind the arc. So, there is room for improvement.