New York Knicks' Schedule Breakdown and Record Predictions for January
The New York Knicks enter 2015 in need of a fresh start. With the team currently on course for a historically bad season, 2014 was certainly a year to forget.
A simple turn of the calendar isn't going to set the Knicks on the right path. This team is lacking in both talent and chemistry, and it may even be too late to salvage anything of value from the campaign.
Still, New York should at least improve in the new year. They've had time to get used to one another and get healthy, which at some point should translate into a few more victories. They'll still be one of the league's worst teams, but maybe not quite as embarrassing as they have been so far.
Looking at the remaining schedule, January presents the Knicks with their best opportunity to turn things around. They play a number of middling Eastern Conference teams and are at home for seven of the 13 games in the month. They'll also get a welcome rest on either side of their NBA Global Games matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks in London on January 15.
Week 1: 01/02 to 01/08
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Most Notable Matchup: vs. Pistons (Jan. 2)
The Knicks open the new year at home against the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks before hitting the road for games against the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. They end the week back at Madison Square Garden, welcoming the Houston Rockets and their new addition, Josh Smith.
This will be New York's toughest week of January, but the home game against Detroit to start it off is definitely winnable. The Pistons are directly above the Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings and haven't been much better overall this season. Getting rid of J-Smoove has proved to be addition by subtraction, but the Knicks are still fairly close talent-wise.
Expect the Knicks to snap their nine-game losing streak against Detroit, before another losing streak is kicked off against the Bucks and their impressive defense. Five tough matchups in seven days will simply be too much to handle for the Knicks at this stage.
Weekly Record: 1-4
Week 2: 01/09 to 01/15
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Most Notable Matchup: @ Bucks (Jan. 15)
After a tough week, the Knicks will begin a stretch in which they play just two games in nine days, thanks to their trip to London to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
Before heading across the pond, however, the Knicks will face the Charlotte Hornets at home. The Hornets have been disappointing in 2014-15, and this is definitely an opportunity for the Knicks to get a rare victory. Their last meeting was a close loss in Charlotte that came down to the final shot, but home court should be enough to give New York the edge this time round.
The Knicks will be well-rested going into their matchup with the Bucks in London, but the trip overseas will not be an easy one. They have, however, made this trip before—beating the Pistons back in 2012—which may give them a slight advantage.
Without a doubt, the Bucks are the better team, but in a game like this, experience is as important as ever. Key players like Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Pablo Prigioni have all made this trip before. That may be enough to lift New York to victory, marking its first unbeaten week of the season.
Weekly Record: 2-0
Week 3: 01/16 to 01/22
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Most Notable Matchup: @ Sixers (Jan. 21)
Another quiet week is in store for the Knicks post-London, as they play only two games—one at home to the New Orleans Pelicans and one on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Anthony Davis and the Pelicans should cruise to victory at MSG, but the Knicks will get their fourth win of the month against the tanking Sixers. If the Knicks continue to struggle as badly as they did in 2014, however, this could be an important game in deciding who gets the top seed in the draft lottery. As it stands, Philadelphia is the only team keeping New York from the top spot.
When it's all said and done, the Knicks will be a fairly high lottery team, but with players like STAT and Melo on the roster, they shouldn't be serious contenders for the top seed. As the season plays out, they'll win enough games to stay out of contention, especially considering the fact they play the Sixers four times.
New York has proved to be pretty damn good at tanking recently, but Philly is simply a class above in that regard.
Weekly Record: 1-1
Week 4: 01/23 to 01/29
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Most Notable Matchup: @ Pacers (Jan. 29)
The Knicks will open their final week of January with a win at home against the Orlando Magic, marking a solid 4-1 run. The week's remaining games, however, will see them return to familiar form with four straight losses.
Orlando has been decent this season—certainly a lot better than New York—but momentum, rest and home-court advantage will swing this game in the Knicks' favor.
As for the rest of the week, road games against Eastern Conference rivals (namely the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers) will bookend the schedule, with a homestand against the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder in between.
Charlotte and Indiana are both mediocre teams, and as such New York will have a chance to win both games, but ultimately being on the road amid a five-game week will be tough. It's hard to picture any outcome other than New York being outclassed against Sacramento and OKC, even at home.
Weekly Record: 1-4
January Recap
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The Knicks aren't going to set the world on fire in January, but there are some winnable games on the schedule, and they should take a handful of them.
Five wins will mark New York's best month of the season so far. Its overall record will still be woeful, but the team will be on the road to mediocrity as opposed to abject failure, which is a little more in line with the talent on the roster.
A handful of games could also go either way—especially against the likes of Detroit, Milwaukee, Charlotte and Indiana. It's definitely feasible that the Knicks could win only a couple of games in January, or they could actually go .500 on the month. The major X-factors will be whether Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith can make an impact, and if Iman Shumpert will rejoin the lineup before the end of the month.
January Record: 5-9
Overall Record: 10-38
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