“I’ve been on bad teams before, New York Knicks aren’t one”: Austin Rivers explains how Julius Randle and co are much more competitive in 2020-21

Austin Rivers praised this year’s New York Knicks and claimed they aren’t a bad team unlike last year’s squad, or those from the past 7 seasons.

After 8 games, the New York Knicks are well above .500 with a 5-3 record after their win over the Utah Jazz last night. The Knicks are currently the 5^th seed in the East. They have the same record as Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Knicks have been playing as though they want to make the Playoffs or atleast the play-in tournament. At the moment, it seems as though the tanking days are behind the Knicks.

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With a young core comprised of RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and Obi Toppin, led by Julius Randle, the Knicks seem to be a formidable opponent. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for pushing his players to win games and not tank.

Austin Rivers praises this current iteration of the New York Knicks

With wins over powerhouses such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, and the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks seem to be building up confidence in themselves. The Knicks’ newest offseason signing Austin Rivers took to his postgame interview to talk about their recent successes. He said, “I’ve been on bad teams before, this is not one, I can promise you that.”

He continued on by saying, “I don’t know where we’ll end up. There’s so much work to do, but I know the spirit is different. This is not that Knicks team y’all have been covering.”

Austin Rivers on NYK: ‘I’ve been on bad teams before, this is not one. I can promise you that. I don’t know where we’ll end up. There’s so much work to do…But I do know the spirit is different…This is not the Knick team that…ya’ll have been covering” pic.twitter.com/HBIeQ238mD

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 7, 2021

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Rivers is definitely right about the fact that there’s more work that needs to be done. The Knicks have impressed so far, but it has merely been 8 games. There is nothing stopping them from becoming the 21-45 Knicks from last year.

Julius Randle seems to have taken major strides in his offensive game, as he is passing much more often this year. RJ Barrett has also improved now that he has a couple respectable shooters to pass out to.

Coah Thibs has also brought on his defensive schemes to New York. If the Knicks continue to defend the way that they are, and produce on offense, they have a chance to snag a bottom seed out East.