mobile app bar

“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

Samir Mehdi
Published

“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 5th 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.

Also Read: “Can you think of what would have happened if those were black people”: Sixers coach Doc Rivers passionately points out white privilege in treatment of Washington rioters

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.”

Also Read: “Kawhi Leonard wasn’t happy with Draymond Green’s flagrant foul”: Video shows how Clippers Finals MVP was frustrated with Warriors star’s foul on him

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.

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

instagram-icon

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

Share this article