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The Knicks are capable of winning the Eastern Conference
New York Knicks. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks are capable of winning the Eastern Conference

By Adam Taylor  |  Last updated 2/12/24

The New York Knicks have drastically improved their roster in recent weeks. They've added OG Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. 

Suddenly, the Knicks look like legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle have an elite supporting cast, and that should take some of the pressure off their shoulders.

According to 13-year NBA veteran Sam Mitchell, who was speaking via Sirius XM NBA Radio, the Knicks' recent moves have positioned them as a serious threat in the East. 

"It's now. Guess what the Knicks have just done?" Mitchell said. "They've put themselves in position that they can beat anybody in the East."

The Knicks don't have the star talent of the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks. However, they have far better depth. They are built to be a defensive juggernaut. Every player in the rotation can guard at a high level. Bogdanovic's addition gives the roster the sharpshooting veteran it has been missing. Suddenly, the Knicks have a complete rotation. 

Tom Thibodeau has slowly built this roster. The Knicks play his brand of basketball. They play hard. They don't have a weakness that can be exploited in the postseason. Even Brunson can guard his yard and will have multiple switchable wings ready to scram him out of mismatches.

New York's only issue is a lack of deep playoff experience on its roster. The Bucks have NBA champions on their squad. Boston's roster has been to multiple conference finals and an NBA Finals. Both teams know how to win at the highest level. 

The Knicks need to experience that environment. There's no guarantee they're ready to thrive at that level this season. They might need another year. 

No matter what happens in the playoffs, the Knicks are a serious threat. The rebuild is complete and they're ready to compete for a championship. 

If they can find a way to add another All-Star talent in the next 12 months, they could become the most complete roster in the NBA. 

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