The thought of the New York Knicks (32-43) and the Brooklyn Nets (40-33) playing a meaningful basketball game this late in the season seemed ludicrous two months ago. Thanks to a weak Eastern Conference, both teams have the opportunity to alter playoff positioning with a win tonight.
Brooklyn has been the most surprising team in the league the second half of the season. At one point the Nets were a struggling 10-21 basketball team. Jason Kidd's first head coaching job appeared to be on the path to destruction. Not only were the Nets losing basketball games, but the team was getting blown out on a nightly basis. The season seemed over when Brook Lopez was sidelined with a broken foot. The Nets are a 30-12 since the terrible start. The most alarming thing about the Nets is the potential for them to get even better.
The Knicks still have a glimmer of hope thanks to the Atlanta Hawks (32-41) sputtering down the stretch. Atlanta is 1-6 over their last seven games. This is definitely a bad time to start a six game losing skid. Atlanta hosts the Chicago Bulls (42-32) tonight. This game is of great significance to the Bulls. They are currently tied with the Toronto Raptors (42-32) for the number three seed in the Eastern Conference. Toronto currently holds the tie-breaker between the two. The outcome of these two ballgames will cause some juggling in the standings.
The Nets didn't move across the Hudson River with the intentions of playing second fiddle to the Knicks. To say this is a statement game is the least. The Knicks do not own a first round selection in what is believed to be a special draft class. If they fail to make the playoffs this is going to be a bleak summer. Brooklyn would love nothing better than to put the Knicks out of their misery. Kevin Garnett and Paul Peirce have no love lost for their cross borough rivals.
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