The New York Knicks are exactly who we thought they were

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kemba Walker #8 and Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on October 05, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the pacers 125-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

At 22-24, the New York Knicks currently sit at 11th in the Eastern Conference, one spot out of being in position for the play-in tournament.

This is a far cry from last season when the franchise clinched their first winning season since 2012-13 and made the playoffs before being iced out by Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.

A reminder that after tying the series 1-1, Knicks fans chanted “We Want Brooklyn” outside of Madison Square Garden, and then proceeded to lose three straight games.

The New York Knicks were right to be hopeful at the start of the year

There was a reason for optimism in the offseason, and there were individuals like ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith who boldly proclaimed that the Knicks were here. And, despite a tough start thus far, New York has shown promise.

They even recently pulled off a trade with Atlanta for Cam Reddish in exchange for Kevin Knox and a first-round pick. New York also got a second-round selection and Solomon Hill in the deal.

But when you look deeper into this team, you are beginning to see signs that last season’s surprise run was, in fact, a surprise run and may not evolve into anything. The most recent loss to the New Orleans Pelicans only adds to the notion.

So, what is it about the New York Knicks that continues to see struggling times? There’s just no answer. It’s the recurring story of a franchise that has one breakout season and then reverts to their underperforming roots, which is disappointing for a team in one of America’s biggest markets.

The New York Knicks have so much to learn before calling themselves contenders

Against New Orleans, the Knicks allowed Jonas Valančiūnas and Josh Hart to run wild, combining for 35 points between the two. Overall, six Pelicans players scored over 10 points. The Knicks had five. That’s not necessarily bad, and frankly, it can be attested to an off night, but New York can’t be given that benefit of the doubt any longer.

This is one of the crown jewel franchises in America, at least in net worth, but there are no championships since 1973 to show for it. Instead, the headlines often portray what goes wrong. At some point in time, things have to change, right?

Sure, Tom Thibodeau did bring a level of defensive pedigree with him, but New York’s defense has not played up to par. You can say that this is a young team that needs time to gel, but when the playoffs expand, and more opportunities arise, the best teams (or at least the more focused teams) will push themselves to gain the opportunity.

It’s not over yet for New York. Things can change. For now, though, it just looks like the same team that underperforms despite having talent, leaving a proud fanbase fuming at every stop in a park in New York City.

22-24, two games below .500. Last season, a home playoff game and the city buzzing. Right now? Still buzzing, but mainly about what happened. They know what happened, but can they fix it?