Knicks look to get back on track with three game homestand

Kristaps Porzingis (Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports)

The New York Knicks ended their five-game west coast road trip going 2-3. The trip started great, with the Knicks winning the first two games against the Kings and Lakers, but ended on a sour note losing the next three games against the Suns, Warriors, and Nuggets.

I said before the road trip started that if they went 3-2, I would consider that a positive. I also thought they had the potential to go 4-1. But that didn’t happen.

Rose reinjured his back with back spasms, leaving the Suns game early and missing the following two games of the trip. The Knicks are 1-3 without Derrick Rose in the starting lineup. They need Rose to be healthy if they want to make the playoffs.

Rose is planning a return to the floor on Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers. Then, they play on Thursday against the Orlando Magic, followed by a matchup with the Boston Celtics on Christmas day.

There was a moment in the Suns game where we saw something no one has seen yet from the Knicks budding star, Kristaps Porzingis. We saw him get in a little scuffle with Suns’ rookie, Marquese Chriss.

While KP was running back on defense, Eric Bledsoe tried to draw the charge and fell down. Chriss thought that KP pushed him so Chriss pulled KP to the ground. KP was not happy about that. KP retaliates and shoves Chriss back. It pretty much ended there, but it was nice to see Porzingis show that he is willing to stand up for himself and push back.

The Knicks currently have a playoff spot, but this is a long season. The Knicks have shown they can be a great team, but they have to be consistent and avoid long losing streaks.

Let’s hope this homestand will help them get back on track and also more importantly, get healthy. Health is key to the Knicks success.