Let’s be clear here, the Knicks are good so the question of whether they’re “frauds” is relative.
The problem is the relativity is based in a bad Eastern Conference.
The Knicks are coming off a weekend in which they lost to both of the top teams in the East. Friday they were completely clowned by the Cavs 142-105 and lost by double-digits to the Celtics 118-105 on Sunday.
To make matters worse for the Knicks when it comes to trying to shake any fraud label, they’re currently 0-3 this season to the Celtics with a -63 point differential, 0-2 against the Cavs with a -43 point differential, and out West, they’re 0-2 against the Thunder with a -35 point differential. Additionally, the Knicks are 11-14 against teams who are above .500.
Although they’ve still got a comfortable cushion in that third spot in the East, their overall remaining strength of schedule features a collective winning percentage of .505, according to Tankathon, with the Pistons, Pacers, and Magic all having perceived easier schedules in the final leg of the regular season.