What a difference a year makes.
2014 has brought nothing but wins and standings leaps to New York’s active sports team. It’s really shaping up to be our year!
(What, it’s only been two weeks? So what!)
When we left 2013, one and a half loooong weeks ago, the Yankees, Mets, Giants and Jets had failed to make the playoffs; the Knicks and Nets, expected NBA title contenders, had plummeted to the Atlantic Division cellar; and the local hockey teams were getting buried early in the new Metropolitan Division.
Well, we’re in luck in 2014. Two weeks in, the Knicks and Nets are rolling with 5-1 records in the new year, the Rangers are 4-1-1 and the Islanders have surged back into playoff contention with a 5-1-0 mark since the turn of the calendar.
And the Mets are undefeated.
Knicks
Pre-2014 record: 9-21; fifth place, Atlantic Division; 14th place, Eastern Conference.
Current record: 14-22; third place, Atlantic Division; 10th place, Eastern Conference (half-game behind 8th place)
After an opening-night win against the Bucks, the Knicks stumbled to a 3-13 record, including a 1-7 mark at Madison Square Garden. They won two games in a row just once, but currently ride a four-game winning streak, pulling within half a game of the final playoff spot in the East.
Signature win: Jan 2, 105-101 at Spurs
True, they’ve also beaten the Heat, but this win started the new year, and came in San Antonio, where the Spurs are extra tough to beat. Carmelo Anthony led the way with 27 points and 12 rebounds in his return from an ankle injury.
Nets
Pre-2014 record: 10-21; third place, Atlantic Division; 11th place, Eastern Conference
Current record: 15-22; second place, Atlantic Division; 8th place, Eastern Conference
Bringing in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Andrei Kirilenko was supposed to mean a trip to at least the Eastern Conference Finals and perhaps beyond. But new coach Jason Kidd had trouble early, piloting the Nets to a 3-10 mark through 13 games and a 10-21 record on Dec. 31. Brooklyn has since beaten the Thunder, Hawks, Warriors and Heat, which has them four games out of first place in the Atlantic Division.
Signature win: Jan. 10, 104-95 (2 OT) vs. Heat
It took two overtimes, but the Nets outlasted Miami, thanks in large part to Joe Johnson’s 32 points — 22 of which came in the fourth quarter alone. Garnett added 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Nets won their season-high fifth game in a row.
Rangers
Pre-2014 record: 20-19-2; fifth place, Metropolitan Division; two points out of a playoff spot
Current record: 24-20-3; third place, Metropolitan Division; currently hold an automatic playoff berth
The Blueshirts started the season 4-7-0 and went 3-4-2 on a nine-game homestand late in December. They have gone 4-1-1 since the calendar turned, and are four games over .500 for the first time all season.
Signature win: Jan. 8, 3-2 at Blackhawks
The Rangers got out to a 2-0 first period lead before the Central Division-leading Blackhawks did what they do best, scoring twice in the second period to tie it. But Carl Hagelin scored late in the third period for his fourth game-winning goal of the season. The Blueshirts haven’t lost since.
Islanders
Pre-2014 record: 13-21-7, last place, Metropolitan Division; 11 points out of a playoff spot
Current record: 18-22-7, last place, Metropolitan Division; 7 points out of a playoff spot
The latter part of 2013 saw the Islanders — a playoff team last season — take up comfortable residence in the Metropolitan Division cellar, suffering from a lack of offense and suffering through a stretch of four wins in 23 games at one point. In 2014, the offense had been plentiful with 23 goals in six games, and the Islanders are on a seven-game road winning streak.
Signature win: Jan. 6, 7-3 vs. Stars
The Islanders had one win in 10 games on home ice before spanking the Stars, 7-3. They had 43 shots, and an MVP-like performance from captain John Tavares, who had his first hat trick of the season and two assists for a five-point night.