Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns: ‘It’s a blessing to have pressure’

Expectations have shifted in a major way for the Knicks heading into the postseason, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes.

After entering recent playoff runs as underdogs, New York is now viewed — internally and externally — as a team that needs to deliver a deep postseason push. Owner James Dolan raised the stakes further by replacing the head coach last June and signaling a Finals-or-bust mindset earlier this year.

“They better win,” is how Bondy frames the current outlook.

Despite likely entering the playoffs as a No. 3 seed and not being favored to win the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are operating under heightened pressure following last year’s breakthrough run.

Karl-Anthony Towns acknowledged that shift.

“The perception and standards have obviously changed for us ever since we made that stride last year in the playoffs,” Towns said. “We showed the world that we can beat these teams, especially in the playoffs.”

Towns added that he embraces those expectations.

“Me, personally, I’ve been dealing with expectations since before I stepped into the league,” he said. “It’s a blessing to have pressure.”

Bondy notes that there’s more than just team success at stake. Several players, including Towns and Miles McBride, are eligible for extensions, while others could hit free agency. Strong postseason performances often translate directly into future earnings.

While this year’s roster may not look quite as formidable as last season’s group that upset Boston, the Knicks believe they remain capable of another run.

“We’re really good,” Jose Alvarado said. “We just need to lock in on the details.”