The New York Knicks came into the season with high expectations, given how last season went for the team. 

They won 51 games last year and made the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games. In the offseason, they didn't overhaul the roster, but did make a big change in the coaching department as they fired Tom Thibodeau and hired Mike Brown. 

Prior to the season, the Knicks were +900 to win the NBA Championship, giving them the fourth-best odds in the league and second-best in the East behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were the top seed in the East last season. 

Ahead of the season, NBA Hall of Famer and Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley picked the Knicks to come out of the Eastern Conference. 

Barkley recently changed his tune, now believing that the Cleveland Cavaliers will be the team to come out of the East. 

The Cavaliers made a big move at the NBA trade, dealing Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden. 

Garland has missed the majority of the season with a toe injury and was sidelined for the majority of Cleveland's playoff run, which ended in the second round at the hands of the Pacers in five games. 

The Knicks also made moves at the deadline, acquiring a two-way menace Jose Alvarado from the New Orleans Pelicans. They also picked up Jeremy Sochan from the San Antonio Spurs on waivers. 

The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 109-94 on Tuesday in a matchup where both teams had a healthy squad. 

Expectations were already high on the Knicks coming into the season, but they grew in December when New York won the NBA Cup, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the Cup Finals. 

The Knicks decided not to hang a banner for winning the NBA Cup, saying their focus was on hanging a banner for the NBA Championship. 

Led by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the team has looked like a championship contender on some nights, but has left a lot to be desired in important contests. Their 0-3 record against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, with no game being particularly close, has many questioning how much of a contender they really are. As does their recent loss to the Cavaliers. 

They are 2-1 against the Boston Celtics, including a recent 111-89 victory on February 8. They trail Boston for the two-seed by 1.5 games.