New York Knicks’ called “the most unstable team in the NBA” amid a lack of identity by Fred Katz

On Tuesday, the New York Knicks lost a game that many would think was quite impossible to lose. Despite leading for 46 minutes, the Knicks still somehow managed to squander the lead and the game and found themselves on the wrong end of a historic performance by Luka Doncic.

The Knicks, even without Jalen Brunson, led by as many as 12 points in the fourth-quarter, including 112-103 with 33.2 seconds remaining. But they were completely nonexistent in overtime, losing their fourth game in a row.

The 126-121 loss to the Dallas Mavericks only adds to the despicable lore that has surrounded the New York Knicks over the last two decades: The Knicks are simply not a good franchise. Despite several organizational and coaching changes and roster turnovers, the Knicks just haven't hit a stride.

Their bid for Donovan Mitchell in the offseason went awry. They signed RJ Barrett to a $120 million extension, which, in pure Knicks fashion, he hasn't lived up to yet.

The only laudable move that the New York Knicks have made this offseason was signing Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 20.2 points and 6.6 assists per game, and might even be in All-Star conversations.

Fred Katz of The Athletic sounded off his frustrations with the New York Knicks, writing:

"The Knicks have turned their fans into an emotional wreck. They have flipped identities midseason. They played fast, then slow. They couldn’t rebound, then they could.

"They couldn’t hit 3s, then they could sometimes, then they played lineups that couldn’t. They have been excellent. They have been treacherous. And they are exactly where they should be.

"They are the most unstable team in the NBA." (via) The Athletic

New York Knicks on a four-game losing streak following a dreamy run

New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks

Fred Katz's description of the New York Knicks as "unstable" just about summed up by their last four games, all of which have been losses and have come after an eight-game winning streak.

Most of these losses have been fairly close, with the average margin being five. This is quite the opposite of their winning streak, where the average margin of victory was over 17 points. Instability really is the best way to describe the Knicks.

With an 18-17 record, the Knicks yet again seem to be in a spot most NBA franchises dread: right in the middle, fodder for contending teams and most likely good enough for a first-round playoff exit at best.

The issue here is that the Knicks have been in this place (or worse) for 20 years. The only upside in the last 20 years was when Carmelo Anthony took them to second round, only to beaten in six games at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in 2013.