At 8-20, the Knicks are a longshot to make the playoffs even in a below average Eastern Conference. The standings say they are 4 1/2 games out of eighth place but that really means little because there are few signs of the team playing above an 8-20 pace. Another 8-20 puts them at 16-40 and if you add in their 8-18, that’s 24-58.
So that being said, here’s a list of teams that had 20 losses in the first two months of a season and how they finished in every 82-game season since 1984-85.
2006-07
Philadelphia 8-22 went 27-23 the rest of the way for 35 wins
New York 13-20 went 20-29 the rest of the way for 33 wins
Charlotte 9-21 went 24-28 the rest of the way for 33 wins
Atlanta 9-20 went 21-32 for 30 wins
Memphis 5-25 went 17-35 for 22 wins
2005-06
Toronto 8-22 went 19-33 for 27 wins
New York 7-21 went 16-38 for 23 wins
Charlotte 10-20 went 16-36 for 26 wins
Atlanta 7-21 went 19-35 for 26 wins
2004-05
Toronto 10-21 went 23-28 for 33 wins
Atlanta 5-23 went 8-46 for 13 wins
New Orleans 2-26 went 16-48 for 18 wins
2003-04
Orlando 8-24 went 13-37 for 21 wins
Washington 8-21 went 17-34 for 27 wins
Chicago 9-21 went 14-38 for 23 wins
Atlanta 9-24 went 19-30 for 28 wins
Cleveland 10-22 went 25-23 for 35 wins
Phoenix 12-20 went 17-33 for 29 wins
2002-03
Cleveland 6-26 went 11-39 for 17 wins
Toronto 8-23 went 16-35 for 24 wins
Chicago 11-20 went 19-32 for 30 wins
Denver 6-24 went 11-41 for 17 wins
Memphis 9-22 went 19-32 for 28 wins
2001-02
Miami 6-23 went 30-23 for 36 wins
Chicago 6-23 went 15-38 for 21 wins
Memphis 9-21 went 14-38 for 23 wins
Houston 9-22 went 19-32 for 28 wins
2000-01
Washington 6-25 went 13-38 for 19 wins
New Jersey 9-21 went 17-35 for 26 wins
Chicago 5-25 went 10-42 for 17 wins
Atlanta 10-20 went 15-37 for 25 wins
Vancouver 8-22 went 15-37 for 23 wins
Golden State 6-20 went 11-45 for 17 wins
LA Clippers 10-21 went 21-30 for 31 wins
1999-2000
Washington 10-20 went 19-33 for 29 wins
Chicago 2-25 went 15-42 for 17 wins
Vancouver 6-23 went 16-37 for 22 wins
Houston 10-20 went 24-28 for 34 wins
Dallas 9-21 went 31-21 for 40 wins
LA Clippers 9-20 went 6-47 for 15 wins
Golden State 6-23 went 15-40 for 19 wins
1997-98
Philadelphia 7-21 went 24-30 for 31 wins
Toronto 4-26 went 12-40 for 16 wins
Denver 2-26 went 9-45 for 11 wins
Vancouver 10-20 went 9-54 for 19 wins
Dallas 5-25 went 15-37 for 20 wins
LA Clippers 6-24 went 11-41 for 17 wins
Golden State 7-21 went 12-42 for 19 wins
Sacramento 11-20 went 16-35 for 27 wins
1996-97
Boston 6-21 went 9-46 for 15 wins
Philadelphia 8-20 went 14-40 for 22 wins
Vancouver 6-25 went 8-43 for 14 wins
San Antonio 7-20 went 13-42 for 20 wins
Denver 8-22 went 13-39 for 21 wins
1995-96
Philadelphia 5-22 went 13-42 for 18 wins
Toronto 9-21 went 12-40 for 21 wins
Vancouver 5-25 went 10-42 for 15 wins
Minnesota 7-20 went 19-36 for 26 wins
1994-95
Minnesota 6-21 went 15-40 for 21 wins
LA Clippers 4-25 went 13-40 for 17 wins
1993-94
Washington 8-20 went 16-38 for 24 wins
Milwaukee 8-20 went 12-42 for 20 wins
Dallas 2-24 went 11-45 for 13 wins
Minnesota 8-20 went 12-42 for 20 wins
1992-93
Washington 8-20 went 14-40 for 22 wins
Dallas 2-22 went 9-49 for 11 wins
1991-92
Orlando 6-23 went 15-38 for 21 wins
Charlotte 8-23 went 23-28 for 31 wins
Minnesota 4-23 went 11-44 for 15 wins
Sacramento 8-20 went 21-33 for 29 wins
1990-91
Miami 8-21 went 16-37 for 24 wins
Denver 6-23 went 14-39 for 20 wins
Orlando 7-23 went 24-27 for 30 wins
Sacramento 6-21 went 19-36 for 25 wins
1989-90
New Jersey 8-20 went 9-45 for 17 wins
Miami 7-23 went 11-41 for 18 wins
Orlando 9-20 went 9-44 for 18 wins
Charlotte 6-20 went 13-43 for 19 wins
Minnesota 6-23 went 16-37 for 22 wins
Sacramento 7-20 went 16-39 for 23 wins
1988-89
Indiana 5-22 went 23-32 for 28 wins
Miami 3-24 went 12-43 for 15 wins
San Antonio 7-20 went 14-41 for 21 wins
1987-88
New Jersey 5-21 went 14-42 for 19 wins
Sacramento 7-21 went 17-37 for 24 wins
Golden State 4-20 went 16-42 for 20 wins
1986-87
New York 9-21 went 15-37 for 24 wins
New Jersey 6-20 went 18-38 for 24 wins
San Antonio 8-22 went 20-32 for 28 wins
Sacramento 8-20 went 21-33 for 29 wins
LA Clippers 4-24 went 8-48 for 12 wins
1985-86
New York 7-21 went 16-38 for 23 wins
Indiana 9-21 went 17-35 for 26 wins
Chicago 13-21 went 17-31 for 30 wins and playoffs
Sacramento 9-22 went 28-23 for 37 wins and playoffs
Golden State 12-22 went 18-30 for 30 wins
Seattle 12-20 went 19-31 for 31 wins
LA Clippers 11-21 went 21-29 for 32 wins
1984-85
New York 12-22 went 12-36 for 24 wins
Indiana 8-22 went 14-38 for 22 wins
Cleveland 6-22 went 30-24 for 36 wins and playoffs
Golden State 10-20 went 12-40 for 22 wins
