The Knicks just earned top-tier playoff contender status

Knicks at Pacers | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesThe New York Knicks entered this season with immense expectations and little room for error. Their win on Friday night improved their record to 43-25, but the game in Indiana was much more than an addition to the right side of the team's record.

It moved the Knicks into the top-five of both offensive rating and defensive rating, making them one of two teams (the San Antonio Spurs) to be top-five on both sides of the ball. It may have taken the majority of the season, but head coach Mike Brown's vision seems to coming together ahead of the playoffs. Isn't that exactly what they needed?

Brown is delivering the trade-off the Knicks were looking for

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