Ticket prices, decibel readings and a 29-point guard with no off switch — New York is peaking at the right time.
Home crowds have been worth real points this spring. The building was loud from the opening tip, and the third-quarter surge that decided the game was fueled by three straight defensive stops that brought the arena to its feet.
League executives polled this week were split on the question, but the consensus was clear on one point: the price of standing still in this conference is higher than the price of overpaying. The teams at the top are not waiting around.
Around the locker room afterwards, the mood was measured rather than jubilant. Veterans have seen April runs evaporate before, and the schedule ahead offers no soft landings — four of the next five come against teams above .500.
