Knicks going full speed, to lottery

From Bing Bong to possibly Ping Pong. One-third into their schedule, the reeling Knicks are out of a playoff position and would re-enter the draft lottery if the season ended today.

The devolution into these circumstances has been abrupt and alarming, with Sunday’s 112-97 defeat to the Bucks providing no reason to believe the Knicks are done with their slump.

The Knicks were without RJ Barrett (COVID-19 protocols), Obi Toppin (COVID-19 protocols) and Alec Burks (personal reasons) while facing the defending champs. But instead of rising to the occasion they wilted almost immediately after tip-off. They fell behind by double digits in the first quarter and couldn’t recover. The Bucks (18-10) never trailed.

Most problematic was the continued regression of Julius Randle, who signed his $107 million extension in the summer and managed just eight points in 35 minutes and committed seven turnovers. He was no match for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (20 points and a triple-double) or even Bobby Portis (19 points, 10 rebounds).

The Knicks (12-15) have now dropped six of their last seven games and sit 12th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. Not even the play-in tournament would help them in this position.

They’re just 5-9 at home and three of their last four defeats have been non competitive, including consecutive weekend matinee embarrassments at MSG.

The paid feelings from the fan base after last season’s rise to the fourth seed and the 5-1 start to this campaign — which birthed the slogan “Bing Bong” from celebrating fans outside the Garden — has dissipated.

The crowd is back to groaning and booing during games, no longer serenading Randle with “MVP” chants at the same frequency.