Winning an NBA championship isn't easy, and the regular season can be just as important as the playoffs, despite what some may think.
Phil Jackson made a rule that has stood the test of time pretty well, which can narrow down what teams are true contenders each season.
Unfortunately for the Knicks this season, they don't appear to be trending in a positive direction that would make them an exception to this incredibly accurate rule.
What rule says the Knicks aren't title contenders?
Phil Jackson created what is known as the '40-20 rule', stating that teams are highly unlikely to win a title if they don't win their 40th game before they lose their 20th game in the regular season (40-19 = about a.678 win percentage).
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Right now, the only teams on pace to meet that standard are the Thunder, Pistons, Spurs and Nuggets.
The Knicks were well on pace to fulfill the requirements of this rule before going through a rough patch during their season, only winning 2/10 games recently.
The Knicks' current win percentage has them on pace to be 40-27 once they win their 40th game, which would put them well outside the boundaries.
How accurate is the '40-20' rule?
Since the three-point line was introduced, only four teams have won a title without following this rule, and one of those years was during a shortened season (2021: Bucks).
That means that only 8.7% of the time since 1980 have teams won without meeting the requirements for the rule.
Obviously, upsets can happen, but it's very unlikely considering how infrequently teams have been able to defy the odds.
The Pacers were 40-29 last season when they reached their 40th win, and were a game away from being the next team to prove Phil Jackson wrong, but weren't able to do it.
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