The going could get pretty bad for the Knicks if they do not start playing at the elite-level everyone envisioned they would, before the season started.

The Knicks’ next 10 opponents provide far more competition than the first nine did. Of their first nine opponents, only two of their prior opponents were playoff squads last season: The Celtics, who were missing Paul Piece for the Christmas day matinee, and the Lakers who were missing Andrew Bynum.