ESPN analyst says the Knicks have a 'plausible' path to a championship

The New York Knicks are facing real expectations this season for the first time in years (decades?).

After retaining much of the core of a 50-win team last season and trading for Mikal Bridges, the Knicks are shaping up to be one of the Eastern Conference's elite teams.

ESPN's Zach Lowe certainly sees them as one of the best teams in the league.

While speaking on his podcast, "The Lowe Post," Lowe said the Knicks are still a tier below the Boston Celtics , but nonetheless have a "plausible" path to a championship.

"I think [the Knicks] are going to be in my inner-circle of championship contenders," Lowe said. "I think they can win the championship. I think that's plausible. I'm not going to pick them to win the East; I'm not picking anyone over Boston if Boston is even remotely healthy."

Lowe added: "I think this Knicks team can go toe-to-toe with anybody."

Lowe said — as he has before — that he thought the Knicks, if healthy, were the biggest threat to the Celtics last season. The Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the second round, but were without Julius Randle, OG Anunoy, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic for all or most of the series.

The common belief is that if the Knicks can stay healthy this year, they'll be even better than last year, when Randle, Anunoby, and Robinson missed significant time with injuries in the second half of the season.

"All you can ask as a fan is, does my team have a plausible chance to win the championship," Lowe said. "'Do we need a miracle, or is there a plausible path to it?' I think this Knicks team ... I probably power rank them No. 2 in the East going into the season."

Lowe's comments follow Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix saying the Knicks are "as well positioned as any" team at beating the Celtics.

Of course, the Knicks still have to actually take the court and prove that the pieces add up to a contender. Additionally, the top of the Eastern Conference has seemingly grown stronger, meaning good teams will vulture wins from each other.

Still, after two years of surprising aptitude and good vibes, it's clear the Knicks will have to live up to some degree of expectations this season.