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Thibodeau staying even-keeled amid Knicks' longest win streak in 7 years

Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association / Getty

The New York Knicks are on their longest win streak in seven years after securing their fifth straight win Friday over the Dallas Mavericks.

New York hadn't won five consecutive games since 2014. However, head coach Tom Thibodeau is staying even-keeled amid the franchise's best period of success in recent years.

"Am I happy? You know I'm never happy," Thibodeau said postgame, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "We try not to get wrapped up in all of that stuff. I think you don't want to get lost, and that's the most important thing to understand what goes into winning. I think if we're taking care of all the little things, the big things take care of themselves.

"I think we have a belief that we can win, and that's probably the most important thing. It started that way in the beginning. It doesn't really matter what outside people think. It's what we think."

The Knicks currently sit sixth in the East with a 30-27 record during Thibodeau's first season in charge. They're poised to reach their first postseason since the 2012-13 campaign.

New York is tied for the third-best defensive efficiency after finishing 23rd in the same department a year ago. Seventh-year forward Julius Randle has also flourished under the former NBA Coach of the Year, averaging career highs in points (23.6 per game), rebounds (10.6), assists (six), and 3-point shooting (41%).

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