Here’s the thing about success, even if it’s modest like the Knicks’ second-round appearance last season: There are expectations attached.

So yes, the Knicks played competitively against a championship contender in Wednesday’s opener. But no, there are no moral victories anymore. They’re 0-1. That’s it.

The days of David Fizdale getting excited over Emmanuel Mudiay’s contested jumper in the second quarter of a 30-point loss are over. And Knicks fans should be thankful for that.

With that being said, there are moments to learn, to dissect, to project. Zero wins with one loss, in the grand scheme, doesn’t mean much. The Knicks started 0-1 during their best seasons of the past decade — in 2020 and 2022. They started 1-0 in 2021 (and stunk) and 1-0 in 2018 before tying a franchise record with 65 defeats that season.