The East Is A Beast
Milwaukee, Brooklyn were already the pick of the litter and they both got better.
Miami, Philadelphia.
Miami added some significant pieces. Philly in a state of flux.
New York, Atlanta, Boston, Indiana, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte all got better.
I wouldn't sleep on Detroit or Orlando or Toronto. Cleveland? Meh.
52-30 is doable, but would require everything going perfectly, and Thibs inculcating a more offensively oriented squad to raise their game on D in a manner commensurate with our departed PG & SF.
44-38 is tenable as per the Prophet BoD, and reflects both the genius and the stubbornness that is Tom Thibodeau. He got seriously punked by Nate McMillan in the playoffs.
48-34 in my questionable estimation, reflects a sense of both the depth and talent of this squad, factoring in a degree of continuity in returning vets such as Randle, Rose, Burks, Noels and Gibson, the ongoing growth of R.J. Barrett, a reasonable expectation of an uptick of performance from Quickley and Toppin, and the anticipated contributions of Kemba and Evan.
There are of course a number of wild cards.
Teams will be laying for the Knicks as they might not have been last season. How might Thib's approach have evolved and has he learned from his mistakes? INJURIES?
WILD CARDS. Mitchell Robinson. Can his foot hold up? If healthy and able to stay on the court, how might his extra mass and muscle factor in? He has been playing at 240 and is now clocking in at 275. His body has evolved. How so his game and his competitive posture in advance of what promises to be a fierce competition with Noel for starters stature and minutes. If deemed healthy, will the Knicks put his mind to rest and give him a new 2 + 1 contract commensurate with his aspirations and value to the team going forward? How might Jericho Sims push Mitchell and Nerlens' envelope as the one guaranteed 2-way contract on our squad?
WILD CARDS: Quentin Grimes. Miles McBride. Will they force Thibs to give them more than token minutes? Kevin Knox. Luca Vildoza. Will they make a case for trust and responsibility and any meaningful MINUTES given how far down the depth chart they seem currently buried?
WILD CARDS: KEMBA WALKER. KEMBA WALKER. KEMBA WALKER. DERRICK ROSE. DERRICK ROSE. DERRICK ROSE. Snow on the roof. How much steam in the pipes? Will Thibs resist his urge to grind them into fucking flour?
Poll
