Gone are the days when the New York Knicks were the laughingstock of the NBA. Last season marks the first time they made the playoffs since 2013. Along with their success, all the controversies on and off the floor seem to have been forgotten. We are now entering another golden era in one of the most legendary franchises in all of sports.
The brand new season is still a few months away. This should not stop us, and NBA fanatics from discussing what the future holds for the Knicks. They are a very exciting team to watch given the array of talent they possess. Besides, seeing an underdog finally rise on top of the food chain is always entertaining to see.
With that in mind, let's come up with three way-too-early bold predictions for the Knicks.
Knicks picks:
3. First or Second in the East
Last season could be tagged as a rehearsal for the 2021-22 season. It was Tom Thibodeau's first season the team's head coach. He basically tested if his system would work on a new crop of players, most of which are young up-and-comers for the Knicks, led by Julius Randle. Thibodeau guided the team to a decent 41-31 record for fourth in the East. Not just that, but he also unlocked the full potential of Randle, showed us what Immanuel Quickley can do, and how RJ Barrett can get a whole lot better.
As we speak, Thibodeau is probably tweaking his playbook for the upcoming season while keeping in mind some of last year's mistakes. Defense (they ranked fourth) has always been Thibodeau's specialty so he'll likely make some minor tweaks there. The problem lies in the offense (they ranked 22nd). The Knicks front office was wise enough to add Evan Fournier to the fold, an automatic 15-20 points per game type of player. Of course, there's Kemba Walker who remains one of the most underappreciated guards in the league. These two additions will likely be enough to solve their problems on offense.
2. A Trip to the Eastern Conference finals
A stellar performance in the regular season almost always translates to a great performance in the postseason. Thus, if the aforementioned prediction comes true, then the Knicks will likely make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. This may sound blasphemous, especially with the Brooklyn Nets and the defending champs Milwaukee Bucks in the same conference. Even the Philadelphia 76ers, amid their issues with Ben Simmons, can still make a deep playoff run.
Before we forget, Tom Thibodeau once led the Chicago Bulls to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference in the 2010-11 season. This was when the All-Star trio of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were lurking around. Yes, they were ousted by the powerhouse squad. What we're trying to say is that Thibodeau knows how to maneuver his way past teams that look stronger than them, at least on paper. If Thibs did it before, there's no reason he could do it again this year for the Knicks.
Knicks tape:
1. Julius Randle Wins MVP
Randle was crowned Most Improved Player last season, thrilling Knicks fans. Longtime NBA fans know that former winners of the MIP award go on to become absolute legends. Just a quick rundown of some players who have raised the MIP trophy: Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Love, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Randle is poised to forge his name as one of the best talents of his generation. His work ethic has been well-documented. From being tagged as inconsistent during his days with the Los Angeles Lakers, Randle has developed into an elite-caliber player.
Randle actually finished eighth in the MVP voting, representing the Knicks with 20 points. It's safe to say that Randle is now on the radar of the voters. Antetokounmpo, Jokic, and Embiid will likely be among the top favorites to raise the MVP trophy once again. However, let's remind ourselves of how strange MVP voting works in the NBA. There's a tendency that the voters get “fatigued” from choosing from the same set of candidates over and over again. A good example is LeBron James, who's been in his prime for pretty much his entire career. Analysts believe he should have more than four MVP trophies right now. But because of his overdominance, voters drifted their eyes elsewhere.
It sounds ridiculous but this is the reality of MVP voting. This may be an opportunity for Randle to get a good amount of votes enough for him to be crowned MVP. The “voter fatigue” will surely be a factor. But what will take precedence is that Randle will be hands down one of the best players in this league for the Knicks.
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