According to a prominent Las Vegas sportbook, the New York Knicks will have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference during the upcoming season.
Westgate recently posted projected win-loss totals for each team and the Knicks were pegged at 29.5. The only Eastern teams with lower projected win totals were the Bulls (27.5) and Hawks (23.5).
Naturally, New York’s first-round pick begs to differ. Kevin Knox was asked by Marc Berman of the New York Post on Sunday if he saw those odds and Knox admitted it had caught his attention.
“I saw that,” Knox said. “People are sleeping on us with the 29 wins. I think we definitely can win at least 35 and get in that playoff talk. That’s my personal opinion. Everyone has their own opinion. But the whole team, I’m pretty confident we’re really good this year, that we have a chance to make the playoffs.”
If Knox had seen the Knicks play the last few years, he might have tempered his enthusiasm. The Knicks haven’t won more than 32 games over the last four seasons and had exactly 29 victories last year, though they surely would have won a few more if Kristaps Porzingis hadn’t suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Porzingis is expected to miss approximately two months of the season as he continues his rehab. The biggest reason for optimism in New York may be Knox himself. He averaged 21.3 PPG in four Las Vegas summer games despite some spotty shooting and could be a Day One starter.
The rest of the Knicks roster looks rather pedestrian. Their biggest offseason signing was Magic reclamation project Mario Hezonja. Their point guard situation is still a muddle with Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina fighting for minutes. Enes Kanter returns at center and they also have two experienced wings in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee.
New York is also in the toughest division in the East and has a long way to go to catch up to the Celtics, Sixers and Raptors.
This leads to our question of the day: Do you think the Knicks will exceed their projected win-loss total of 29.5 or finish even worse than their current odds?
Please take to the comments section and provide your input on this topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
I’m predicting their win-loss total to be 82
Have you ever considered a career in stand-up? If so… I think you should reconsider.
I will take the under my good sir and I will bet all of my career earnings both past and future
Lower until they find out what Porzingas can do.
The PG position is a mess. You need strong play from the PG position in today’s NBA. Boston, Philly, Toronto, Charlotte, Detroit, Washington, Milwaukee, Indiana, and Miami all have better PG’s then NYK. Porzingis’ health is also a huge concern.
35 wins don’t get you any playoff talks lol.
I was thinking the same. Maybe 40 in the east, probably more like 45-50
KK seems like a nice guy, but he hasn’t played NBA ball, so of course doesn’t know very well how things work, there is no way Knicks win 35, or are close to the playoffs, actually I am not sure they will even win as much games as last year, specially if KP6 doesn’t come back at all this year or does after the all-star, so sorry Kevin it will be a rough year dude.
Cmon, KK? I’m knocking that. Full mame Kevin Knox II. How about or KKII, or Knicks’ Kevin Knox, or– KKK!
Better yet, Knox.
Vegas botched that one. 20-25 at best, and the Bulls will have a better record than the Knicks. Doubt KP comes back on time – or at all this year. Knicks are going to tank it this year and take their medicine for the better draft pick is my prediction.
Not really sure why anyone would believe the Knicks win more games than New York this season. That’s a head scratcher.
I can see it happening, but A LOT of things have to go right.
If Zinger plays 55 or more games, they may have an outside shot at 29, but even then I wouldn’t feel good about it. Less than 55, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Knicks end up just above the Hawks in the East with 21-22 wins.
I kind of agree. If Porzingis plays less than 55, I’m thinking the Knicks struggle to get to 20 wins. With him, they’re still bottom five. Without him, they’re the worst team in the NBA.
I think if Ntilikina can keep playing like the all around guard I saw towards the end of the season they will be able to win 35-42 games. Knox,Robinson,and Ntilikina all bring length and versatility to the Knicks and they can all defend multiple positions.
You guys smell that? It’s BS
Ntilikina? That’s funny. If you removed his left arm, you wouldn’t notice a difference in his game.
7th or 8th seed, probably get KP back and have a real shot at knocking off Toronto, Boston, or the Sixers in the 1st round.
So I went to the summer league and was hyped to see Knox play , dude proceeded to build a brick house the whole game as he got rocked by the Celtics , boy got postered by a random lol