3. New York Knicks
Vegas Win Projection: 29.5 wins
My Win Projection: 25 wins
The Knicks should have the same exact mindset as the Atlanta Hawks. You will be without your best player for the majority (or all) of the season, don’t force anything. Don’t win games; it’s really not in your best interest.
Instead, what the Knicks should do, is develop the hell out of Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. They should also probably make sure that Frank Ntilikina can actually shoot a basketball and run an offense.
I believe in David Fizdale and what the Knicks could potentially build with Knox and KP down the line, but for now, it’s null. Let the young guys play 30 minutes a game, stink bomb the Garden for another year and try again in 2019.
On a side note, is anyone else worried about a 7’2”, slender yet active 23-year-old with a bad knee as well? If I’m the Knicks, KP doesn’t play until the last two weeks of the season, a la 2015 Paul George, just to make sure he can walk. I love KP’s game and want him to succeed, but Knick fans better pray to Spike Lee that his knee recovers well.
