The Knicks open their season Wednesday night against the Pacers as Tom Thibodeau begins. Here are three bold predictions and five games to watch as the NBA 2020-21 season picks up.
Three bold predictions
1. Alec Burks, the signatory of the free agent, quietly inherits the small initial work and does not give it up.
2. Frank Ntilikina is traded in March for a 2023 second-round pick and rights for a European who will never play in the NBA.
3. Kentucky coach John Calipari talks more about the Knicks this season than team president Leon Rose.
Five games to watch
December 31 in Toronto: Knicks closes the miserable 2020 by playing the first game in Tampa Bay, which hosts the Canadian club due to the pandemic. Knicks will see what they missed in PG Fred VanVleet, which they tried to sign.
January 13 vs. Nets: The Knicks will face Kevin Durant in the crazy blacks of Brooklyn for the first time after the superstar passed on James Dolan’s team. Since then, KD has downgraded the franchise as “not cool”.
January 18 vs. Orlando: Knicks passed on to local PG Cole Anthony, who is visiting the Garden as a professional for the first time, and Tom Thibodeau faces his longtime friend Steve Clifford.
February 12 in Washington: Russell Westbrook will be wearing the wizards’ uniform after the Knicks half-chased him. He is also approaching to see Israeli striker Deni Avdija, whom he could have selected over Toppin.
February 21 vs. Minnesota: This will be Thibodeau’s Super Bowl, as he faces the franchise that abandoned him unceremoniously in January 2019 and tarnished his reputation. Nice to see you again, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Job Forecast
30-42: With another coach, I would win 22 victories, but Thibodeau is the real deal.