After an offseason filled with drama, we're suddenly less than two weeks out from the NBA regular season tipping off. A lot has changed since the Knicks topped the Spurs in five games to win their first championship since 1973. LeBron James plays for the 76ers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Heat. Kawhi Leonard was traded back to the Raptors, but only after an NBA investigation into the Clippers circumventing the salary cap concluded, leaving Leonard largely unscathed. But all of that is in the past and now it's time to turn the page toward the action on the court.
With the start of a new campaign nearly upon us, here are some pressing questions we're considering ahead of the NBA's return. The Knicks entered last postseason as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, then went on an epic postseason run that included just three losses overall (remarkably, two of those came courtesy of the Hawks in the first round) en route to New York's first championship in 53 years. That historic performance featured several astounding come-from-behind victories, most notably their recovery from a 29-point deficit in Game 4 of the NBA Finals to shock the Spurs and everyone else.
Given the degree of difficulty, it's hard to dispute that the Knicks were a team of destiny. But as challenging as it was for Jalen Brunson and his running mates to win the title, it figures to be even more difficult to repeat. The Knicks boast one of the best starting fives in the NBA and return the entire unit from their championship run.
The currently contentious contract negotiations with Karl-Anthony Towns probably aren't helpful when it comes to morale and continuity, though. That will be something to monitor, especially with Towns openly offering that the chances of getting an extension done before the season begins "don't look good." That aside, the Knicks rightly enter the season as the betting favorites in the East -- but only slightly (+370 at FanDuel). The 76ers (+420) and Celtics (+500) aren't that far off, according to the oddsmakers, and the Raptors (+850) loom.
Beyond that, the Thunder (+240) and Spurs (+280) both have considerably better odds to win it all (the Knicks are +1000). That's not so much a shot at the Knicks as it is a nod to recent history. The NBA has featured a new champ in each of the last eight seasons.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
