Edwards and King of the Athletic both like New York to place second again.
As the NBA season nears, the race to the top of the Eastern Conference promises to be competitive. The balance of power is shifting. We’re not the only ones who feel it. Over at The Athletic, writers Jay King and James L. Edwards III gave their predictions for the East, noting the Knicks’ acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges as key improvements, and expeting the 76ers to also challenge Boston’s dominance.
Last season was New York’s best in years, with a 50-32 record, the second seed in the conference, and a playoff run that will be remembered as a coulda-been-if-not-for-injuries. This summer, the Knicks doubled down on their title ambitions by locking up OG Anunoby, and making significant roster upgrades at shooting guard (Bridges) and center (KAT, assuming that is his position). Edwards, who covers the Knicks for The Athletic, believes the team has emerged as one of the biggest offseason winners. According to him:
“I believe New York and Boston have the two best starting lineups in the NBA. The Celtics’ depth is a bit more proven, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that ends up being the difference between the two teams at the end of the season.”
Trading Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to land Towns addressed a key concern at the center position, while adding size and offensive firepower. Towns is widely regarded as one of the best shooting big men in the league and will complement Jalen Brunson’s dynamic playmaking with spacing and versatility.
Pairing Towns with Brunson, Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby gives New York a potent lineup that will test Boston’s much-lauded depth. The Knicks now possess a fearsome wing rotation, with Bridges and Anunoby—two of the best 3&Ds in the business—flanking Brunson, a Most Valuable Player candidate. This new-look squad is designed to maximize Jalen’s skillset with strong perimeter defense and reliable shooting.
King concurred with Edwards’ assessment:
“New York wins the most improved award […] I wouldn’t have said that a week before the Towns trade, but the Knicks eliminated a potential Julius Randle problem (would he really fit with this roster?) by turning him and Donte DiVincenzo into an answer to their glaring hole at center.”
The East will not be a cakewalk for our heroes. Along with the Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers will be a feisty challenger to the Beantown Bunch. While Boston is coming off a championship season and remains a favorite to win the top prize, Philly, like New York, added a big gun to their roster this summer. The 76ers acquired the aging veteran Paul George, hoping that he can stay healthy and finally push Joel Embiid (now slimmer!) over the hump and into the NBA Finals.
King weighs in:
“The Celtics’ potential weakness was never tested because they didn’t run into Embiid, Nikola Jokić or Antetokounmpo during the playoffs. But that weakness is there, lurking, and I’d love to see how they would strategize against one of those guys. Towns wouldn’t lean on them in the same manner. The Knicks are built more like Boston and, if the Celtics are healthy, I’m not convinced any team will beat them at their own game.”
Overall, New York’s offseason overhaul was about more than adding star power. It was team president Leon Rose’s final play in constructing a team that can win deep into the playoffs—and perhaps all the marbles. KAT will anchor a five-out attack that should turbocharge the Knicks’ offense, and the team’s defensive prowess on the wings will make life difficult for all comers. While some may question the depth they sacrificed in the Towns trade, Leon & Co. are banking on their upgraded starting unit to carry New York to the promised land.
As Edwards points out, the Knicks have addressed their major roster weaknesses and positioned themselves as a true contender. If Brunson continues his stellar play and the team stays healthy, New York could find themselves battling for their first NBA Finals appearance in decades. Per Edwards:
“Whether or not you believe New York’s recent trade for Karl-Anthony Towns made the franchise better, the Knicks — and Sixers— are the only teams at the top of the East who made significant changes in hopes of reaching the NBA Finals. The defending champs didn’t make any big upgrades. Neither did Milwaukee, Cleveland or Indiana.”
As for how the teams will shake out by the end of the season, Edwards and King pegged the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets to brace the bottom of the conference. The scribes both like Orlando (now with signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) and Milwaukee Bucks in the top six; and both listed the top teams, in order, as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
It is officially okay to feel excited. Read the Edwards and King article here. ($) And go Knicks.