Here are the MUST Games to watch and Gossip about on KO Game Threads early in the season ...
At Cleveland Cavaliers (October 25): Not only is this opening night, but the Cavaliers are also expected to get their championship rings and raise the banner at Quicken Loans Arena. After Carmelo Anthony’s comments about how he would be satisfied without an NBA title, maybe seeing another team get their rings will light a fire underneath him. Don’t expect the Knicks to be perfect this game though; new coach Jeff Hornacek will probably mixing and matching his rotations to see who will fit well where.
At Chicago Bulls (November 4): Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah will both make their return to Chicago on November 4, but new Bulls acquisition Dwayne Wade will hope to play spoiler. The Knicks face a tough schedule early on; eight out of their first 11 games are all against playoff teams from last year, so fans shouldn’t be concerned if the Knicks falter their first few games as they look to set a new lineup.
At Toronto Raptors (November 12): The Raptors were second in the Eastern Conference, and they return many of the same core players from last year. By now, the Knicks should have a good rotation, be comfortable in the triangle offense, and will now need to prove that they can be contenders in the East. A strong showing against the Raptors could set the tone for their season.
Knicks vs Minnesota Timberwolves (December 2):The Knicks will be going up against a very young team in the Wolves who are looking to have a breakout year. Only three players on the entire T-Wolves roster are over the age of 30: Kevin Garnett (40), Tayshaun Prince (36), and Brandon Rush (31). Zach LaVine, Ricky Rubio, and Andrew Wiggins, and fifth overall pick Kris Dunn will pose a strong threat to the Knicks backcourt. Also, the showdown between Kristaps Porzingis and Karl Anthony-Towns showcases two of the best young stars in the league.
Knicks vs Boston Celtics at MSG (December 25): The Knicks are finally back on Christmas Day. Although they may not be in primetime, they currently hope to deliver against a Celtics team who, with the addition of Al Horford, are looking to improve their playoff position from last year. Joakim Noah must contain Horford in order for the Knicks to pull out a win, and Derrick Rose must out play Boston’s talented point guards, including Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart. We should have a good sense of direction for where both these teams are going by the time Christmas comes around, as many have cited the Celtics as the team who could unseat the Cavs at the top of the Eastern Conference. Nonetheless, the Knicks lead off what is a very interesting slate of Christmas Day games.
