Best Bet: Knicks Under 26.5 wins (-125)
Worst Bet: Knicks to Win the Atlantic Division (+10000)
The Knicks are coming off yet another disappointing season, and a season that they failed to get the number one pick that ultimately became Zion Williamson. The Knicks had to settle for the third pick, selecting RJ Barrett. A 17-65 season doesn’t seem to provide much hope for the coming season, and New York could be in for another rough season in 2019-20. Kevin Knox and Allonzo Trier were able to develop into a couple of very capable scorers as rookies, but the team just couldn’t compete with their counterparts in the division. The Knicks ended up finishing dead last in the East and missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.
There are plenty of new faces for the Knicks for the 2019-20 season and it looks like they will try to build around rookie RJ Barrett and center Julius Randle. They were hoping to get the big catch of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but they ultimately went to crosstown rival Brooklyn. The Nets also snatched DeAndre Jordan who spent time on the Knicks in the second half of last season.
The Knicks not only selected Barrett but were able to get Ignas Brazdeikis in the second round. Add in the rest of their free agency haul and the Knicks have a pretty veteran group that could make some noise this season. Marcus Morris, Bobby Portis, and Reggie Bullock all have proven to be valid scoring options.
The center position is the real major concern as Mitchell Robinson is the only true center on the roster. They’ll need Randle to play some at the five and hope Robinson can take the next step in his sophomore campaign. He is a threat at both ends, especially on the defensive glass, but has yet to show his full potential. He made the all-rookie second team last season and could be set for a big leap in 2019-20.
Knicks Win Total: O/U 26.5 Wins
Oddsmakers have the Knicks’ win total set at 26.5 for 2019-20, and it’s not be hard to see why, they already look like a much better-built team than in 2018-19, but the real question is can they play as a team. With a big amount of roster turnover from last season, most would think this team is set to make a jump in wins. However, many thought that would happen only a few years ago when the Knicks still had both Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, and it never materialized.
The Knicks last reached the 30-win mark in the 2015-16 season when they won 32 games, and have dropped in win total every season since. This team dropped from 29 wins down to 17 last season. Anything is possible in the NBA in this day in age, but regardless, Under 26 wins for this Knicks squad is a good play as they could be in for yet another early lottery selection.
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +500, No -650
The Atlantic Division sent four teams to the playoffs last season, but the New York Knicks weren’t one of those seven. The Knicks’ playoff drought continues, as they have now gone seven straight seasons without making the postseason. Their last playoff birth was in the 2012-13 season when they finished 1st in the Atlantic and won 54 games before getting knocked out in the Conference Semifinals by the Pacers.
We are talking about a team that has made the playoffs three times in the last 14 years. In a division with the Raptors, Celtics, 76ers and now Nets as legitimate contenders for the playoffs, its a good bet that the Knicks won’t be in the playoffs.
Odds To Win the Atlantic Division: +10000
Well, you are looking at the term of a true longshot. The Knicks have made the playoffs just three times this decade, but in doing so they were also able to win the division once during that span. 2012-13 was a really good year for the Knicks, as they were able to win 50 plus games for the first time in almost 15 years. But here we are seven years later, and this team looks even further away from any chance at winning anything at this point.
This team just doesn’t have two to three superstar caliber players on it. To make noise and to even have a possibility of winning a division as tough as this the Knicks would need a superstar. Don’t get me wrong this team has players that can star in the NBA, but they don’t have the true player that can be called a “Superstar”. No chance for the Knicks here.
Odds To Win the Eastern Conference: +8000
Does this team even have any players that have reached the conference finals? Marcus Morris looks like the only player for this team who played in the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago with the Celtics. That doesn’t bode well for a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in seven years, let alone the Conference Finals since the 1999-2000 season. With players with very little or no playoff experience, this team doesn’t seem destined for success anytime soon. Marcus Morris may have three playoff appearances in his career, but the Knicks just don’t have enough firepower to compete with other teams in the East. Avoid this, they can’t even make the Playoffs.
Odds To Win NBA Championship: +25000
Ah, no way, this team has to make the playoffs first. Maybe if they would have made the big splash that Knicks fans everywhere were hoping they were going to pull off. However, it didn’t pay off as Durant and Irving went to Brooklyn and Williamson is in New Orleans. As explained above this team doesn’t have what it takes to even be considered at this point. No championship for the Knicks this year.
