GustavBahler wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/10/01/nba-media-days-winners-and-losers/

New York Knicks (winner)

For the first time in the 21st century, the Knicks enter a season as the NBA’s most interesting team. Thanks to successive trades for OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, New York has surrounded franchise guard Jalen Brunson with an impressive collection of very-good-but-not-great players who are in their prime years. While there are still enough defensive stoppers on hand to satisfy grind-master coach Tom Thibodeau, the retooled Knicks have a chance to capture imaginations and dominate headlines with a souped-up offense that should be among the league’s best. Towns’s arrival as a floor-spacing big man should maximize Brunson’s effectiveness as a downhill attacker, and Bridges and Anunoby should settle into well-fitting roles as complementary scorers.

The Madison Square Garden crowd loves the Knicks whenever they show a flicker of aptitude or heart. Just imagine how they will respond if Brunson leads a top-five offense, the three-pointers pour in from all directions and New York emerges as the Eastern Conference’s biggest threat to the Celtics?

Of course, the Knicks intrigue cuts both ways. New York has committed more than $475 million to Anunoby, Bridges and Towns over the duration of their contracts, and Bridges is only signed through the end of next season. None of those three is among the NBA’s 20 best players, raising the possibility that the Knicks have invested nearly half a billion dollars and significant draft assets to construct a core that might still lack the A-list talent needed to win the franchise’s first title since 1973.

This much is clear: Whether they boom or bust in their maiden voyage together, the overhauled Knicks will be must-see television.

Brunson is a top tier player and one might say top 10?
What is not on paper but possible is 1+1=3. OG when he came did far more to the effect the team than what was on paper.
The "Januar effect" was quite fun to behold and Randle was a big beneficiary. Partly he had shaken the rust from his inactive summer recovering from his ankle surgery but also RJ/IQ were not great ball movers. OG very unselfish ball move in their place. DDV it the shots that Grimes could not.

Mikal vs. DDV. I think fans are.a bit romantic about DDV. His play no doubt was inspiring and he had some nice heroics when our guys sat more. We needed his offense at times as Jalen was carrying more than his fair share and was fab at it. Same for Deuce, it was great but more so because he ascended from the bench and fans love that!!!

Chemistry: We won't Know until we know, or 20 games in. Two new starters are a big deal. Massive roster changes.
KAT is more mature, has his money, and he does not have to be the face of the franchise both not he court, off the court, or in the locker room. Thats ON Jalen. He walks into a culture that is succeeding and has to answer and be accountable to it. This is different than him being at the epicenter of it. That his team succeeded as it did last year was a great growth experience for him.
Love Randle but he has frustrations with players. He did not mesh well with RJ and had huge issues with Forniers movements. His game was creating and he was good at it. We might have a more organic flow with this roster and the benefits from space.

Defense: Good defense creates offensive flow. You have a defense centric coach and three elite defenders in Josh,OG and Mikal. KAT is long and should be able to improve as we have seen him in spurts over his career. Naturally A healthy Mitch at the 5 could be great, but that remains in doubt. Precious can step in very well when OG is out. This can be electric! We might not be a top defense team but good enough to disrupt passing lanes and create turnovers. Knick teams box out also!

Outlook: Fans should be optimistic but reality is in the era of parity most teams have flaws and the league is designed to not have repeat champs. The knicks have been "the surprise team" twice in the Leon era making expectations inflated. Not all fans believe the same. Our odds are good but we might not make the conf. finals for many reasons including injury. Milwaukee fell flat with Giants and Middleton hurt last year, Philly, with Embiid had a less than expected record and gave a superior knick team absolute hell in its series. Embiid was limping and looked awful at times actually improved over the series! With PG13 and Maxey fully mature with a decent bench might surprise. Boston is the champ, while Indy and Orlando continue to be very good. Parity matters. Health will matter.

Prediction: Fun!

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/draftpoint2024/status/1840988514139156490

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/lockedonknicks/status/1841279273966915956