Predictions
Predictions are the worst part about this. Anything can happen and most predictions turn out to be completely off — well, at least my predictions. But alas, after all of this analysis, let’s give our humble predictions so our enemies can use them against us in a matter of months.
Danny Small — Editor-in-Chief — Lead Knicks Editor
Final Record: 22-60
Eastern Conference Finish: 14
Team MVP: Tim Hardaway Jr.
NBA Awards: Frank Ntilikina — NBA All-Defensive second team
The Knicks will hang tough in a lot of games, but without Kristaps Porzingis they just don’t have the offensive firepower to win many games this year. But the season will have its share of highs to go along with the many lows. How the youth develops will be the biggest indicator of whether or not this is a successful season.
Geoff Campbell — Staff Writer
Final Record: 33-49
Eastern Conference Finish: 11
Team MVP: Enes Kanter
NBA Awards: None
Over the last decade, Knicks fans have become accustomed to overhauled rosters, a revolving door with at the head coach position, and promises of new beginnings. Yet the cautious optimist inside me believes that this time things will be different. The Knicks have all their first round draft picks for the foreseeable future in addition to young prospects like Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson.
But without Kristaps Porzingis, this team will struggle and look god awful at times. Expect Enes Kanter to put on a show this season and challenge for an All-Star spot at the center position, which is weak in the eastern conference. Tim Hardaway Jr. must also improve on a solid 2017-2018 campaign, and Frank Ntilikina must take the next step in his development. Nevertheless, if David Fizdale can establish a culture while getting his young team to play hard and stay close in some games, then this season will be a success.
Skylar Darel — Contributor
Final Record: 20-62
Eastern Conference Finish: 13
Team MVP: Trey Burke
NBA Awards: Kevin Knox (All-Rookie First Team)
This year should be the last of this long and difficult rebuild for the Knicks. With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined for much of the season, this campaign is focused on one thing: player development. How Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and Mitchell Robinson develop will go a long way in predicting what the opening day roster in 365 days will look like. If all goes well, Porzingis, Knox, and Ntilikina will make up a young core that includes a top 5 draft pick from 2019 and, ideally, one-two marquee free agents.
Expect lots of losing, but also expect the beginning of a new culture under David Fizdale. It’ll be an experimental year, and that’s ok for now.
Matt Brooks — Contributor
Final Record: 20-62
Eastern Conference Finish: 14
Team MVP: Enes Kanter
NBA Awards, (if any): None. Kevin Knox finishes fifth in Rookie of the Year voting behind Deandre Ayton, Trae Young, Luka Doncic, and Miles Bridges.
With the team’s star, Kristaps Porzingis, out due to a torn ACL, the team begins the season slow as they adjust to new players and a new system. By the time that this young Knicks roster (fourth youngest in the NBA) learns David Fizdale’s fast-paced offense and strong defensive philosophies, the Knicks are well out of the playoff hunt. With a top draft pick in sight, the Knicks elect to sit Kristaps Porzingis for the remainder of the season to fully rehabilitate him for 2019-2020.
The Knicks finish the 2018-2019 season with the second-worst record in the entire league (ahead of the Hawks) and land a top three pick from a talented draft class. Kevin Knox shows signs of promise by putting up strong averages of 14 points and seven rebounds. While many of his athletic around-the-rim finishes and tomahawk dunks are featured on highlight reels, his lack of outside shooting and shortsighted playmaking proves to be his Achilles heel, and he finishes fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. The biggest storyline is the late-season performance by the Knicks’ other rookie, Mitchell Robinson, who thrives defensively after spending the first few months of the season in the G-League. For the first time in years, the future appears to be bright for the New York Knicks.
Louis Sklenarik — Contributor
Final Record: 30-52
Eastern Conference Finish: 12
Team MVP: Trey Burke
NBA Awards, (if any): None
