Coming off a 50-win season and a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals, the New York Knicks were set to enter the 2024-25 season with expectations higher than they’ve been in years. The bar was raised even more after the front office managed to trade for Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal this summer.
After adding even more talent, the Knicks’ win total over/under is set at 52.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook (Over -120, Under +100). With their revamped roster, the Knicks now have +900 odds to win the NBA championship, ranking fourth behind the Boston Celtics (+295), Oklahoma City Thunder (+700), and Philadelphia 76ers (+850).
With Jalen Brunson’s continued emergence to superstardom and the midseason trade to acquire O.G. Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors, the Knicks were incredibly tough to beat when they had most of their key players on the court. However, injuries began to derail what could have been a special season, particularly during their playoff run.
Regardless, the Knicks were strong offensively during the regular season, but the playoffs exposed their defensive shortcomings as injuries piled up. Despite finishing second in offensive rating during the postseason, behind only the Indiana Pacers, New York struggled mightily on defense, posting a 120.6 defensive rating. This poor defensive performance resulted in a -2.5 net rating, which ultimately led to their exit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The addition of Bridges is expected to help remedy some of the issues as the Knicks aim for a deeper playoff run, but they need Robinson healthy. However, there is a lot of basketball that’ll be played well before reaching the postseason. What is New York’s outlook?
Julius Randle’s Return and the Center Rotation
One of the Knicks’ most critical storylines this season is the return of Julius Randle, who was averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists before a season-ending shoulder injury in January. Randle’s presence, alongside Brunson and Bridges, is vital for New York’s hopes of surpassing their 52.5-win projection on DraftKings Sportsbook. His ability to score and rebound will be crucial, especially with the Knicks experimenting with different lineups.
Mitchell Robinson, their key defensive anchor, is recovering from offseason foot surgery, leaving uncertainty around New York’s rim protection early in the season. He is unlikely to make his return to competition until December or January at this point. In Robinson’s absence, Jericho Sims will likely play an increased role following Isaiah Hartentein’s free agency departure to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sims, now fully healthy after two injury-riddled offseasons, brings athleticism and defensive potential, though his offensive game remains limited. His ability to hold down the fort while Robinson recovers will be critical for the Knicks’ defense. The front office will surely explore trade options to reinforce depth at the center position as well.
Thibodeau may also utilize small-ball lineups, deploying Randle at center to maintain offensive versatility while relying on Bridges and Anunoby to help cover defensive gaps. This strategy could help the Knicks match up better in certain games, but it will put pressure on their perimeter defenders to be effective, especially when facing teams with elite frontcourt players.
Can the Knicks Compete for a Title?
While New York’s offense was one of the best during the playoffs, their defensive shortcomings must be addressed if they hope to compete for an NBA title. The addition of Bridges should help improve their defense, but the team will need to show consistency on that end throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
Brunson is also a strong contender for the MVP award, with +1800 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, tied with Jayson Tatum for the seventh-best odds. If Brunson continues to perform at an All-NBA level, and Bridges provides his expected dynamic all-around impact on the wing, New York will be a serious threat in the East.
The Knicks were very good but not great both offensively and defensively during the regular season. When healthy, they have the talent to potentially be both top five in offense and defense if they reach their potential, or remain in that 5-7 range, but many of their key players have struggled to stay off the injury report in recent years, including Anunoby, Randle, and Robinson.
How the Knicks manage to utilize their firepower will be an important element to their success. While they are more capable than a typical role-player wing, Bridges and Anunoby still aren’t dynamic shot-creators or isolation scorers. Brunson has proven himself as an explosive scorer, but Randle’s presence will surely be required to provide help.
Defensively, the Knicks have Bridges and Anunoby to guard top offensive options and help cover up Brunson and Randle when needed. However, the element that really makes that all work is rim protection, which Robinson will need to stay healthy when it matters most. Having that paint protection presence allows the point-of-attack defense to get into the ball more aggressively and can help with funneling drives without conceding an advantage.
After continually adding talent, the Knicks aren’t a top-heavy team. They have intriguing bench pieces like Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride, and Precious Achiuwa that will help the team contend in the Eastern Conference.
Betting on the over for their 52.5-win total and their +900 odds to win the title on DraftKings Sportsbook offers significant upside if the team can stay healthy and solve its defensive issues in the postseason.
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