Knicks Make Moves for a Title Run

 

Yes, the New York Knicks should be seen as NBA championship contenders this season. Before the injury to Julius Randle the Knicks won six games in a row and 12 of 14 games. Now, this fact plus recent developments in the NBA have the Knicks as championship contenders. Let’s get into why this is the case.

Decline of the Eastern Conference

The first change in the Eastern Conference that has elevated the Knicks into one of the top title contenders is the downfall of a couple of the top teams. Apart from the Boston Celtics, every team has some concerns.

The Philadelphia 76ers lost Joel Embiid to injury and there is no saying when he will return. The Milwaukee Bucks have looked lost defensively and the concerns about Damian Lillard’s play may be real as they lost five of their last six games to start February. No other teams in the East are seen as legit contenders, except for now the New York Knicks.

Added Depth to the Knicks

At the trade deadline the Knicks were expected to be buyers, and they were. They started off the trade storm by getting OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors. That move paid dividends immediately as the Knicks instantly went on a winning streak.

Their next moves were to add more depth. Without giving up any of their main rotational pieces the Knicks added Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks, two good scorers and three-point shooters. These moves will help them while Randle and Anunoby are out but also give them some of the best depth in the NBA moving forward.

True NBA Star Power

The main gripe that NBA experts have had with the Knicks is that they haven’t had a true star which is seen as a necessity to win an NBA championship. Now, with Jalen Brunson, it is pretty clear that they have a great one. On the season Brunson is averaging 27.5 points per game, ninth in the NBA. In February so far he is averaging 33.8 points.

The main thing a star does is make clutch plays to get wins. Brunson has done that as well. Pairing him with Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, two powerful players, has been a great match. Now with added shooters around them, the Knicks have a championship roster on their hands.

How the Knicks Can Win a Championship

Right now the only team that looks like they could beat the Knicks in a seven-game series in the East is the Boston Celtics and possibly the Milwaukee Bucks. Winning the East would just be the first step. Following that they would need to beat a Western Conference team in the finals. The betting odds have the Knicks with the sixth-best odds to win the championship but they have the third-highest odds of any team in the East. In the regular season the Knicks have looked great, we will see if they can make it happen in the playoffs.

 

By Jack Stradley, I’m a sports writer always looking for a gripping story and a hot take.