Jeff Van Gundy may be close to Tom Thibodeau, he is not in the language of wood to discuss the upcoming season of the Knicks. Thus for the former coach of the team, despite the ” sacred addition That Jalen Brunson represents, New York, 11th in the conference last year (37 wins – 45 losses), has no guarantee of moving up the hierarchy in the East.
” The Knicks have some good players, but when you compare them to the competition in the East, that roster isn’t at the same level. They could surprise everyone and reach the playoffs. But when I watch the conference, I tell myself that you have to see them between 8th and 13th place. They are far from having a guaranteed place in ‘play-in’“, squarely slices the analyst, interviewed by the New York Post.
His diagnosis in any case joins the recent projections of Caesars Sportsbook punters who imagined the Knicks to finish with a record slightly less than 40 wins next year. This placed them in a modest 10th place, synonymous with potential “play-in” therefore, just behind the Cavaliers.
Powerful All-Stars
The latter have since got their hands on the player coveted by New Yorkers, Donovan Mitchell, and should thus go up in the hierarchy.
” The one thing everyone agrees on is that if the Knicks want to jump in the standings, they need to have a guy, or two, to build around. “, Continues the 1999 NBA finalist, according to whom neither RJ Barrett nor Julius Randle does not meet this profile.
The technician rather sees in these two, as well as Jalen Bruson, ” All-star power “, no more. ” I am not negative. Randle was All-Star, they hope Barrett continues to be a more effective player and Jalen is in the All-Star potential category. “, enumerates “JVG” before listing the big names of the East: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, James Harden and Joel Embiid… “ You need a Top 20 player in the league. This is what we build around. They are always looking for it.“
Julius Randle joined this elite by becoming All-Star a year earlier and still integrating the second five of the league. A very good year which contrasts today with its last financial year. For Jeff Van Gundy, his ” bounce “will be so” factor #1 of the Knicks’ 2023 season. After all, the Knicks did well to reach the playoffs relying mostly on their interior in 2021…
