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The New York Knicks had a poor end to their otherwise promising 2020-21 NBA campaign as they suffered a gentleman’s sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. However, with a promising roster that made some fine additions this summer, Tom Thibodeau and the front office will be hoping for a better season this time around.
Making 3 bold predictions for the New York Knicks' upcoming NBA campaign
The New York Knicks have bolstered their offense significantly by bringing in Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker, who are expected to start on the team's backcourt next season.
RJ Barrett and Julius Randle will likely grab the two forward spots, with Mitchell Robinson rounding up the starting 5.
Things are looking good for the New York Knicks after years of mediocrity. On that note, we have made three bold predictions for the team's 2021-22 NBA season:
#1 - Tom Thibodeau will win Coach of the Year honors once again
Tom Thibodeau made a stellar start to his tenure as the head coach of the New York Knicks, leading the franchise to their first postseason appearance after 8 seasons.
The Knicks last made the playoffs in 2013, but Thibodeau's brilliant coaching and man-management helped the team post a 41-31 record in a highly competitive Eastern Conference. They secured the 4th spot in the standings and advanced to the playoffs.
There is a good probability that Thibodeau will win the coveted NBA Coach of the Year award once again, considering he has a better roster than last time around.
The New York Knicks are capable of making the top three in their conference, with only the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets virtually guaranteed a spot ahead of them. There is a lot of turmoil amongst the 76ers, and the Hawks are a relatively inexperienced side. This means the Knicks and Thibodeau have their destiny in their own hands.
If the New York Knicks do end up in one of the top three positions in the Eastern Conference, Thibodeau will certainly be one of the nominees to win the COTY award for the third time in his career.
#2 - The New York Knicks will have one of the best defenses in the league next season
The New York Knicks finished the 2020-21 NBA season with a 108.2 defensive rating, making them the third-best defensive team in the league. They averaged 7 steals and 5 blocks per game, and their defense was a major reason why they secured the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs.
The Knicks will be looking to maintain similar intensity next year, despite a defensively weaker backcourt of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. It should affect them a lot, considering head coach Tom Thibodeau's tactics have relied on team defense rather than a player's individual prowess.
Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson are entering their second season under Thibodeau's tutelage and will further improve on the defensive side of the ball. The same goes for RJ Barrett, who has displayed immense potential on that end despite being a young player.
#1 - The New York Knicks will end up making a deep playoff run
The New York Knicks now have one of the most potent offenses in the Eastern Conference, with the quartet of Walker, Fournier, Barrett, and Randle all bringing in different skillsets. Derrick Rose also remains one of the best sixth men in the NBA.
With all these players, it is safe to say that the Knicks have done a brilliant job of improving their offense, which was far from ideal last season.
Meanwhile, defense has never really been an issue for the New York Knicks, which suggests that the franchise is now proficient at both ends of the floor.
Hence, in all likelihood, the New York Knicks are primed for a deep playoff run. The only thing that can stop that from achieving this is probably a meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks or the Brooklyn Nets in the first two rounds.
