The Knicks open their season against the Pacers on Wednesday night as the Tom Thibodeau era begins. Here are three bold predictions and five games to watch as the 2020-21 NBA season kicks off.
Three bold predictions
1. Alec Burks, the free agent signer, quietly inherits the fledgling small job and doesn’t give up.
2. Frank Ntilikina will be swapped for a second round in 2023 at the March deadline and the rights to a European who will never play in the NBA.
3. Kentucky coach John Calipari speaks more about the Knicks this season than team chairman Leon Rose.
Five games to watch
December 31 in Toronto: Knicks round off the wretched 2020 with their first-ever game in Tampa Bay, where the Canadian club is hosting the pandemic. The Knicks will see what they were missing in PG Fred VanVleet, which they tried to sign.
January 13 vs. nets: Knicks will face Kevin Durant for the first time in black Brooklyn duds after the superstar passes on James Dolan’s team. KD has since relegated the franchise to ‘not cool’.
January 18 – Orlando: The Knicks passed on local PG Cole Anthony, who is visiting the Garden for the first time as a pro and Tom Thibodeau faces his longtime friend Steve Clifford.
February 12 in Washington: Russell Westbrook will be in a Wizards uniform after the Knicks half-heartedly chased him. They also get close to see Israeli attacker Deni Avdija, who they could have picked over Toppin.
February 21 vs. Minnesota: This will be Thibodeau’s Super Bowl as he faces the franchise that unceremoniously dumped him in January 2019 and tarnished his reputation. Nice to see you again, Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Post Forecast
30-42: With a different coach I would pick 22 wins, but Thibodeau is the real deal.