Discuss a measuring-stick sport.
The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau and employed Mike Brown, prolonged Mikal Bridges, and overhauled their depth with championship ambitions in thoughts. Their first take a look at comes instantly — a season opener that feels extra like a spring preview internet hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2 Las Vegas favorites to win the Japanese Convention and attain the NBA Finals going toe-to-toe to kickoff the NBA season.
Cleveland completed 64-18 final season earlier than bowing out to Indiana within the second spherical, a run derailed by accidents to key gamers. The Knicks, after all, reached the Convention Finals earlier than the Pacers eradicated them for the second yr in a row.
“It’s a good test. It makes us better,” Karl-Anthony Cities mentioned after Monday’s apply. “You get to see where you stand and what to work on when you play teams that are highly looked upon this year. So we just go out there and play our best.”
The oddsmakers agree on the stakes.
The Cavaliers enter at +220 to win the East, that means a $100 wager would web $220 in the event that they attain the Finals. The Knicks sit shut behind at +325, forward of the rising Orlando Magic (+600), Atlanta Hawks (+900), and a second tier that features Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Milwaukee within the plus-thousands.
The Knicks insist they’re unmoved by early forecasts — even when it’s inconceivable to dam out the noise.
“You hear and see everything in this era of social media and TV and podcasts,” mentioned Jalen Brunson, who hosts one with teammate Josh Hart. “It’s as much as the particular person consuming it to imagine it or disregard it.
“I disregard it — because it doesn’t mean s–t. It’s not for me to worry about. My worry is practice, film, getting better every single day. I don’t have time to think about what people say about us.”
Cities isn’t a fan of early odds, both.
“All that is looking at a crystal ball, hoping things work out the way the crystal ball says,” he mentioned. “We’ve gotta take care of our team. Don’t worry about the chatter. Just focus on what’s in the locker room and what we’ve got to accomplish.”
YABUSELE’S LISTED WEIGHT TURNS HEADS
One quantity within the notes raised eyebrows.
Guerschon Yabusele is formally listed at 6-8, 283 kilos — 18 kilos heavier than his itemizing with Philadelphia final season. For context, reigning MVP Joel Embiid stands 4 inches taller and has traditionally weighed 280 kilos however seems noticeably leaner getting into 2025-26.
“You know, the game notes are done by a cat I don’t really trust,” Brown mentioned, laughing. “A lot of [BS] in there. I ain’t gonna lie — I don’t even read the game notes. I didn’t ask him to put on weight or take off weight. That’s between him and our performance people.”
‘KEEP THE EXCITEMENT GOING’
Cities understands what comes with the territory. Madison Sq. Backyard will likely be electrical Wednesday, and expectations are sky-high.
“There’s no better fans in the world,” he mentioned. “They bring about power each single night time — at MSG and on the highway. It’s nice that we’ve got pleasure and optimism this yr, however on the finish of the day it’s about us doing our half and maintaining that pleasure going.
“The fans can see the potential of what we can be by the end of the year. It’s our job to actually reach it — and exceed it.”
