Around the NBA 2025-26 - Vol 2... Hard Knock Season

[MrDollarBills]

It helps that Wemby, Shai, Luka, and Jokic will all beat the crap out of each other before one of them makes the Finals. The East will not be easy but if we get our top 9 to the playoffs healthy I am betting on us

[DOT]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

[Wildcat]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Based on W's alone, they aren't going to be a 60 win team this year.

[thebuzzardman]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

That's a different team with Garland and Hunter.

Hunter usually gave the Knicks fits on defense when he was on the Hawks. Garland is the 2nd scorer/creator good teams need.

[DOT]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Based on W's alone, they aren't going to be a 60 win team this year.

Probably not, 64 wins last year was probably a fluke, but their core is still all under 30, they've all played together for years, and the last 2 years they lost to the Celtics (eventual champion) and the Pacers (went to game 7 in the Finals and could have won if not for Haliburton getting injured)

I think people remember them losing to us in the 1st round in 2023 and think it's the same team, and they're not

I still think we beat them, I'm just saying they're closer to us than people think.

[HEZI]

The guy who usually kills the Knicks is Max Strus. He’s been torching us since Miami. We really didn’t see anything close to the best version of the Cavs team yesterday. They are a much better team with Garland, Hunter and Strus. A threat for sure but beatable

Orlando is very dangerous. Detroit we know they are a tough gritty team and can’t take them lightly. Toronto could be a sleeper team with their talent and depth if they can stay healthy. Bucks could be dangerous but I don’t think they have enough around Giannis.

East does appear weak right now and we should be looked at as the favorites but anything can happen

[GONYK]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Based on W's alone, they aren't going to be a 60 win team this year.

Probably not, 64 wins last year was probably a fluke, but their core is still all under 30, they've all played together for years, and the last 2 years they lost to the Celtics (eventual champion) and the Pacers (went to game 7 in the Finals and could have won if not for Haliburton getting injured)

I think people remember them losing to us in the 1st round in 2023 and think it's the same team, and they're not

I still think we beat them, I'm just saying they're closer to us than people think.

I don't know how people can write off the Cavs. Their starting 5 is pretty great, and their bench is pretty strong at the most important positions.

[3toheadmelo]

Cavs are definitely a threat as long as Donovan Mitchell is there. But I don’t trust the rest of their roster to make them a real contender. Orlando seems like a bigger threat in my opinion. Having two big wings in Banchero and Wagner along with a 3 level scoring threat with Bane is pretty dangerous. And they’re gonna be even better once Suggs is 100% healthy.

[robillionaire]

The guy who usually kills the Knicks is Max Strus. He’s been torching us since Miami. We really didn’t see anything close to the best version of the Cavs team yesterday. They are a much better team with Garland, Hunter and Strus. A threat for sure but beatable

Orlando is very dangerous. Detroit we know they are a tough gritty team and can’t take them lightly. Toronto could be a sleeper team with their talent and depth if they can stay healthy. Bucks could be dangerous but I don’t think they have enough around Giannis.

East does appear weak right now and we should be looked at as the favorites but anything can happen

We could point out we didn’t have Hart and Robinson and Towns wasn’t playing 100% either. But ultimately I think they were missing way more talent with those 3 than us. Garland is an established all star PG. As you say those other players of theirs have given us fits. And Robinson has never been reliable to play so you almost can’t count him as missing anyway at this point. Plus, we were playing with the energy of home court on opening night. And it was still a fairly close game.

I don’t think the win gives us enough to say we’ve definitively surpassed the Cavs. They still won significantly more games last season and we both lost to the same team in the playoffs. I’d say maybe we’re around the same level as them(both near the top of the conference) until we get a little more evidence

[HEZI]

The guy who usually kills the Knicks is Max Strus. He’s been torching us since Miami. We really didn’t see anything close to the best version of the Cavs team yesterday. They are a much better team with Garland, Hunter and Strus. A threat for sure but beatable

Orlando is very dangerous. Detroit we know they are a tough gritty team and can’t take them lightly. Toronto could be a sleeper team with their talent and depth if they can stay healthy. Bucks could be dangerous but I don’t think they have enough around Giannis.

East does appear weak right now and we should be looked at as the favorites but anything can happen

We could point out we didn’t have Hart and Robinson and Towns wasn’t playing 100% either. But ultimately I think they were missing way more talent with those 3 than us. Garland is an established all star PG. As you say those other players of theirs have given us fits. And Robinson has never been reliable to play so you almost can’t count him as missing anyway at this point. Plus, we were playing with the energy of home court on opening night. And it was still a fairly close game.

I don’t think the win gives us enough to say we’ve definitively surpassed the Cavs. They still won significantly more games last season and we both lost to the same team in the playoffs. I’d say maybe we’re around the same level as them(both near the top of the conference) until we get a little more evidence

It wasn’t a game to take too much away from. I think we will catch a few teams off guard early on because there isn’t a scouting report out on us yet with our new style of play. Teams will eventually adjust to things so it will be interesting to see how things look deeper into the season as teams start to level up. On paper I think we matchup real well with Cleveland though and can win a series but in the playoffs things are different and if a team picks up momentum at the right time they can really get rolling. A fortunate bounce here and there and then your confidence is through the roof as we’ve seen with Indiana last season. Really can’t predict the playoffs since that’s kind of a brand new season and a different animal.

[Fat Kat]

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[Wildcat]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Based on W's alone, they aren't going to be a 60 win team this year.

Probably not, 64 wins last year was probably a fluke, but their core is still all under 30, they've all played together for years, and the last 2 years they lost to the Celtics (eventual champion) and the Pacers (went to game 7 in the Finals and could have won if not for Haliburton getting injured)

I think people remember them losing to us in the 1st round in 2023 and think it's the same team, and they're not

I still think we beat them, I'm just saying they're closer to us than people think.

They are a 2nd apron team that showed their colors 2 years ago when they purposefully tanked to get the favorable playoff matchup. And with all their hoopla on longevity, ended up limping into the playoffs. They're good on paper alone. And they're 2nd/3rd seed at best. That team will be shaken up next year if they aren't at the ECF.

I think what people remember mostly about them from 3 years ago and today is when they get punched in the mouth, they have a hard time recovering. Happened last year, happened when we played them, and will happen again this playoffs.

[2010]

It helps that Wemby, Shai, Luka, and Jokic will all beat the crap out of each other before one of them makes the Finals. The East will not be easy but if we get our top 9 to the playoffs healthy I am betting on us

Staying healthy for the entirety of the playoffs is key.

[2010]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Orlando.

[Wildcat]

Based on W's alone, they aren't going to be a 60 win team this year.

Probably not, 64 wins last year was probably a fluke, but their core is still all under 30, they've all played together for years, and the last 2 years they lost to the Celtics (eventual champion) and the Pacers (went to game 7 in the Finals and could have won if not for Haliburton getting injured)

I think people remember them losing to us in the 1st round in 2023 and think it's the same team, and they're not

I still think we beat them, I'm just saying they're closer to us than people think.

I don't know how people can write off the Cavs. Their starting 5 is pretty great, and their bench is pretty strong at the most important positions.

I'm not writing them off. They're just not better than the Knicks and I don't think its a neck to neck thing with the Knicks.

[MrDollarBills]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Orlando.

I think we've already priced Orlando in as a problematic team. Atlanta???

[DOT]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Orlando.

I think we've already priced Orlando in as a problematic team. Atlanta???

Orlando and Detroit are most likely to become problematic, but they still need to take that step.

[robillionaire]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Orlando.

I think we've already priced Orlando in as a problematic team. Atlanta???

Atlanta got blown out by the raptors opening game and I can never trust KP to get through a season. Not sure why they’re supposed to be good really. Could easily see the wheels falling off

[ctorres]

I think the Cavs are more of a threat than this board gives them credit for, but other than them the only team that I would be concerned with is the Bucks solely cause they still have Giannis, but they're more an outside threat

Some team we're not expecting is gonna emerge over the course of the season though, but it doesn't matter, you gotta beat everyone else anyways.

Orlando.

I think we've already priced Orlando in as a problematic team. Atlanta???

Atlanta yes. Their top 8 players are really good to great and they are balanced at all positions.

Orlando no, y'all are massively overrating them and I don't understand why. Maybe I'm underrating them.

They were the worst 3pt shooting team in the league last season

They have two shooting guards in the backcourt, no point guard

Wendell Carter Jr is coming off a bad year last season where he shot 23% from three

Franz Wagner has shot under 29% from three the last two seasons

They can play defense. Big deal. Knicks have elite players on both ends of the court.

What am I missing about Orlando?

[Capn'O]

I think Thibs should take the job now and not wait until next season

Legit, Thibs is exactly who they need right now. A floor raiser who will maximize their budding players.

These posts are wind ups, right? I mean shouldn't they be in Hamsterdam?

Tiago Splitter is obviously a miles better option than Thibs.

In earnest, what has Tiago Splitter done to make you think this?