New York Knicks: Positive Takeaways From Season Opener

1. The Starting Five Is Finally Together

The regular season opener was the first time the New York Knicks’ starting five played a full NBA game together. Derrick Rose missed five of the six preseason games and Joakim Noah missed the first three, thus preventing New York from developing team chemistry.

While it may be disappointing to know the Knicks lost in a lopsided manner, it’s far more encouraging to know that they’re finally together.

The contrast was clear between New York and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks have no game experience together and the Cavaliers have played two full seasons, made two NBA Finals appearances, and won a championship with the same core.

The disparity is less in pure talent than it is in the massive gap between New York’s experience together and Cleveland’s.

This isn’t to say that the Knicks will defeat the Cavaliers once they improve team chemistry. The games will be far more competitive, however, as the Knicks are still weeks, if not months, away from finally clicking on all cylinders.

That must be kept in mind as the Knicks are criticized for their shortcomings.

Must Read: Players who stepped up against Cleveland

The second half collapse may or may not be forgivable, but the Knicks’ season shouldn’t be defined by one game, let alone the season opener.