How do the New York Knicks stack up against some of, potentially, the worst teams in the NBA for the 2019-20 season?
From start to finish, the New York Knicks placed near the bottom of the NBA; they finished with the league’s worst record by the 2018-19 season’s end, giving them 14 percent odds to win May’s draft lottery. 17-65 tied the 2014-15 team for the worst mark in franchise history.
The Knicks were hardly the only team at the bottom of the NBA pile, as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls joined them in the bottom five. Some of these squads showed upside, but they either bottomed out or just had rosters not ready to compete.
2019-20 marks a new season, and the Knicks made changes. While fresh faces bring different expectations, they may still finish at the bottom of the NBA or in the vicinity. Expectations are low, even if they win a few more games.
New York is not the only team that will potentially land in the league’s cellar. But how do they stack against some of the potentially worst teams?
Atlanta Hawks
Matchups
- Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Home) (Preseason)
- Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Home)
- Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:00 p.m. ET (Away)
- Wednesday, Mar. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Away)
The 2018-19 Atlanta Hawks put Trae Young and Kevin Huerter on display as the future of their franchise, providing bright spots along the way. However, they were hardly the only necessary pieces to the puzzle.
At the 2019 NBA Draft, the Hawks used two first-round picks to their advantage by moving up to No. 4 overall for Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter. They also selected Duke’s Cam Reddish at No. 10.
This “Big Four” of rookies has Young and Huerter’s scoring ability mixed with Hunter and Reddish’s physical potential. In a few years, with a talented veteran or two, this team can sneak into the postseason and become a threat to the higher-ups. Unfortunately for them, success happening in 2019-20 seems unlikely.
It will take time for this group to come together just like the New York Knicks. The combination of youth and inexperience can create hurdles in learning the NBA game, especially with each player at age 21 or younger. They are far from complete products, so the Hawks will need patience, which there is no reason to waver from.
New York is in a somewhat similar spot, except with a more talented group of veterans around Kevin Knox, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and others. Clashing these young teams will give fans a closer look at the NBA’s future and even a reunion between ex-college teammates, Barrett and Reddish. They may fight for a top lottery spot again, but the future is bright for both sides.