NFL
Entering the new year, the New York Knicks will find out just how good or bad they really are. Beginning January 1st, the Knicks will begin a brutal stretch of their schedule where their next six games will be against West Coast teams.
Their first opponent of the new year will be the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers will counter the Knicks’ starting core with a lineup that includes Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Carmelo Anthony. Their next contest will match them against the dangerous Phoenix Suns who just got back their starting center Deandre Ayton. Can the Knicks contain the offense that Ayton, Kelly Oubre, and Devin Booker will unleash?
Their third game during this stretch will be against a team many picked to find themselves in the NBA Finals–the Los Angeles Clippers. Any team facing the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combo will have their fair share of problems on both ends of the floor. Can the Knicks contain them and walk away with an upset?
For their next game, no travel is needed as they will take on LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers. And if history is any indication, James always has a great game against the Knicks.
After leaving Los Angeles, the Knicks will head home to do battle with the surging Utah Jazz with high flying Donovan Mitchell and defensive ace Rudy Gobert. To end this grueling trip, the New York Knicks will host the New Orleans Pelicans with Jrue Holiday and Brandon Ingram.
A look at this upcoming schedule and it hurts to say, but there is a chance the Knicks will finish this either 0-6 or 1-5. While anything can happen on any given night, the Knicks have continued to struggle this season. With trade rumors surrounding the team, staying focus has to be a top priority. The good news is, to end the calendar year of 2019, the Knicks are riding a two-game winning streak with wins over the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards.
Playing as one. pic.twitter.com/ZqGxTEhhKm
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 29, 2019
While the playoffs appear to be out of reach for the New York Knicks, 2020 begins a fresh start to rinse off the stink from 2019. The sad part is, it begins with teams out West destined to make the playoffs. How will the Knicks fare?
