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The Knicks are set to make an appearance at home against the reigning champion Golden State Warriors. The imminent worry turns to instantaneous intestinal liquefaction when you see what Steph Curry just did to the Wizards through three quarters of play. Oh and Kevin Durant (the guy you think is coming to New York next summer) was so upset at the piss-poor performance of his “hometown” Wizards that, up 20-points early in the fourth quarter, he asked to be subbed out because they were too weak. Which... sure.
KD called the Wizards weak and asked to be subbed out pic.twitter.com/gE3sdhLINF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 25, 2018
Good luck, Knicks. You’re about to get smoked.
Projected Starters
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Key Matchup
Frank Ntilikina vs Kevin Durant. For several reasons this matchup will be important for the Sultan of Steal’s continued development. He may end up hyper-focused on snuffing out Durant’s opportunities. Undoubtedly it will be one of his toughest challenges of the season. What you hope he doesn’t miss is the rest of the Warriors swirling around their offense. Jabbing and cutting behind and around screens, fading, dashing to the cup. There is a lot to learn for a young player watching the off-ball mastery.
Young Frank has little by little taken more agency with his game.
Key Reserves
The Warriors will probably just rest a bunch of their guys. I wouldn’t even expect Andre Iguodala or Shaun Livingston to play. Instead I’d think Steve Kerr uses this as a chance for Jacob Evans and Alfonzo McKinnie to get some of their first significant burn. Even if the Warriors mess around through three quarters and the Knicks hang tight, just throw the Curry, Klay Thompson and Durant out there and throw some flames real quick. Ball game.
Prediction
Knicks get buried under a bajillion corner threes and several bunches of 35-footers. Trey Burke, Lance Thomas and Enes Kanter all prove to be wholly unplayable. Knicks panic-trade Courtney Lee, Burke and Thomas + picks to Detroit for an extended and traded Reggie Jackson and the perception of Stanley Johnson. Warriors retain Durant because the Knicks are too weak for him to consider joining their team.