The NBA season is finally here, and the New York Knicks are set to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in their season opener. The Knicks are coming off a disappointing season, finishing with a record of 21-45, while the Cavaliers finished with a record of 19-46. Both teams will be looking to start the season off on the right foot with a win in this matchup.
Odds and Picks:
The Knicks are currently listed as 2.5 point favorites in this matchup, with the over/under set at 212.5 points. The Knicks have a talented roster led by Julius Randle, who was named an All-Star last season. They also added Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier in the offseason, which should provide some much-needed scoring and playmaking for the team.
On the other hand, the Cavaliers have a young and inexperienced roster, but they do have some promising talent in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. However, they will be without their starting center, Evan Mobley, who is out with an elbow injury.
Given the talent disparity between the two teams, it’s not surprising that the Knicks are favored in this matchup. However, anything can happen in the NBA, and the Cavaliers could surprise some people if they come out playing with energy and effort.
Lineups:
The Knicks are expected to start Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. This lineup provides a good mix of scoring, playmaking, and defense. Walker and Fournier should provide some much-needed scoring on the perimeter, while Randle will look to build on his All-Star campaign from last season.
The Cavaliers are expected to start Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, Lauri Markkanen, and Jarrett Allen. This lineup features some promising young talent, but they will be without their starting center, Evan Mobley, who is out with an elbow injury.
Trends:
The Knicks have won four of their last five season openers, while the Cavaliers have lost their last three season openers. The Knicks also have a 6-4 record against the spread in their last ten games against the Cavaliers.
Conclusion:
The Knicks are favored in this matchup for a reason, as they have a more talented and experienced roster than the Cavaliers. However, the Cavaliers have some promising young talent and could surprise some people if they come out playing with energy and effort. It should be an exciting matchup to kick off the NBA season.