As the Brooklyn Nets recover from their heartbreaking Game 1 playoff loss to the Boston Celtics, the other New York NBA team is already looking to next season.
The New York Knicks (37-45) finished out of the NBA playoffs with an 11th place finish in the Eastern Conference and will look to add pieces in the offseason, especially a much-needed point guard.
The finish was a disappointment for Knicks fans after the team made the playoffs a season before, finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 41-31 record.
How Knicks Betting Went This Season
PointsBet Sportsbook New York listed the Knicks at odds of +8000 to win the title before the season. Those odds placed them eighth in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks didn’t fare that well, of course. Despite the losing record, sports betting New York players didn’t do too badly when wagering on the Knicks.
Based on regular season date from DraftKings Sportsbook New York, the Knicks were 39-43 overall against the spread, going a poor 16-25 at home but a solid 23-18 on the road.
PointsBet Sportsbook New York even went further in its NBA betting data as the Knicks actually fared well in 10 betting data categories:
- 9-3 (75% cover) with no rest
- 8-5 (61.5%) as an away favorite
- 9-6 (60%) with 2-3 days off in between games
- 12-9 (57.1%) with a rest advantage
- 14-11 (56%) with a rest disadvantage
- 15-12 (55.6%) as an away underdog
- 16-14 (53.3%) in non-conference games
- 23-22 (51.1%) after a loss
- 19-19 (50%) as a favorite
- 1-1 (50%) with four or more days off
The not-so favorable categories included:
- 19-23 (45.2% cover) as an underdog
- 23-29 (44.2%) in Eastern Conference contests
- 20-33 (37.7% cover) with just one day off
- 13-23 (36.1%) with equal rest
- 4-11 (26.7%) as home underdog
Imagine if the Knicks had a steady point guard to provide leadership and stability on offense.
The Knicks might be looking for one of those point guards in the July 29 NBA Draft as they have the projected 11th pick overall and could move up in the NBA Lottery on June 22. The Knicks also have the 42nd overall selection in the second round.
Statistics back up the need for a point guard. New York was 26th in points per game at 106.5 and 30th in assists per game at 21.9. On defense, they were fourth in the league in rebounds per game (46.1) and sixth in opponents’ points per game at 106.6.
The Knicks went with younger lineups toward the end of the season and that yielded positive results at times.
Eastern Conference Playoffs
The NBA playoffs got off to a big start with eight games combined on Saturday and Sunday.
The EmpireStakes.com playoff preview in the East told bettors to expect a fabulous battle between the Nets and Celtics.
Game 1 proved that point, as the Celtics pulled off a dramatic, 115-114 win in Sunday’s Game 1 on a layup by Jayson Tatum at the buzzer.
Game 2 is set for Wednesday in Boston (TNT, 7 p.m.).
