This is the first installment of a series where I talk about my favorite teams and how they have been faring within their respective leagues. I will discuss my expectations for the team and if I think they will meet them.
Knicks
The New York Knicks are 4th in the Eastern Conference and only three games back from 2nd (1st is not in reach as they are 10 games back). Jalen Brunson has been playing at an MVP-caliber level and has done so without some of his most important teammates.
In the absence of those teammates, some other players have stepped into larger roles such as Donte DiVincenzo aka “The Big Ragu”, Precious Achiuwa, Miles “Duece” McBride, and Isaiah Hartenstein. These players have put up career highs in multiple different categories and have kept the Knicks at the top of the Eastern Conference.
So what are my expectations for this team? I think when healthy this team is a true championship contender. If not that Eastern Conference Finals contenders.
I’m going to go ahead and say it now, the Knicks are going to make the ECF if the team all comes back healthy. And mark my words if they go up against the Celtics in the conference finals, the Knicks will move on.
Rangers
The Rangers situation isn’t unlike the Knicks. In my opinion, the Rangers are the closest team in New York to a championship.
Huge seasons from Artemi Panerin and Vincent Trocheck and the recent domination of Igor Shesterkin have propelled the Rangers to third place in the league.
The Rangers have had somewhat better injury luck, however they did just recently lose Jacob Trouba and now Ryan Lindgren for at least a few weeks. But even without these guys, they have had a lot of young players step up and bring a new edge to this team.
This week will be huge for the Rangers as they will be taking on the two top teams in the league, the Bruins and the Panthers.
Yankees
Gerrit Cole… that’s the main headline. Although he dodged a bullet not having any signs of a tear in his UCL, he still will be out for a substantial amount of time to start the season.
Aaron Judge is back on the lineup card after about two weeks of sitting out with an abdominal injury, so it’s not all doom and gloom. I do feel the Yankees have built a solid team for this season.
With the additions of Juan Soto and Marcus Stroman, I think the Yankees are at least an ALCS-caliber team. I don’t, however, see the World Series happening.
Now don’t get me wrong I would do anything for the Yankees to win the World Series, but I just feel management isn’t as committed as the players and the fans are.
Giants
The Giants traded for and extended Brian Burns! This is by far the biggest news for the Giants this offseason as it’s been extremely uneventful…
Oh and Saquon Barkley signed with the Eagles and Xavier McKinney signed with the Packers
Ok yeah, Saquon is gone. But I’m a rational Giants fan. It is not smart, to pay a running back 16 million dollars a year when your team has much bigger problems.
The Giants can now use that free cap space to build an offensive line, bring in some offensive talent, and make a competitive football team.
This is one of the bigger drafts that the Giants have had in recent years, and it will be interesting to see what they do leading up to the day. I see GM Joe Schoen making a play at one of the top three picks and he and Brian Daboll go out and draft their quarterback.
