Sports

As the Knicks open the season, will anyone emerge as their bona fide star?

Center Mitchell Robinson and guard Quentin Grimes will be vital to the Knicks’ goal of returning to the playoffs (Bill Moore photos)

Mitchell Robinson Quentin Grimes

By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor

The Knicks began their 2022-23 NBA regular season last night facing the Memphis Grizzlies on the road, a young team led by 23-year-old point guard Ja Morant, one of the league’s best and most electrifying young stars. He is the embodiment of the term franchise player. The Knicks are trying to develop or acquire one of their own.

Morant, drafted No. 2 overall in 2019, has transformed what was a regressing franchise with a fan base that grew apathetic into one of the best and most appealing teams in the league. The Grizzlies were 33-49 the season before selecting Morant, finishing 12th in the Western Conference. Last season, the Grizzlies were 56-26, second in the West.

Right behind Morant in 2019, the Knicks took RJ Barrett with the No. 3 pick. They hope the 6-foot-6 guard-forward will take a substantial step in his progression, and emerge as the bona fide star the franchise desires and needs to become more than an NBA Play-in Tournament team. The blunt reality Knicks fans must accept is that teams devoid of transformative talent such as Morant will be clawing to gain traction in the mid tier of the standings.

The Knicks were beneficiaries of a perfect storm of a 2020-21 season. The league and the world adjusting to a new normal in the aftermath of the peak of the COVID19 pandemic, and a career year by forward Julius Randle, who made All-NBA Second Team, were prevailing factors in the Knicks compiling a 41-31 record in the abbreviated schedule and No. 4 placing in the East. Last season the Knicks regressed. Some viewed it as water seeking its own level. They ended 37-45, No. 11 and one spot out of the Play-in.

With the addition of point guard Jalen Brunson, the former Dallas Maverick signed as a free-agent in July, the Knicks are betting he will help increase Randle’s and Barrett’s efficiency. But the core of Brunson, Randle and Barrett need consistent production on both ends of the court from a young support group led by center Mitchell Robinson, guards Evan Fournier, Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley, and forward Obi Toppin.

If they all perform reasonably well and experience favorable health, always a critical qualifier, the Knicks should be in solid postseason contention.

Ben Simmons will be the key to a Net championship run

By VINCENT DAVIS

Special to the AmNews

The dissension the Nets experienced over the past two seasons will slowly fade, as their main storyline as they open the new season is can Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons lead the team to an NBA championship? The Nets hosted the New Orleans Pelicans last night at the Barclays Center to begin what should be an interesting 82game regular season journey.

They’ll be back home tomorrow to play the Toronto Raptors, then go on the road to meet the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday and Milwaukee Bucks next Wednesday. Key to Brooklyn’s success and their ability to make it to and succeed in the postseason even with Durant and Irving, is Simmons. His return after missing all of last season due to a back injury and mental health issues will be heavily scrutinized.

Before last night, Simmons’ last game was in June of 2021 when his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, were eliminated from the playoffs in a major upset by the Atlanta Hawks. Simmons started in all four of the Nets’ preseason games, going up against the Sixers, Miami Heat, Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves in preparation for his comeback.

“We’ll be patient with Ben because he is an incredibly talented and unique player, but he’s not going to be at his best in the short term,” said Nets head coach Steve Nash. “He’s just got to continue to slog through this period of returning to play and getting his confidence, timing and rhythm back.”

The Nets were 44-38 last season and finished as the seventh seed in the East. This season, with Durant, Irving and Simmons apparently all on the same page, most projections have them as a top 4 seed in the conference and a favorite to win the title. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be one of the top title contenders if their three best players remain in a good physical and mental space.

As the Nets begin the season with high expectations, they are counting on Ben Simmons to return All-Star to form the team’s core with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (Bill Moore photos)

Ben Simmons Kevin Durant