Great Expectations: The Cavaliers and the Knicks
After the remaining two games of the play-in this week to determine the eighth (and final) seed of both conferences, the NBA Playoffs can finally start. Some teams are in the win-now mode, and are expected to go far into the postseason, like the Cavaliers and the Knicks.
The Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are expecting themselves to win and go past the first and even the second round of the playoffs ,into the conference finals. They should go that far, or it is a wasted season.
Donovan Mitchell is not getting any younger. He is only 29, but in a league with 19 and 22-year old superstars, that’s almost a decade-old. He is on a timer, and the Cavs must strike this proverbial iron while it is not out for half a season with injuries.
They traded youth (Darius Garland) for experience, particularly playoff experience (James Harden). The trade seems to have been the right thing to do, as they went 14-6 in their last 20 games, but the move should pay dividends during playoffs, especially that they are going against Toronto. Experts are picking the Cavs to win the series.
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are also peaking together. They have a good supporting cast (Dean Wade, Larry Nance Jr., Max Strus). Are the Cavs making the NBA Finals?
DAILY FANTASY PICKS:
Captain: Donovan Mitchell
Vice Captain: James Harden
Key picks: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Sam Merrill
The New York Knicks
This New York experiment has been successful, to say the least. Last year, they were in the conference finals, but they ran into Hali’s choke sign and lost the series against the rampaging Indiana Pacers. No matter–they find themselves a favorite in the eastern conference, and they are playing the inexperienced Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Jalen Brunson is 29. Karl Anthony-Towns is 30. OG Anunoby is 28. This core is on a timer, and their salaries aside (combined US$ 120M a year), younger teams are emerging and catching up.
They have found themselves inconsistent at times, but there were also stretches where they’d string together important wins.
Nothing much has changed in their roster in the span of a year, and the NYK faithful are expecting this team to be at the conference finals, at the very least.
DAILY FANTASY PICKS:
Captain: Jalen Brunson
Vice Captain: Karl Anthony-Towns
Key picks: OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson
You may use the suggested picks to play Daily Fantasy now! Here’s how to get you started. Don’t miss the NBA Playoffs!
Here are the matches this week!
