Nets, Knicks and the season ahead

mWo Sports Digest #2

I am hoping to fit mWo posts into a 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month slot moving forward. Just a heads up. For now, it’s time again for yet another season of professional basketball, folks! We should go ahead and preview what’s ahead for the two teams in the metro area as a result so why how about we just move straight on in…

NETS

The team that has promised fans for years to be true contenders has failed time and time again, coming off a lot like that friend of yours from high school that keeps falling for get-rich-quick schemes.

You know the one…

An issue with putting together a team the way Brooklyn has is that it forgets what makes basketball basketball, especially in the modern age, and instead pretends that a few big egos and a spineless coach are enough to win out. Perhaps the worst part is that the team’s postseason behavior has done little to cure the disease that has taken over the locker room.

This kind of shit might get enough wins in the regular season to get you into the post, but they’re destined to get exposed once again once they do.

That’s right sports fans, I’m calling it right now. The Nets will squeak into the playoffs just to be eliminated in short order.

If they want a chance, they’ll need a better big man than Claxton to fill one of their biggest holes. Sharpe and Simmons will need to be true assets, too. If they can do this and keep the diva attitudes to a minimum they might finally fulfill the promise but, to be honest, I’m hoping to see them face plant instead as a lesson that this isn’t the answer.

Victory now would further damage the team and, perhaps, the league.

KNICKS

I was pretty hard on the Nets, though reasonably so if you ask me. Would you believe me if I told you I’ve been a fan of the team for a very, very long time? Hell, I still have an original NJ jersey that I love to wear. I bring that up here to showcase that no one is harsher on a team than their own fans.

I don’t have the same bond with the Knicks. I still want a team from NY to win out though and I have no hope that Brooklyn can do it. I sadly don’t think this squad can either.

This team was favored months ago to land Donovan Mitchell. Didn’t happen, shit happens. They didn’t drop any essential pieces and they did drip in Brunson, though, who could be a workhorse for the group. That’s kind of what the team will need to be in general, because they’re going to once again be a ragtag unit that is likely to land some big wins along the way as long as the fighting spirit remains firm.

If it does?

Play-in ball is in the cards and, perhaps, maybe even a spirited, but short, run in the post.

If not?

They’ll be on the outside looking in with fans holding on to some big spotlight regular season victories to keep the depression down.

I’ll be posting a preview of the upcoming NHL season as well as the MLB playoffs if and when time allows. Thanks for reading.