Fansided

5 wild overreactions to every NBA team’s first game in 2018-19

By Bryan Toporek

PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers argues with referee Brian Forte #45 in the second quarter of their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 18, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers argues with referee Brian Forte #45 in the second quarter of their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 18, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: Tim Hardaway Jr., #3 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the game on October 17, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: Tim Hardaway Jr., #3 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the game on October 17, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. The Knicks will make the playoffs

Who needs Kristaps Porzingis when you have Tim Hardaway Jr., am I right?

The New York Knicks rode a 49-point explosion in the second quarter of their season opener to knock off the Atlanta Hawks, 126-107, on Wednesday night. With Porzingis sidelined as he continues to recover from the torn ACL he suffered last season, Hardaway Jr. led the way for New York with 31 points on 10-of-22 shooting, although seven Knicks players finished in double figures.

Although it’s easy to pencil five or six teams into the Eastern Conference playoffs barring injuries, the conference’s final few postseason seeds appear ripe for the taking. Even if Porzingis sits out for the entire 2018-19 season — which remains a possibility, according to team president Steve Mills — could the Knicks sneak up and snag one of those spots?

Before Madison Square Garden gets to work on printing playoff tickets, a word of caution: Beating perhaps the worst team in the NBA hardly makes the Knicks a playoff lock.

The next week should be highly instructive about New York’s season-long outlook. Following Friday’s intracity clash with the Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks will host the Boston Celtics on Saturday before heading out for a two-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks (Oct. 22) and Miami Heat (Oct. 24). The defending champion Warriors then come to town next Friday, Oct. 26, likely with a heaping serving of humble pie in hand.

There are legitimate reasons for optimism in New York beyond just Porzingis, as Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox and/or Allonzo Trier could likewise wind up being long-term building blocks. But unless Porzingis makes an unexpectedly early return, the Knicks are likely to come crashing back to earth in the coming days.

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