Hi all!!! I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe out there, I bet you were wondering where I have been all these months of silence. But don’t worry I did not vanish into thin air like a magician! With the effects of COVID-19 on sports there hasn’t exactly been much for me to report on 😕. In this latest issue of Buckley Knows best, I will be providing an in depth preview of the 2 local teams in the Knicks and the Nets, as well as my bold predictions for NBA end of season awards as well as my picks for the NBA finals!! 😎😀😍🧐🥸🤩😟🏀🏀🏀. Coming into the 2021 season the New York Knicks have a young core that management Is really hoping makes leaps this year and far as progress goes! Returning from last years roster is veteran Julius Randle who could very well be dangled as trade bait come the trade deadline, lottery pick RJ Barret, Kevin Knox the Kentucky graduate, Frank Nwikiena who is a product of the failed Phil Jackson experiment from years past, as they will be joined by Elfrid Payton, and lottery pick from this years draft in o Obi Toppin, Dennis Smith JR, and big man Mitchell Robinson! With a young core we can only hope for learning that will help shape these guys into competent veterans for seasons to come! The tutelage of Head Coach Tom Thibedeau should help these young men mold into solid NBA players! Across the bridge we have the Knicks counterpart in the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets made 2 huge splashes in the off season signing the dynamic duo that is Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving! Durant is coming off of ACL surgery but in the early goin of this season looks like he hasn’t missed a beat and is everything the Nets we’re hoping they were getting! Kyrie on the other hand is an interesting case. He has had success everywhere he has played, but also leaves behind a trail of drama everywhere he plays. If Kyrie isn’t complaining about his supporting cast, he’s either lashing out at the media with hurtful interactions, or shoving his earth is flat nonsense down our throats! All that aside he’s an incredible talent that Brooklyn is clearly willing to deal with despite his short coming and off the court issues. After losing Spencer Dinwiddie earlier this week to an Achilles tear (partial) the Nets will rely heavily on their roll players such as Caris Lavert, Joe Harris, and Jared Allen to step up in Dinwiddies absence! Now for some very early award predictions from yours truly! As for the the Western Conference. Rookie of the Year : James Wiseman, Most Improved : D’angelo Russell, Comeback player of the year: Steph Curry, 6th man award: Lou Williams, Defensive POY: Draymond Green and last but certainly not least, MVP: Luka Doncic/Damian Lilliard.... I’m giving you guys two picks on that prediction due to the fact that I personally believe it will be a two man fight for said award! As for the eastern conference, Rookie of the Year : Lamelo Ball, come back player of the year: Gordon Hayward, 6th man award: Doug McDermott, Defensive player of the year: Mitchell Robinson (and yes I’m a Knicks fan!) MVP: Kevin Durant. As for my Finals picks!!!! Eastern Conference Boston v Brooklyn, as for your Western Conference Finals Matchup!! Lakers v Clippers in the battle of LA!!!! And I personally would have Brooklyn v Lakers in my NBA Finals with the Brooklyn upsetting Lebron and the Lakers to win their 1st title in franchise history!! Thank you for tuning into this installment of Buckley knows best, and we will be back next week with a preview of the upcoming NHL season!!
