ESPN Analyst: November Knicks Game is 'Early NBA Finals Matchup'

An ESPN panel determined that the New York Knicks have one of the more intriguing schedules in the NBA upon Thursday's unveiling, one that includes an apparent championship preview.

NBA championships aren't won in November. But they can at least be previewed.

An ESPN panel used the release of the Association's 2023-24 regular season schedule to put forth their NBA Finals predictions, using the newly-unveiled calendar to reveal their prognostication.

Bobby Marks had a prediction that will surely intrigue New York Knicks fans, as the former NBA front office prescience and current analyst for the Worldwide Leader believes that the Phoenix Suns' visit to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 26 will be the first of at least three for the coming campaign ... the latter two coming in June's Finals. Marks is intrigued by the differing approaches each team has taken over the summer, referring to the matchup as "star power versus roster continuity." 

"The styles in how the two rosters were built are totally opposite," Marks declared. "The high-spending Suns went all-in with the Kevin Durant trade in February and then added Bradley Beal in June. The Knicks, on the other hand, have taken a more conservative approach, returning 13 players that lost to Miami in the second round while adding only Donte DiVincenzo in free agency.

The Knicks opted to mostly stand pat after their most successful season in a decade, more or less swapping Obi Toppin for Donte DiVincenzo in their nine-man rotation. Phoenix, on the other hand, opted for an expensive all-in approach after embarrassing consecutive second-round exits following their run to the 2021 Finals: the team took advantage of the Washington Wizards' tear-down by bringing in their franchise face Beal to work with returning All-Stars Durant and Devin Booker.

As is standard with interconference opponents in an 82-game NBA season, the Knicks and Suns will meet twice this season. The rematch in Phoenix is scheduled for Dec. 15 and will be nationally televised by ESPN (one of 25 national appearances for the Knicks this season). 

The two sides split last year's couple with each side prevailing on its homecourt in one-sided fashion. Phoenix won 116-95 at Footprint Center in November while the Knicks took a 102-83 decision at MSG in their first game of the new calendar year. The Knicks' win ended a nine-game losing streak against Phoenix.

Knicks star Jalen Brunson is partly responsible for the Suns' recent bittersweetness: while with the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson helped deny Phoenix a return trip to the Finals in a seven-game upset during the 2022 conference semifinals. The point guard averaged 18.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, his showing headlined by a 28-point showing in Game 3, the first win in Dallas' comeback from a 2-0 deficit. 

Getting to the Phoenix series ... the regular season pair that's guaranteed ... will be a difficult path for the Knicks: seven of their first 10 games, including five of their first seven, come against fellow playoff participants, including their tip-off contest against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 25. Marks lists that opening 10-game stretch as the toughest first leg for a contender.

The Knicks open up at home against Boston and then face Atlanta, New Orleans, and Cleveland on the road," Marks notes. "Things do not get easier when they return home to play the Cavaliers. The next stretch of five games consists of at Milwaukee, LA Clippers, San Antonio, Charlotte, and then the Celtics again, but on the road."

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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