Why The ‘Leisure Benefit’ Knicks 2023-24 Agenda May just Be A Worry

The NBA schedule-makers did not do the Knicks any favors.

No, it isn’t about what number of back-to-back or lengthy highway journeys they have taken.

It is about one thing extra delicate.

This is known as “Leisure Benefit”, which groups have began tracking lately.

For subsequent season’s slate, the Knicks 8 video games left During which he’s going to be given extra relaxation than the opponent, which is tied for 5th fewest within the league.

Simplest the Rockets (5), Warriors, Pistons (six every) and Lakers (seven) have fewer.

Against this, the Celtics, lead the league With the good thing about relaxation in 16 video games, and the Nets have 14 video games during which they’re going to be given extra relaxation than the opponent.

Knicks head trainer Tom Thibodeau broached the topic now and again final season, in particular when discussing the time table. He preferred to mention that it does not all the time subject who you play with, however whilst you play with them.


Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau talks to Josh Hart during a playoff game against the Heat.
Tom Thibodeau, at the side of Josh Hart, favors a shallow nine-man rotation, but additionally is aware of the Knicks have hardly ever had a extra rested squad.
Corey Sipkin for the NY Publish

Even if the Knicks are younger — there isn’t any unmarried key participant at the roster who’s 30 or older — Thibodeau’s inclination to stay with a nine-man rotation may just make the remainder of that loss the entire extra vital.

This could also be now not a brand new factor. Ultimate season, the Knicks tied with the Hornets for the fewest rest-advantage video games within the league, with 5.

Optimistically Thibodeau will emphasize this theme this upcoming season.

Leisure virtue used to be one thing that got here up within the 2023-24 time table. Another ideas beneath:

tough get started

8 of the Knicks’ first 11 video games are towards groups that reached the postseason the former season. This contains two with the Cavaliers, their first-round playoff opponent, two towards the aggressive Celtics (together with opening evening) and one with the powerhouse Dollars. Six are at the highway and 3 are back-to-back units. No longer simple in any respect.

A sluggish get started is imaginable, like final 12 months, when the Knicks went 10-13 after 23 video games.


Julius Randle turns the ball over to Jury Holiday and the Knicks game against the Bucks.
Julius Randle and corporate will glance to Ju Holliday and the Dollars throughout a treacherous early season slate.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Publish

december is at the highway

The Knicks will play 9 video games at the highway via December 12, together with a five-game, four-city travel that begins in Utah, travels to Phoenix and Los Angeles, and leads to Brooklyn.

Then they have were given consecutive house video games with the Dollars, adopted through 3 extra video games towards the Thunder, Magic, and Pacers. Thibodeau’s workforce can be racking up widespread flyer mileage.

Prakash Section II

It’s moderately transparent that essentially the most tough a part of the Knicks’ time table is the primary part. They might pass directly to make 8 of 12 consecutive appearances of their opening 36 video games. January and February will see 18 of the 28 video games on the Lawn. Fifteen of the ones video games are towards groups that had a dropping file the former season. If the Knicks can live to tell the tale the harsh first two months, they’re neatly ready.


Need to catch a recreation? You’ll be able to to find tickets for all upcoming Knicks video games right here.


misplaced my quantity

The bombshell information that the Knicks are suing the Raptors, individuals of the Raptors group, and previous Knicks worker Ikechukwu Azotam for allegedly “illegally buying after which disclosing proprietary knowledge” can have a unfavorable affect in this upcoming season. May just

You’ll be able to additionally omit in regards to the Knicks buying and selling for the flexible, sharpshooting and defensive-minded Raptors wing OG Anunobi, whom they have been connected with for moderately a while.

It kind of feels extremely not likely that the 2 groups will business puts in combination because of this drawing close lawsuit and the contempt that now exists between them.


Ozzie Anunobi #3 of the Toronto Raptors reaches for the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the 2023 Play-In Tournament at Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Knicks would possibly to find that suing the Raptors isn’t conducive to pleasant OG Anunobi business talks.
Getty Photographs

Relying on the kind of season the Raptors are having — they aren’t projected to be superb, particularly after dropping level guard Fred VanVleet to the Rockets this summer season — Anunobi may well be one of the most extra horny choices on the business closing date. Guesses, for the reason that he’s getting into the overall 12 months of his contract.

Any other participant who may well be moved, ahead Pascal Siakam, would additionally seem to be off limits. Siakam could also be set to transform a unfastened agent after the impending season.

There used to be communicate that the Raptors may just transfer one of the most above gamers for a big a part of the offseason, alternatively they by no means did.

It is no secret that the Knicks are skinny at the wings, and the 6-foot-7 Anonobi could be a really perfect have compatibility for a roster now loaded with guards and small wings. However the Knicks’ very best probability to get him seems to be in unfastened company, particularly since he not too long ago switched businesses, becoming a member of the CAA, which group president Leon Rose as soon as urged. He used to be carefully related to the Knicks.

RJ is ok

Knicks fanatics will have to be serious about RJ Barrett’s FIBA ​​International Cup access.


RJ Barrett of Canada controls the ball during the basketball friendly match between Germany and Canada at Mercedes-Benz Arena on August 9, 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
RJ Barrett’s woes mount for the Canadian nationwide group many be expecting to advance to the FIBA ​​International Cup.
Defodi Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

After a powerful postseason, Barrett picked up the place he left off in a couple of exhibit video games for Staff Canada, which enters world festival beginning Friday.

In a slender additional time victory over Germany, Barrett scored 31 issues through hitting all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt and 13 of 14 photographs from the sphere, and added 18 issues in a detailed win over protecting FIBA ​​International Cup champions Spain. As Canada went 3–2 of their 5 follow fits.

It’s going to be attention-grabbing to peer if he can proceed his sizzling capturing in a International Cup recreation and whether or not there can be any carryover when he returns to New York in a couple of weeks.

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