Slow Start for the Knicks

 

The Knicks have had some tough sledding to open up the season as their 5-6 record dictates. After just one game away from an Eastern Conference Final berth last season, the new look Knicks have struggled to figure it out through their first 11 games. 

New York is working through some growing pains to start the season as they experiment with their newly developed team from this offseason. With the addition of stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, and the subtractions of Julius Randle and others, the team might take a little bit to gel together. 

Despite their 5-6 start, the Knicks still find themselves in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings. Most of the teams around the are also experiencing similar difficulties. Now would be a perfect time to capitalize off of this and build a steady lead in the standings early in the calendar year. 

One of the key flashing concerns the Knicks have is their depth. Outside of their starting five and Miles McBride, no other Knick has really contributed all too much. However, they are experiencing some injuries with Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiwua sidelined. 

Ultimately, once these guys return New York will be in much better shape, but some players need to step up in both of their absences. I think it would really be beneficial to see a more increased role from rookies Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet. 

We have yet to really see what they are capable of and the only way we can see is if their minutes are heightened. The best teams in the NBA not only have a great caliber starting five, but also key guys that come off the bench and play good and meaningful minutes. 

The Knicks will take on the Brooklyn Nets in back to back games coming up and one more home game against the Wizards before heading west. For New York, these games must be taken advantage of. It will go a long way in gaining momentum for their upcoming challenging road trip. 

Yanks Fall Short

 

For the 15th straight year, the Yankees will head into the offseason without a ring. The Yanks fell to the Dodgers in five games in the 2024 World Series and will have a lot on their plate this upcoming offseason. 

The most crucial thing New York must address this offseason is Juan Soto. Soto performed unbelievably this season and will have a huge price tag on his name as a free agent. The Yanks are one of the frontrunners to sign the young phenom, but they have legitimate competition from other suitors such as the Mets and Dodgers as well. 

The one-two punch of Soto and Judge proved to be almost impossible to stop in 2024. It would be an absolute dream for the Yankees if they can lock Soto up for the next decade or more. The asking price from Soto is probably going to be north of $500-600 million. Despite the steep price, he is worth every single penny. 

Getting him back is crucial and getting Gleyber Torres back is also a big priority. Torres has been with the Yankees for some time now and proved to be a reliable leadoff hitter down the stretch of the season. He is sometimes a liability in the field, but his performance at the plate is too good to deny. A great offseason would consist of Torres and Soto being back in pinstripes in 2025. 

The Yanks will need a new first baseman for the upcoming season. Anthony Rizzo's tenure with the Yankees is most likely over as his glory days in the MLB are quickly expiring. The 35 year old will head into free agency and will realistically not be wearing the pinstripes next season. 

One guy that has been high on the Yanks radar has been Pete Alonso. Alonso, an all-star first baseman for the Mets, enters free agency most likely looking for a new team. Alonso will probably have a high asking price that the Yankees should be willing to consider. They are a perfect match for each other as Alonso would fill a huge gap for the Bombers. 

New York will also have some key relievers testing the waters this offseason. Those names include: Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, and Jonathan Loaisiga. Loaisiga did not pitch in 2024, but when he is at his best he is unstoppable. Kahnle proved to be a threat in the playoffs and Holmes picked up the slack as well. 

The Yanks got the closest they have been to a championship in 15 years this season and will look to break the streak in 2025. Getting Juan Soto back in the Bronx is a must and should be the number one priority of the offseason. It should be an entertaining and quite amusing offseason for the Yankees.