New York Knicks: 6 Games To Highlight On 2015-16 Schedule
Thursday, October 29th vs. Atlanta Hawks
Apr 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) is defended by Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) in the third quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Opening night at Madison Square Garden is always a special time. It is the first time rookies Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant will be introduced to the hometown crowd. The same goes for all the newcomers the Knicks signed in the offseason. They will be excited to play in the World’s Most Famous Arena, as they should be. It will be a tall task for the Knicks though, as they will be taking on the owners of the best record in the Eastern Conference last season; the Atlanta Hawks.
This will also be the first time that Tim Hardaway Jr. returns to Madison Square Garden as an opponent after spending the first two seasons of his career in Gotham City. Hardaway Jr. was traded to the Hawks on draft night for the draft rights to Grant, who projects to be the Knicks backup point guard this season.
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This will be a good early season test for the new-look Knicks. It can be used as a barometer of sorts to see where they are at in the early going, as you know the Hawks will be ready to play. The same cannot be said for the Knicks, at least not yet, as they do not even know who the starting lineup will consist of yet. Regardless, expect the Knicks to be energized to be in front of their fans for the first time on the season and to try getting the season started on a high note at MSG.
The Knicks always seem to get the short end of the stick to start the season, as this will be the fourth consecutive season they open with a back-to-back set. Just this time they opened on the road followed by a home game. Will the Knicks be able to pull off a big upset in the second game of the season this time around like they did last season when they ruined the Cleveland Cavaliers home opener and return of LeBron James? Speaking of the Cavaliers…
Next: Paying A Visit To The King