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NBA Schedule: We’ll know where the New York Knicks stand by Christmas

By Alex Jordan

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 25: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket with teammate Joakim Noah #13 at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 25: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket with teammate Joakim Noah #13 at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks will play the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day. We will know by then if the Knicks will have a successful year or another losing year.

The NBA released its schedule for opening week and Christmas Day on Wednesday. The New York Knicks will play the first of five games on Christmas when they face the Milwaukee Bucks.

While it’s hard to say how the Knicks will do in the upcoming season, we will know where they stand by the time they play the Bucks on Christmas.

People aren’t expecting much out of the Knicks this season since its been five years since they made the playoffs and their star Kristaps Porzingis is out due to a torn ACL.

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However, Porzingis could be back around Christmas, sources told Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Hopefully, the Knicks will have Porzingis on Christmas because they will need him since they have a not bad 22-30 record on Christmas despite having played on December 25 more than any other team, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.

Fans and the media aren’t the only ones that aren’t expecting much from the Knicks in the upcoming season.

Las Vegas is also not expecting much from the Knicks. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has released its project wins totals for all teams and it projected the Knicks to have 29.5 wins, according to Tommy Beer of Forbes.

The Knicks have averaged 27.3 wins over the last four seasons.

Besides Porzingis being out, it’s hard to tell how the Knicks will do this season because we don’t know how the Knicks draft picks Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson will perform during the season.

Both of them lit up the Summer League, but how will they perform during the season?

Former Knick Charlie Ward told Marc Berman of the New York Post that he thinks Knox will be a superstar with the Knicks:

"“I’m grateful he’s a Knick. I think he has the right mentality to be successful in New York. He seems to have a mature approach and great understanding of where he is in his development. The kid is well-balanced, with an inner confidence and swagger to him while having a quiet demeanor — which you need, especially being in New York.”"

Ward added that Knox is the kind of superstar that you want in New York.

I think how the Knicks do this season will be based on how Knox and Robinson perform and when Porzingis comes back.

If Knox and Robinson perform like they did in the Summer League, then I think the Knicks will be fine. What the Knicks don’t want is to have Knox and Robinson struggle while Porzingis is out because then they will struggle all year, even when KP comes back.

Next. Getting rid of this Knick will do wonders. dark

The Knicks are trying to rebuild around Porzingis. Knox and Robinson are two player that can help the rebuild be successful. Right now it’s hard to say whether the Knicks will have a winning or losing season, but we’ll know which one it is by Christmas.

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