The Knicks' first six games come against 2014-15 playoff teams, but one matchup stands out above the rest: On November 2, the reloaded Spurs make their only trip to the Mecca, bringing with them a handful of reasons to tune in for the early-season showdown.
A perennial contender thanks to continuity and leadership from its core group, San Antonio made an uncharacteristically big splash this summer, landing LaMarcus Aldridge and David West in free agency. They’ll join Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, who signed up to play their 14th and 19th NBA seasons, respectively. Kawhi Leonard, the 2014 NBA Finals MVP, also inked a long-term contract extension to remain in San Antonio. Once again, Gregg Popovich's squad enters the season as a title contender.
New York caught the Spurs off guard when they last met at the Garden, winning a mid-March contest in overtime despite a roster ravaged by injury and trades. This time around, they figure to be much deeper and more equipped to battle one of the Western Conference’s giants. Robin Lopez, Kyle O’Quinn and Kevin Seraphin give Derek Fisher some size to combat San Antonio’s imposing front line, while a healthy Jose Calderon and Carmelo Anthony provide the type of outside shooting that can carry an offense while the pieces come together.
Fisher and Phil Jackson emphasized defense as an offseason priority, and this contest should provide a barometer for progress in that area. Lopez manning the middle could go a long way, but shoring up the perimeter is also crucial to the Knicks’ hopes this season; Langston Galloway showed promise as an on-ball defender as a rookie, and he and Jerian Grant – this year’s 19th overall draft pick – join free agent pickup Arron Afflalo as capable stoppers.
Matchups to Watch: