How will the Knicks do in the 2024 playoffs? Here are their odds to win East & NBA titles
The 2023-24 Knicks can be summed up in one word: triumphant.
Despite losing multiple players such as Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and O.G. Anunoby for long stretches of the regular season, the organization still found a way to finish with a 50-win season (first time since 2012-13) and No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
After head coach Tom Thibodeau's second season on the bench in 2021-22, the team's record improved each season onward from 37 wins to reaching the 50+ win plateau this year for only the third time since the turn of the century.
The organization wouldn't be anywhere without superstar point guard Jalen Brunson -- who averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game this season (fourth best in NBA) -- and will likely finish top-five in MVP voting this year after carrying this team on his back throughout the majority of the regular season.
So how do the oddsmakers expect the Knicks to do this postseason? Here are New York's odds to win the Eastern Conference and the NBA Championship this year from different sportsbooks throughout New Jersey:
Knicks odds to win the 2023-24 NBA Championship: +4000
Analysis: Heading into the postseason, the Knicks currently sit in the middle of the pack with 40/1 odds to secure their first Larry O'Brien trophy since the 1972-73 season.
While New York has the roster on paper to compete for this year's title, this might be too tall of a task with Julius Randle officially sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing successful shoulder surgery last week.
If Brunson goes down or is not able to carry over his massive success from the regular season, do the Knicks have that second guy who can step up on a consistent basis and make the clutch shots?
While we'll have to wait for that question to be answered, I'd at least place a small wager on New York to win its first title in 51 years.
Multiple sportsbooks in N.J. have the Knicks to win the NBA Finals at +4000 (Bet $100 to win $4,000) odds.
Knicks odds to win Eastern Conference: +1300
Analysis: Betting on New York to clinch the East is a much better value despite the massive price difference from winning the championship.
The Knicks have the fourth-shortest odds to win the conference behind only the Celtics (-110), Bucks (+800) and surprisingly the 76ers at +850 despite them being in the play-in tournament.
You can make the case New York can get by in the first round against the 76ers or win a rematch against the Heat, who sent them home in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year in six games.
The question that remains is will the Knicks have enough to get by the likes of Boston and Milwaukee?
In the regular season, the organization struggled against the top-tier teams in the East, going a combined 3-7 versus the Celtics and Bucks.
However, there are some factors working in New York's favor as well.
The Bucks have their own injury concerns with two-time MVP Giannis Antetkounmpo, who's likely to miss the start of the first round after being sidelined the final three games of the regular season and are also struggling coming into the postseason, finishing with a 3-8 record over their final 11 games.
Furthermore, the Knicks went into Boston and defeated a fully healthy Celtics squad 118-109 at T.D. Garden on Apr. 11.
It may be a longshot but one that I believe is worth a wager at 13/1 odds for New York at such a valuable number given the success the organization had this season.
BetRivers currently has the best price on the Knicks to win the East at +1300 (Bet $100 to win $1,300).
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Knicks 2024 playoff odds for East, NBA championship
