The Knicks bring a close to 2020 in the most 2020 way possible, down in Tampa to face the Toronto Raptors, who got kicked out of Canada thanks to COVID. Get ready for the game with Jon Schulman.

The Knicks travel to Tampa Bay to face the Raptors tonight. Those screwballs don’t play in Toronto anymore because the Canadian government is more interested in getting their citizenry healthy than they are in basting brain waves. As this shit year draws to a close, just remember the new year was actually a few months ago and the year is currently 5780. Shana Tova, punks. Babies.

The Raptors lost two of their mainstays on the front line to Los Angeles this offseason. Marc Gasol moved on to the Lakers and Serge Ibaka to the Clippers. That meant they went out and snagged immovable bully Aron Baynes and pushed lanky Chris Boucher into a larger role in the rotation.

Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel have struggled with the heavyweights, but it should be a little easier against the ultra-thin Boucher. Pascal Siakam plays like a helicopter blade, and he’ll always present a range of issues, but if Julius Randle keeps his staunch starched, he should be able to at least neutralize Spicy P. Not gonna lie though, pretty worried about all that length.

Starting to feel OK…

More of the same most likely for the Knicks. They are running a little thin, and they honestly have looked a little gassed as games have gone on. The injuries are mounting up and I’m getting a little concerned about their depth. Especially against a hungry Raptor unit that has yet to notch a win.

The debut of Austin Rivers could help buoy the absence of Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr., and whoever else isn’t playing or perhaps doesn’t deserve to.

Now’s the time for Austin Rivers and Kevin Knox to show out and maintain their legacy as local prep stars. The minutes might not be bountiful, but they’ll need to be boisterous. Jitters? Pressure? Can they dial it in when their friends are tuned to Tampa public access? Is Julius Randle still on triple double watch? Is Fred VanVleet packing it in now that he’s sitting there fat catting? Got a big bowl of warm contract milk. It’s dripping down your beard, Fred!

Knicks by -20

End this year

And this year.