Brooklyn the Big Favorite in Rejuvenated Battle of New York

The Battle of New York has more meaning this season than any other in recent memory. Brooklyn won the offseason battle, and the Nets are big home favorites in their first matchup this year, but can they break their recent trend of failing to cover against the Knicks? 

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Nets were a playoff team, while the Knicks were in the lottery. While both teams improved in the offseason, it’s no surprise that Brooklyn is a big favorite at the Barclays Center. As neither team showed a big inclination to play defense in their season openers, the total opened at 225 points.

New York News & Notes

Despite an Sportsbook-night loss, the rebuilding Knicks had a lot of positives to take away from Wednesday’s game at San Antonio.

Marcus Morris and Julius Randle combined for 51 points, Elfrid Payton was a pleasant surprise and star rookie forward RJ Barrett filled the stat sheet. But their biggest flaw was actually the coaching decisions made by David Fizdale.

Despite having three point guards on his roster, Fizdale chose to start the game with Barrett in that spot — and New York quickly fell behind 14-4. New York’s coach quickly changed the lineup and the Knicks gave a spirited effort all game with a true point guard, even taking a 97-91 lead in the fourth quarter. Then Fizdale shockingly went back to Barrett at the point, which promptly sparked an 18-0 Spurs run as the Knicks fell 120-111.

There’s no questioning Barrett’s talent, but playing point-forward is currently not the best way to develop his game. It may have cost New York the game Wednesday, so Fizdale would be wise to scrap that plan and roll with his true point guards for now.

Brooklyn News & Notes

The Nets landed two of the league’s biggest free agents — Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant — in the offseason. It was a double bonus considering Brooklyn signed them at the expense of the crosstown rival Knicks, who had both players as their top free-agent targets themselves.

While Durant will sit most, if not all, of the season recovering from injury, Irving gave fans a taste of his offensive talent. He scored 50 in his Nets debut Wednesday, breaking the NBA record for most points scored by a player in his debut for a new team. It was just the seventh 50-point game in Nets history (the first since 2012) and it shattered the record for points by a Nets player in his debut.

Unfortunately, it was somewhat all for naught as Irving missed the game-winning shot in overtime and Brooklyn fell 127-126 to Minnesota. Kyrie has a chance to get Brooklyn in the win column, and add insult to his Knicks snub, with a strong performance Friday.

Betting Pick: Knicks +9

New York covered at San Antonio and could have won if not for bad coaching. If they play Barrett at forward, not point guard, the Knicks should have more than enough fight to cover.