Charles Barkley says the Knicks will make the playoffs

I hear a lot of the Golden State Warriors are feeling disrespected because a lot of people feel that their championship was an “if” championship.

Charles Barkley does not think the Hawks will repeat as top team in the Eastern Conference.

Ouch. No one thinks the Lakers will be anywhere near as good as the title-contending Warriors and Clippers, and even the annually underwhelming Kings do appear to have a little more going for them (i.e., Boogie Cousins).

“The Knicks are one of my sleeper teams”, Barkley, a TNT analyst, said on a conference call Monday afternoon. “Not just winning, but greatness. They are scary, but it all depends on Kevin Durant’s foot”.

The Pelicans enter the season with significant injury concerns.

“The good thing about Alvin Gentry is he’s gonna keep everybody involved”, O’Neal said. “Guys can get it done”.

Just nine months ago, Sir Charles said (jokingly we think) that if TNT aired another Knicks game, he’d quit.

While this seems like a hot take at first glance, Barkley’s assessment isn’t that far off. Obviously, this year should be better for the Lakers (not by much, but at least better than last year), but the only evidence we have to go on is their production from last season. But Smith also isn’t keen on Orlando’s playoff chances this year.

Smith and Nate Robinson will serve as backups for Holiday, whose minutes are limited, and one could emerge as a part-time starter if Holiday remains unable to play in games on back-to-back nights. However, they are on the right path to get back to the postseason.

New Orleans will open the season with Evans, Cole and forward Quincy Pondexter on the inactive list.