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New York’s 14 percent prayer



After averaging a limbotic 29.2 wins over the last five years, this season, finally, the Knicks bottomed out and finished with the worst record in the league, at 17-65.

Their move to the bottom, of course, also coincided with the first year of NBA lottery reform, a socialistic dream by Adam Silver designed to prevent extreme tanking.

Last year, the Knicks would have had a 25 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick, which would net them Zion Williamson and perhaps kickoff a cataclysmic chain of positive events for New York. This year, they, along with the two other worst teams, have just a 14 percent chance at No. 1.

Here’s a breakdown of all 14 teams’ chance at the No. 1 overall pick.



(Memphis’s pick is top-eight protected, otherwise it conveys to Boston; Sacramento’s pick would go to the 76ers if it’s No. 1, otherwise it conveys to Boston; Dallas’s pick is top-five protected, otherwise it conveys to Atlanta.)

The lottery will be televised by ESPN at 8:30 p.m., and always makes for highly entertaining reality television, plus it segues perfectly into Portland-Golden State at 9 p.m. Like New York’s 1985 win, it might become an iconic moment.

 

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