NBA betting: The Knicks could be a better bet than their long odds imply

CBS Sports is calling the Knicks a sleeper even without Randle in the lineup. While New York has struggled to play above .500 since he was sidelined back in January, they have shown sparks of brilliance when they have Brunson and OG Anunoby healthy and in the lineup.

It doesn't hurt, either that New York has superior shooting from distance and is averaging around 13 three-point shots per game heading into the playoffs. 

"With Anunoby back and Jalen Brunson solidified as one of the most reliable shot creators in the league, New York, even without Randle, possesses the four most vital characteristics of a contender: superstar individual scorer, elite rim protection for 48 minutes with Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson back, defensive versatility with Anunoby capable of taking the tallest scoring tasks to himself, and of course, shooting," CBS said.

Another reason to like the Knicks despite their long odds is that they won't have to face off against the Celtics right away. Boston — which is the +160 favorite at DK to win it all this year — won four out of five against New York during the regular season. It took Brunson putting up 39 points in the Knicks' one win against the Celtics this season, so avoiding them for as long as possible is good for New York.

Speaking of Brunson, the All-Star point guard is fourth in the league averaging 28.7 points per game in addition to tallying 6.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field and 40% from three-point range. He's so dominant right now that even the conference-leading Celtics didn't have an answer for him in the final week of the season.

"Wherever [the Knicks] go, Brunson will carry them — and not because he's the league's fourth-leading scorer, not because he’s dropped 35-plus points in five consecutive games, not because he is their No. 1 source of offense, not even because for a second consecutive season his production has crescendoed over the second half," The Athletic said.

"In an age of offense, lots of players can score. But only a handful can bend a defense the way Brunson did against the Celtics, who reeled off a catalog of strategies Thursday and still couldn't find one that worked."

Even with the play-in tournament set to take place, it isn't too early to look at who you want to back in the NBA playoffs. Even with plenty of good teams listed more favorably than the New York Knicks, this is a team you should consider wagering on.