“Can You Freeze Ping Pong Balls?”: The 2019 NBA Draft Lottery Thread

I am a big Patrick Ewing fan and I am thrilled that he is the Knicks’ representative tonight. I am such a Ewing fan that I held off on “Can Patrick Ewing finally win something for the Knicks?” as the title of this thread.

Anyways, here we are, twenty minutes away from the start of perhaps the most important Draft Lottery in the Knicks’ history.

Let’s go, Knicks!

Knicks Morning News (2019.05.14)

  • [NYDN] Breaking down the Knicks’ lottery possibilities and what they mean
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 10:12:38 PM)

    The Knicks spent an entire season of losing for this one moment, this jostling of Ping Pong balls inside a Chicago hotel. It will determine whether they were geniuses or idiots.

    Successful tanking is largely contingent on dumb luck, and the Knicks haven’t had much since winning the Patrick Ewing…

  • [SNY Knicks] Will Tuesday start Knicks’ new chapter after painful history with NBA Draft Lottery?
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 10:00:00 PM)

    While this year’s lottery holds the promise of drafting Duke’s Zion Williamson at No. 1, it also looms as just another installment of disappointment for Knicks fans.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks explain what will play key role in whom they decide to pick in NBA Draft
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 12:50:47 PM)

    With the NBA Draft Lottery scheduled for Tuesday night, Knicks GM Scott Perry shed some light on the team’s approach in the coming weeks.

  • [SNY Knicks] Could Knicks land Zion Williamson and Kawhi Leonard?
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 7:07:03 PM)

    The Knicks have a lot of cap room and a top-five pick in the NBA draft. Would it be possible for New York to land both Kawhi Leonard and Zion Williamson?

  • [SNY Knicks] Scott Perry says Knicks will ‘play the hand we’re dealt’ in NBA free agency
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 1:02:18 PM)

    With free agency drawing closer and talk about Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard heating up, Knicks GM Scott Perry says the team will “play the hand we’re dealt” in free agency this summer.

  • [SNY Knicks] What we know about Knicks, Nets’ chances of landing free agent Kawhi Leonard
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 10:38:11 AM)

    It seems logical that both New York teams could at least get a meeting with Kawhi Leonard in early July.

  • [SNY Knicks] Latest on pending free agent Kyrie Irving: ‘No way in hell’ he goes to Lakers
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 12:03:00 PM)

    Celtics star Kyrie Irving can be a free agent after the season, and the idea that he could team up with fellow free agent Kevin Durant on the Knicks this summer has picked up steam since the Kristaps Porzingis trade cleared two max slots for New York. Here are the latest rumors…

  • [SNY Knicks] Latvian police give update on altercation involving former Knick Kristaps Porzingis
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 9:55:02 AM)

    Former Knick Kristaps Porzingis was bloodied after being involved in an altercation.

  • [NYTimes] Western Conference Finals Preview: Hungry for Its Own Title, Portland Aims to Dent Golden State’s Dynasty
    (Tuesday, May 14, 2019 7:00:04 AM)

    The Trail Blazers have run into the Warriors’ buzz saw in two of the previous three seasons, but led by Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum they believe they can compete.

  • [NYTimes] Kawhi vs. Giannis: Tired Raptors Head to Milwaukee for Slugfest
    (Tuesday, May 14, 2019 7:00:03 AM)

    The Raptors, after one of the most memorable games in league history, have to immediately shift gears to take on the juggernaut Milwaukee Bucks. Here’s what to look for.

  • [NYTimes] In the N.B.A. Lottery, the Knicks Will Take Their 14 Percent Shot at Zion Williamson
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 11:00:05 PM)

    Under the previous lottery system, the Knicks — by finishing with the league’s worst record — would have had a 25 percent chance at getting the Duke star.

  • [NYTimes] Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang. Swish! All About Kawhi Leonard’s Buzzer-Beater
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 6:23:03 PM)

    Toronto’s star made one of the most remarkable shots in N.B.A. history to finish off the 76ers. Here’s how it went down.

  • [NYPost] What Zion Williamson dream could mean to Knicks
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 10:22:36 PM)

    CHICAGO — The Knicks and Patrick Ewing are due. The big night has finally arrived after all the 2018-19 tanking for Zion Williamson. Ewing never had much prosperity in Chicago against Michael Jordan’s Bulls. But now the Knicks’ 7-foot-1 good-luck charm must step up on Tuesday and create a Williamson windfall. Ewing, 34 years after…

  • [NYPost] A new Knicks beginning is within reach — at last
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 10:04:26 PM)

    This is what Tuesday night is all about, what the lottery is all about, when the pingpong balls start to fly and also start to fall, the first domino in what the Knicks — and every other hapless basketball team in the raffle — dream will be a profound pathway to respectability. This is what…

  • [NYPost] Kevin Durant’s outlook gets worse as Warriors have no clue
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 7:59:46 PM)

    OAKLAND, Calif.  — Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins won’t necessarily return from injuries in time to play for the Golden State Warriors during the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. Durant is likely to miss at least the first two games of the best-of-seven series beginning Tuesday night at Oracle Arena. Coach Steve…

  • [NYPost] Knicks guide if NBA draft lottery turns into nightmare
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 7:42:46 PM)

    CHICAGO — The reality is the Knicks are more likely to zero in on Virginia’s D’Andre Hunter and Gonzaga’s Rui Hachimura than Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and RJ Barrett once the pingpong balls roll. The consensus leading into Tuesday’s lottery is the top three picks will be Williamson, Morant and Barrett. The odds are better…

  • [NYPost] Knicks fans ready for the thrill — or castastrophe — of NBA draft lottery
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 4:44:51 PM)

    CHICAGO — The drinks will start flowing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Slattery’s Midtown Pub in Manhattan. Odds are, the tears will start flowing 65 minutes later. Or will they? A mix of Knicks fan blogs/podcasts will host their third fan viewing party of 2018-19 Tuesday night to pray on 14 percent. Those are…

  • [NYPost] NBA Draft Lottery: Rabbis and witches praying Knicks land Zion Williamson
    (Monday, May 13, 2019 2:58:33 PM)

    On Tuesday night, the Knicks will learn their place in the NBA draft lottery. With a No. 1 pick, they’d get Duke superstar Zion Williamson, as well as a commodity the team’s fans rarely have enjoyed: hope. But these are the Knicks we’re talking about — luck is as rare as a playoff appearance. It’s…