NBA-Knicks chase back-to-back banner in NBA built to stop dynasties

Oct 16 : New York has barely stopped celebrating its first NBA title in 53 years, and the Knicks are already chasing a repeat in a league that is built to stop one.

The NBA has crowned a record eight different champions in the last eight seasons. Rules that make it tougher to stack a roster with superstars have turned the league into a free-for-all.

The Knicks, however, have a big edge: the band is back together. New York returns its five best players, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with the chemistry that carried it to the title.

THE LEBRON PLOT TWIST

The offseason's biggest story was where the NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, would land after splitting with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The surprise winner of the sweepstakes was the Philadelphia 76ers. James admitted he would have liked to play for the Knicks, but said that door closed once they won the title.

So the 41-year-old will take his talents to Philadelphia instead of the Big Apple, although he will reportedly be living part-time in New York and commuting by helicopter.

There he joins Jaylen Brown, who was stunningly traded by the Celtics in the offseason, along with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

The question is whether the pieces fit, since all five players are accustomed to having the ball in their hands.

"They are like a room that has five beautiful couches in it," ESPN's Brian Windhorst told ABS-CBN News.

"But you don't need five couches in a room. You need a couch and a chair, a table, a TV and a mirror, and that's going to be a challenge. Can they all fit, or do you have to put one couch up along the wall."

WELCOME TO THE GARDEN

James could hardly have a more dramatic debut. The four-time