The Knicks kick off their season on Wednesday against the Celtics, and Boomer and Gio expect the expectations to be about the same as the result was from last season.
But that's not a bad thing.
"The hype around the Knicks isn't anything greater than it was last year…they're bringing back the same team last year outside of Donte DiVincenzo," Gio said. "This team is gonna be right in the mix, and hopefully they get off to a decent start.
"This should not be taken for granted. I know it wasn't a huge, exciting offseason, but the fact that the Knicks are coming back as a legitimate playoff team in the Eastern Conference this year, with players we love, shouldn't be taken for granted…I think that's a great thing."
Boomer will have his eye on the returning young core of homegrown Knicks, like RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, and Mitchell Robinson, who could help New York take the next step by individually making the next leap themselves.
"All the guys we know we drafted, they kept them, they've been patient with them, they've kept them together, and now they're all growing together," Boomer said. "You'd like to think another year, another level of experience, and hopefully expectations for themselves."
So, what would make for a successful season? For Gio, getting back to where they were last year would be a success, considering the team is nearly exactly the same.
"I expect them to get back to where they were last year. I want to see them in the second round with a shot to move on," Gio said. "That's what I'm expecting out of them."
