Las Vegas has taken a cautious viewpoint on the new-look Knicks, who open training camp Monday with a marquee roster, if one tainted by potential health issues.
At the premier Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, the NBA over-under victory totals were released Tuesday, and the Knicks were placed at a sobering 38½ wins. By Wednesday, following a slew of “over” bets, the Knicks jumped to 39½. Knicks president Phil Jackson, GM Steve Mills and first-year coach Jeff Hornacek will hold a state-of-the-Knicks address Friday to assess the season.
“We’re trying to predict people’s perception from a betting standpoint,’’ Westgate’s Superbook manager Jeff Sherman told The Post. “You look at the Knicks team and some guys have gone through a lot of injuries through the years. We have teams like that we move more toward the under, accounting for it [injuries] might happen during the season. This would be a great team if it’s 2010. It’s 2016. There are players who’ve gone through injuries and games missed that can affect the number.’’
In particular, newcomers Derrick Rose (knees), Joakim Noah (shoulder) and Brandon Jennings (Achilles) all fall into the at-risk category. The trio combined to play 138 games last season — an average of 46. One alarming issue is both Rose and Jennings man the point-guard position and the club doesn’t have anyone behind them on the depth chart who is a lock to make the roster.
Summer-league sensation Chasson Randle, who signed a partially guaranteed deal, will try to be that third point guard. A source says veteran shooting guard Sasha Vujacic is the fallback option.
“I like Hornacek, he’s a great addition, but we’ve seen with Derrick Rose multiple times and Noah,’’ Sherman said. “We’ve done prop bets on these guys for ABC [television] games. Noah used to be in the 20s (combined points/rebounds). Last year, if we used him, we’d put him at 12, 13. Rose used to be a 20 [points]. Last year we had him at 12. So even when they’re playing, production is down.’’
In late June, Westgate’s debut odds on the Knicks were 100-1 to win the title. That’s been bet down to 80-1 after free agency. Sherman said Westgate has taken more bets on the Knicks than on any other team.
The Nets were posted at an NBA-worst 1,000-1 for the title, and also were a league-low 20.5 in Tuesday’s wins over/under — though they have been bet up to 21.5.
“Look at the personnel of that team and Brook Lopez has gone through injuries and could be traded,’’ Sherman said. “You lose someone like that, it affects the number. [Jeremy] Lin doesn’t affect the number.’’
One of the most intriguing bets Westgate offers is taking “the field’’ to win the NBA title — anyone other than the Warriors, who are favorites at 5-7. The odds are generous for the 29-team field (listed at 6-5), which includes the defending champion Cavaliers.
Cleanthony Early, Jackson’s first draft pick, won’t attend Knicks training camp that starts Monday, according to an NBA source. He is a free agent.
Early, selected No. 34 in the 2014 draft, still is getting his legs stronger as he recovers from various injuries. Early, from Middletown, was shot in the knee on Dec. 30 after leaving a Queens strip club and missed most of the season. Early missed all the games during the Orlando summer league in July after straining his hamstring.
Jackson obtained that 2014 draft pick from Dallas as part of the Tyson Chandler blockbuster trade. It was disclosed this summer in Charley Rosen’s “Phil Jackson Chronicles” that Jackson passed on a chance at obtaining rising star Jae Crowder in the package.
This week’s re-signing of center Lou Amundson brings the Knicks’ camp roster total to 18.