The New York Knicks are still basking in championship glory as they won the NBA Championship for the first time since 1973 just over a month ago. 

A lot has changed since then. 

This NBA offseason has been one of the wildest in NBA history, with Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to the Miami Heat, LaMelo Ball being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers revamping their entire lineup around Luka Doncic, and the Toronto Raptors potentially acquiring Kawhi Leonard. 

Perhaps the biggest move of the offseason happened this past week when LeBron James joined the Philadelphia 76ers, who also acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics earlier in the offseason. 

All this just to beat the Knicks. 

LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers gives the team arguably the best starting five in the league with LeBron, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. On paper, there is little weakness to that lineup and plenty of firepower. 

The games aren't played through a console, though; they are played on the court, and real dynamics are at play. It's a group that has never played a single second of basketball together or interacted with each other in a team environment. 

The same can be said for the Miami Heat in adding Giannis or the Raptors if the Kawhi trade goes through. 

These dynamics matter when the ball goes up. Team chemistry can only be formed through those battles on the court and in high-pressure situations. Teams that make major roster changes in the offseason rarely make it to the Finals, much less win a championship, no matter how much talent they have on paper. 

Though multiple teams in the Eastern Conference improved, the conference still runs through the reigning champions. 

The Knicks didn't make any franchise-altering moves like some teams, but they also didn't get worse. The only real move they made was losing Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics, not an insignificant blow, but replacing him with Andre Drummond, who provides similar value and qualities. 

Otherwise, the Knicks will be bringing back their same starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

They'll also have top reserves Jordan Clarkson, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Jose Alvarado back. 

The Knicks have battled through two playoff runs together, making the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago before capturing the championship this past season. Despite a shift in conference balance, the East still belongs to New York.