On May 10, the New York Knicks put the nail in the coffin by sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
For the Knicks, this was more than their average Semifinal playoff series win; it was a message to the NBA as a whole, showing they are the team to beat in the East.
New York showed that they can win any game, whether it’s a blowout, a back-and-forth, or a last-second shot.
They might also be the hardest team to face as an opponent because of their overall roster depth, role-specific rotations, physical defense, and possibly the best home crowd advantage in the sport.
Two of their four wins were by 30-plus points, showing just how dominant they really are.
Jalen Brunson is the Engine for This Team
If a team like the Knicks wants to be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, they have to have a superstar to be their engine, and Jalen Brunson is that player.
In the series against Philadelphia, Brunson averaged 23.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. This came while shooting 42.5% from the field and 42.3% from three.
Brunson did all of this while having a loaded roster behind him. This includes guys like Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson.
But to him, this is just a regular thing. Brunson’s career playoff averages include 25.6 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, with a field goal percentage of 46.3%.
However, Brunson is more than just stats; he is also a leader. Head coach Mike Brown praised his ability to “calm the team and control the game” even in high-pressure moments.
This poise from your head coach shows that he can maintain team composure but also play at a superstar level, which is critical for the New York Knicks’ success if they want to reach the NBA Finals.
Difference Between the Knicks and the Rest of the East
The Eastern Conference Finals are here, and many people understand that this is when the little things matter most.
Things like experience matter more than most think, and unfortunately, the Detroit Pistons were a victim of this. Detroit showed their minimal playoff experience in the Game 7 blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Pistons went to a seven-game series with the Orlando Magic in Round 1, which most believed shouldn’t have even happened. Now, their season ended because of the veteran-filled Cavs.
Under the Cade Cunningham era, the Pistons have been to the playoffs only twice, while both the Knicks and Cavs have gone every year since 2023.
That said, when comparing the Knicks and Cavs, there are many similarities.
Both have considerable depth on the roster, including two-star players like Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns for New York, and, for Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell with James Harden, along with prominent head coaches and consistent play.
However, the Knicks have beaten Cleveland twice in the three games they have played this season.
That said, New York already has a huge advantage going into the next round of the playoffs. They dominated the Atlanta Hawks and the Sixers, and have home-court advantage in Madison Square Garden.
Now that the Conference Finals are starting, the New York Knicks are the favorites to reach the NBA Finals. Their series against Philly already shows that not just the fans believe in this team, but the NBA world is starting to catch on.
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