The Knicks Push for Conference Finals Again
The dynamics have shifted. The Knicks are set to return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, this time favored against the Cavaliers, aiming for their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1999.
Just three years earlier, the Knicks were the underdogs facing Cleveland, hoping to secure their first playoff series win in a decade.
“It felt special, given it was our first playoff series, but we’ve come a long way since then,” remarked Jalen Brunson about the earlier series. “The situation feels different for both teams now.”
In that previous matchup, the Knicks managed to limit the Cavaliers significantly, holding Donovan Mitchell to 18 points below his average. His shooting from beyond the arc was just 28.9 percent, along with an average of 3.8 turnovers per game. While Mitchell scored 38 points in the Game 1 loss, Josh Hart managed to confine him to an average of 19.5 points for the remainder of the series.
“I don’t think I really learned anything new about myself,” Hart commented. “I know I’m a good player and a solid defender. As a competitor, of course, you want these tough matchups against the best.”
Mitchell, recognized for his offensive prowess, is known to make difficult shots. However, lacking OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges this year could mean the Knicks are even better positioned to challenge the Cavaliers’ offensive strategies.
Bridges and Hart showed formidable defensive skills during the Knicks’ successful playoffs run. In the first round, Bridges effectively limited Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the league’s most improved player, to a shooting percentage of 38. In the same round, Hart held CJ McCollum to an average of 11.3 points while facing 39.5 percent shooting and averaging 3.3 turnovers per game.
When it came to their series against the 76ers, Bridges used his height to trouble Tyrese Maxey, keeping the fifth-leading scorer in the league to 10 points less than his average. Maxey struggled with shooting just 15.8 percent from three-point territory and averaged 3.5 turnovers per game.
Standing four inches taller than Mitchell, Bridges could further complicate matters for Cleveland’s leading scorer in his first conference finals.
Despite averaging 25.6 points this postseason, Mitchell has only shot 31.1 percent from three-point range.
However, he’s not left to fend for himself. Cleveland’s acquisition of James Harden on February 7 added significant firepower to their backcourt. This move led to the Cavs holding the league’s third-best clutch rating and fifth-best offensive rating, as evidenced in a 109-94 win over the Knicks on February 24, which marked Harden’s debut.
This trade has raised the Cavs’ prospects for the season, but Harden comes with a history of postseason struggles that could be concerning. With 20.1 points and 6.2 assists on average in the playoffs so far, Harden has shot 41.5 percent from the field and has also averaged 4.8 turnovers per game.
Despite his checkered playoff history, the Knicks are preparing to face the former MVP.
“He creates a lot of offensive opportunities for them,” Brunson noted. “It eases some pressure off Donovan too. With James in play, there’s another threat to consider, giving them various options to attack. They really are a dynamic team.”
