It seems like déjà vu.
The Knicks are fresh off a sweep, yet they’re in the dark about who they’ll face next, having not played a game in over a week. The dreaded “R” word—rust—is back in the spotlight.
This scenario mirrors what they experienced after swiftly eliminating the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But this time, there’s a sense that they might be better equipped to handle any lingering laziness.
“Sure, rust will be a factor. We haven’t played in a while, but I think we’ll be better prepared for that,” one player noted after their big win over the Cavaliers, which advances them to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. “The coaching staff did a fantastic job leading into Game 1, but we just didn’t hit enough good shots.”
At the onset of the Eastern Conference Finals, rust definitely showed. They found themselves down by 22 points in the fourth quarter, needing a remarkable comeback to maintain their home advantage.
Whether it’s the defending champion Thunder or the up-and-coming Spurs, a similar off night could lead to a defeat. The Knicks will kick off the finals on the road against both teams.
“We needed to figure out how to get those game reps,” Towns shared. “I believe the coaching staff understands that. We want to get back into a groove and adjust our scrimmage style, which we couldn’t do last time. I feel we’ll be more equipped. Ultimately, though, it comes down to execution, urgency, and energy. We need to bring that into Game 1.”
“This team has an insatiable drive, and that’s the crucial part. Even after such a significant victory, we kept celebrations low-key. We’re eager to dive back in. We even asked Coach [Mike Brown], ‘Can we start early?’ We know how the last long break played out, so we’re already discussing preparing and practicing immediately after the game. That’s what makes us unique and gives us a chance to succeed in the next series.”
