SPECIAL: The Playoffs Are Coming
The playoffs are coming! The playoffs are coming!
The regular season will conclude tonight, and the Knicks have earned themselves the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They defeated Boston and Toronto on Thursday and Friday, and with most of their starters scheduled to rest tonight, the Knicks are preparing for the next step.
With 53 wins, the Knicks have surpassed their total in each of the last two seasons. Thursday’s 112-106 win against the Celtics was especially compelling for a Knicks team that has been inconsistent against its biggest conference foes. Only Detroit and Boston rank higher than the Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings.
In his first return to the Garden since rupturing his Achilles tendon last May, Jayson Tatum led Boston in points, assists, and rebounds. He didn’t have Jaylen Brown available, which meant the Knicks didn’t get to face a fully loaded Celtics squad, but they didn’t let Tatum ruin their night.
Josh Hart played hero late, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter. He displayed an excellent two-way game in the final frame, matching up with Tatum defensively while shooting 6-for-7 from the field, including 3-for-3 from downtown. Meanwhile, Tatum only scored six points in the final fourth.
The Knicks were careful not to get off to a slow start, and Mikal Bridges single-handedly secured a 7-0 lead to start the game. He finished with a team-leading +17 rating in 31 minutes. He only scored 10 points, but his defense was his greatest attribute.
That’s the thing about Bridges. He’s supposed to be a top defender on this team, but he hasn’t been consistent enough against three-point shots. He and OG Anunoby are supposed to guard the wings. They played a significant role in the Knicks’ second-round defeat of Boston last postseason. Bridges is going to have to elevate his defensive game in the playoffs, and on Thursday, he put himself on the right path.
On Friday, Anunoby left early with an ankle injury. He missed the entire second half, which lacked substantial production from Hart or Bridges. Mitchell Robinson was also absent for load management purposes. Hopefully, Anunoby doesn’t miss significant time. He got injured in the playoffs two years ago, and the Knicks couldn’t win without him.
One key advantage New York holds over Boston is its depth at the center position. Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns play their position differently, but both make major contributions, especially on the glass. Robinson’s greatest assets are his rebounds and defense, but he has evolved offensively this season. Towns, who is a consistent scoring threat, has become a more defensively sound player this season.
In the playoffs, for the Knicks to succeed, Towns and Jalen Brunson must work together. They are a vicious one-two punch already, but when they score in unison, they are a force to be reckoned with. Towns found his way against Boston on Thursday, and he broke out with 22 points against Toronto on Friday, complementing Brunson’s 29.
Against the Raptors’ weaker defensive unit, at least compared to Boston, Towns played with size and strength. He drove through lanes and dug new ones. He was crafty in the pick-and-roll. With 10 rebounds, it felt like everywhere he turned, the hoop followed.
On Friday, the Knicks led Toronto 14-3 at one point in the opening frame, but their poor transition defense let the Raptors finish the quarter with an 18-8 run. The Knicks responded with 10 straight points in the second quarter, though, outscoring the Raptors 29-15. After 24 minutes, they led by 15 and never looked back.
If the playoffs started today, the Knicks would host the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors in the opening round. Toronto is currently tied with Orlando record-wise, but the Raptors hold the tiebreaker. If both teams finish with the same record, Orlando will participate in the play-in tournament.
Tonight, the Knicks will conclude their season as their reserves face the Charlotte Hornets (6:00 PM, 5:00 PM CDT – MSG, Gotham Sports).
