The New York Knicks are NBA Champions for the first time since 1973, capping off an insane 15-1 playoff run that came out of nowhere after they were staring down a 2-1 deficit against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. CJ McCollum was absolutely carving them up like a holiday ham in that series, and honestly, it looked like they were done. But then everything flipped.
The Playoff Run That Shook The League
With their backs against the wall, Coach Mike Brown recognized they needed a major change. He pulled a wild card, placing Karl-Anthony Towns in a facilitating role farther out from the basket. Talk about a gutsy move! But it paid off big time. This adjustment immediately reduced the creation load on Jalen Brunson, really highlighted Towns’ incredible vision as a passer, pulled opposing bigs away from the rim, and opened up all sorts of opportunities for their wings to cut and screen effectively. The results were instantaneous and frankly, terrifying for the rest of the league. New York’s overall scoring efficiency shot up, posting an offensive rating near 124 points per 100 possessions, and a record-shattering point differential. From that point, operating in high gear, they went on that unreal 15-1 run that delivered them the trophy. Sheesh, 15-1!
Mike Brown’s Title Blueprint Is Back
If that kind of playoff dominance sounds familiar, it should. That 15-1 run echoes the 2017 Warriors team that went 16-1, and guess who was on that bench? Mike Brown, running the team as acting head coach while Steve Kerr was out. He went 11-0 in that stretch! Brown was also a Warriors assistant for their 2017 and 2018 titles. So, the man has now been in the building for a 16-1 run and a 15-1 run. When the Knicks talk about trying to repeat, they’ve got a guy right there who has actually done it. That’s the part that really hits you. ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill summed it up perfectly, saying the last teams to repeat in 25 years were led by “one-name supernovas: Steph and KD, LeBron, Kobe.” Steph and KD were the last ones to do it with the Warriors back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, and that’s eight seasons ago now. Every champion since has gone home empty the following June.
Can New York Do What No One Else Has?
New York is absolutely coming for that back-to-back, and you have to respect it. While the Knicks went 1-1 against the Warriors last season, winning 126-113 at home in January and dropping a 110-107 game at the Garden in March, those were just regular-season games. That Knicks team hadn’t found the version of itself that ended up holding the trophy. The champs brought the band back on a budget, which is wild after 53 years without a title, but they’re here to try and make history again. Can they pull off what no one else has in nearly a decade? This season, every single game is a test for them, a chance to prove they’re not just one-hit wonders.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
Leave a Reply