Even though the Knicks-Cavaliers showdown didn’t hold much bearing to their current position before the playoffs, New York still found a way to disappoint their fans in the Madison Square Garden.
Knicks Choking For the Nth Time
We can’t blame why fans slammed the Knicks for blowing a 23-point advantage against the Cavaliers, who are without Donovan Mitchell. A complete punch to the gut.
After all, they could have at least held on to the lead until the final buzzer. Instead, they allowed easy baskets from their opponents while also struggling to make their own.
At least, this time around, fans can’t put the blame on Karl-Anthony Towns, who was sidelined due to a lingering knee injury.
Jalen Brunson was healthy and had 27 points in the contest, but didn’t get much help from OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges who shot 6-of-18 and 6-of-13, respectively.
Meanwhile, Darius Garland wreaked havoc without Donovan Mitchell and De’Andre Hunter on the floor, after finishing with 26 points and 13 assists. Five other Cavs also chipped in with double-digits: Max Strus (19), Evan Mobley (16), Isaac Okoro (15), Jarrett Allen (11), and Craig Porter Jr. (11)
The Curious Case of New York’s Terrible Performance Against Top Contenders
The New York Knicks are about to end the 2024-2025 campaign highlighting their shortcomings against better championship contenders. They’ve officially accumulated a 1-14 record against the top 5 teams in the league.
- 0-2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder
- 0-4 against the Boston Celtics
- 0-4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers
- 1-1 against the Houston Rockets
- and 0-2 against the Los Angeles Lakers
This crucial stat signifies how poor the Knicks fare against better competition. If they succeed in the first round, they’re still going to meet either of the Cavaliers or Boston late in the Eastern conference playoffs, to whom they are winless.
But, before that, they first have to face the 6th seed Detroit Pistons, who have got the best of the Knicks in the regular season. In four games, Detroit outplayed New York, 3-1, completely magnifying their failures.
Are the Knicks already bound to fail, one way or the other?
