The New York Knicks last made the NBA Finals in 1999. The last championship was in 1973. Translation: it’s been a long time and the city is hungry.
Prior to the start of the 2022-23 NBA season, little did we know that a 6-foot-2, 190-pound point guard out of Villanova, who was drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft, would be the seed that would potentially bring the Knicks back to glory.
After winning 37 games in 2021-22, New York won 47 games during Brunson’s first season with the Knicks. It ended with a loss in the Eastern Conference semis. The following season resulted in 50 regular season wins with another loss in the semis. Last season, the Knicks won 51 games and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but lost to the Indiana Pacers.
Tom Thibodeau was then replaced by Mike Brown as head coach, who helped engineer a 53-29 regular season and an epic playoff run for the Knicks up to this point. After losing Games 2 and 3 in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks won three straight to close out the series, swept the Philadelphia 76ers and just completed another sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to the NBA Finals.
Many view the Eastern Conference as the JV while the Western Conference side of the bracket is essentially for the Larry O’Brien. But, but, but….this is why they play the games and New York is one of the hottest teams right now. In addition, the San Antonio/Oklahoma City series could be a war of attribution while the Knicks now get to sit back and rest.
During the regular season, New York was fourth in offensive rating and seventh in defense. During the playoffs, the Knicks have the top-rated offense while the defense has been second-best.
The Knicks are +225 to win the Finals on DraftKings Sportsbook. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder are favored to win it all at +105 while the San Antonio Spurs are third at +270.
