Exactly one year ago, the Knicks stepped onto the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face the Pacers. Our heroes had lost the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, each by five points or less. Favored to win the series, New York stunned us by dropping those two at Madison Square Garden, but our faith remained strong. It was still our year! We would just have to wait a couple more games to reach the promised land.
New York won by six on May 25, 2025. From there, they lost Game Four nearly
wire-to-wire, won Game Five wire-to-wire, and then the wheels came off. Aside from a brief five-point lead in the first quarter, they were demolished in Game Six. Brokenhearted, disconsolate, forlorn, confused—you name it, we felt it as fans. We blinked through disbelief as we watched Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers hoist the Bob Cousy Trophy and advance to the Finals. The friggin’ Pacers.
One year later—with a new coach but essentially the same roster—the Knicks stand on the verge of a Finals berth again. This time, they will leave nothing to chance. Their opponent, the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, are reeling from three straight punches and are utterly exhausted after playing 17 postseason games without a break. In Game Three, essentially with their season on the line, the Cavs simply couldn’t keep up. New York outscored them on fast breaks 17-0 through three quarters, and by the fourth period, Cleveland basically stood back and admired the craftsmanship of Sir Jalen Brunson.
You’ll forgive us for counting the chickens still gestating in their eggs. We take great confidence in the fact that no NBA team has ever climbed out of a three-game hole to win a playoff series. Our heroes have not appeared in the NBA Finals since 1999, and destiny, at last, is on our side. No more front-office incompetence. No more LOLKnicks. No more cheap shots in kids’ movies that I have to explain to my son. Finally, we have a team that deserves to share a jersey with Willis, Walt, and Patrick. Enjoy every blessed minute of it, fans.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson has tried to lift his team’s spirits. He claims they’re actually winning the series analytically. What else can he say? “Donovan Mitchell looks ready for a summer-long convalescence,” or “James Harden is a washed-up paper tiger,” or “Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have folded like laundry in the frontcourt”? Could Kenny ever admit that a supporting cast of Max Strus, Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson just doesn’t emanate that certain championship aroma?
Atkinson has a ring. He won it with Mike Brown as an assistant on Golden State’s bench. Kenny knows what greatness looks like. Surely he can see that his team is tapped out after surviving slugfests with the Raptors and Pistons to get here, then finding a juggernaut before them. Would we be surprised if Laura Atkinson hasn’t already booked a Turks and Caicos getaway for next weekend? No sir, we would not.
All things considered, the Cavs seem kinda lucky to be here. The Knicks stopped believing in luck under the cruel tutelage of Pai Mei (a.k.a. Tom Thibodeau) and—for Jalen—Rick Brunson. They believe in maximum effort, discipline, and unity. They took two seasons to learn how to combine like Voltron, but combine they have and all the talking heads are giving them flowers. Winners of the most lopsided 10-game winning streak in league history . . . the most potent offense in history . . . all the laudatory noise means nothing to that maniac Brunson. He is obsessively focused on one thing and steadily leads his troops toward it. It’s not the Cousy—Jalen is coming for the Larry O’Brien. Heaven help anyone who stands in his way.
Tonight’s prediction? Knicks by 15.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (3-0) at Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3)
Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
Time: 8 PM ET
Place: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
TV: ESPN
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
