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The Knicks seemed to discover a new intensity during the latter part of the Eastern Conference Finals by broadening their rotation and opting for a larger starting lineup.
NEW YORK (AP)— The New York Knicks reached a height not seen in 25 years, though they fell short of their ultimate aspirations.
Their commitment to contending for an NBA championship was evident when they acquired Mikal Bridges in the summer, followed by a significant trade for Karl-Anthony Towns during the preseason, bringing a premier perimeter defender and an All-Star center into a squad led by Jalen Brunson.
However, these bold acquisitions didn’t quite lead them to the promised land.
On Saturday, the Knicks were ousted by the Indiana Pacers, marking yet another year without a championship since 1973. Nonetheless, their advancement to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, after previously facing back-to-back second-round exits, gives them a sense of progress.
“It’s a step forward compared to last year, but it’s still not our ultimate aim,” coach Tom Thibodeau remarked.
With the Boston Celtics having clinched the championship in 2024 and retaining their core roster, they emerged as formidable favorites in the Eastern Conference. However, since Leon Rose’s tenure as team president began in 2020, the Knicks were not ready to yield anything to the reigning champions.
They locked down OG Anunoby with the largest contract in franchise history before trading five future first-round picks to land Bridges from Brooklyn. Just before the start of training camp, the Knicks made a pivotal move by trading two starters, All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who had recently set a record for the most three-pointers in a single season for the team, to acquire Towns from Minnesota.
These adjustments proved sufficient for the Knicks to overcome the Celtics in the second round. However, they weren’t equipped to handle the deep and agile Pacers, who eliminated them for the second year in a row.
“You make these moves to succeed, so it’s disappointing not to bring a championship opportunity to this city,” Towns expressed. “We have a great group in that locker room, and the goal now is to position ourselves to succeed next time.”
First, Rose and the front office need to assess just how close the Knicks truly are.
With a regular-season record of 51-31, they stood a considerable distance behind Cleveland and Boston, and they were winless against those teams, going 0-8, until they managed to defeat the Celtics in the second round after Jayson Tatum suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 4.
With two players, Brunson and Towns, receiving All-NBA selections, the starting lineup ranks among the strongest in the league. However, the team’s depth pales in comparison to that of the Cavaliers, Celtics, and notably the Pacers.
Even so, after being far out of contention for the previous two decades, the Knicks have positioned themselves as formidable contenders. They have celebrated back-to-back seasons of winning 50 games and have made it to the playoffs four times in five years under Thibodeau. Despite Saturday’s loss, there remains optimism that another opportunity will arise soon.
“Confidence is through the roof. Perhaps even overconfident,” Brunson said when questioned about his faith in the team’s ability to win. “Honestly, there’s not a shred of doubt in my mind regarding this group.”
The contract extension their captain signed last summer, which fell short of maximum value, could also bolster team morale. It appears the Knicks may finally be at a stage where major changes may not be necessary.
The disappointment of letting this opportunity slip away will linger, particularly after their Game 1 meltdown at home, where they squandered a 14-point lead in the final 2:45 of the fourth quarter.
Discontent had been the prevailing sentiment in New York during the 2000s, but now there exists a glimmer of hope.
“The challenge for us is to see things as they truly are,” Thibodeau stated. “We placed in the top three, but fell short of our ultimate objective; thus, we must utilize this as a source of motivation and determination, working throughout the summer to prepare for that final step and to keep improving in order to achieve our goal.”
