MVP Brunson Leads Knicks To NBA Finals
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Brown Sees Knicks Sweep Cavs
Photo: Michael Henriquez – NY Beacon
Madison Square Garden
The New York Knicks are going back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999! They have won 11 straight playoff games and have won 6 straight on the road. In all of the road wins they outscored the other team by double digits or more! They will face the winner of the Western Conference Finals OKC or San Antonio who played game 5 Tuesday night. Their series is even at 2.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a 22-point lead against the Knicks in game 1 at Madison Square Garden with more than 7 minutes to go. The Knicks rallied and outscored the Cavs 18-1 at one point. New York suffocated Cleveland as they only gave up 11 points in the final quarter, scoring 44 points. New York went on to win in overtime 115-104. Cleveland battled the Knicks in game 2 trailing by only 4 (53-49) at halftime. New York then took over in the third quarter outscoring Cleveland 32-21 in the 109-93 win. Knowing games 3 and 4 would be played in Cleveland, the Knicks knew the Cavs would not go away easily.
New York made a statement from the very beginning as they put up 37 points in the first quarter and never looked back in the 121-108 game 3 win. Captain and guard Jalen Brunson leading all scorers with 30 points. New York looked to close out the series when they took the floor in game 4 Sunday night.
The Knicks went on a 20-0 run in the second quarter and never looked back in the 130-93 series clinching victory. Center Karl-Anthony Town led the team with 19 points. Back-up guards came up big as Landry Shamet scored 16 points (4-4 3-pointers) and Miles McBride 11 (3-5 3-pointers). Brunson was named the Eastern Conference Most Valuable Player.
The New York Knicks were the first #8 seed to defeat a #1 seed Miami Heat in 1999 when they last went to the NBA Finals. Injuries to center Patrick Ewing and forward Larry Johnson played a big part in losing to the San Antonio Spurs in 5 games as the Spurs raised the Larry O’Brien in front of the Madison Square Garden crowd.
When the New York Knicks fell down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, the media and fans thought they were done. The players felt otherwise and responded by winning the last 3 games. New York thoroughly embarrassing the Hawks by 51 points in game 6. The Knicks would go on to
sweep the Philadelphia 76ers before taking out Cleveland in the same fashion.
First year head coach Mike Brown, who was not the organization’s first choice had nothing but praise for his team. “I truly felt this team was a NBA Finals team. I thought we had a true opportunity. In some jobs you take, we can get better. We have a chance to make the playoffs right now. This one, l felt we legitimately had a chance if we can help them figure it out, our players can stay together during the process. Brunson paid tribute to the Knicks organization. “The belief that the organization has had in me has been amazing,” he began flanked by teammates guard Josh Hart and Mikel Bridges at the postgame podium. “It’s something that l don’t take for granted. Not a lot of people get the opportunity to do so. I’m very thankful. It’s an honor to be here in the city.”
What the New York Knicks have done in this postseason has been historic. They closed out Atlanta by 51, Philadelphia by 30 and Cleveland by 37. New York became the 5th team to win 11 or more straight playoffs games in a row. Only San Antonio (12) and Golden State (15) have won more in a row. The Knicks have outscored their playoff opponents by 19.4 points per game which is the highest margin entering Finals in NBA history.
The New York Knicks are looking to win their first NBA tilte since 1973.
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