The New York Knicks (47-35) will begin the playoffs Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31). The storyline in this series that everyone is talking about revolves around Westchester native and four-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell. The Knicks had the chance to draft Mitchell in 2017 but slept and watched him go on to stardom in Utah. The Knicks had a chance to trade for him last summer, but he was eventually traded to Cleveland. Mitchell has gone on to have the best year of his young career averaging 28 points a game, which has caused aggravation for Knicks fans. However, the Knicks have beaten Cleveland three of four times this season.
The last time the Knicks were in the playoffs, two years ago, they had beaten their first-round opponent, Atlanta Hawks, all three times they met in the regular season, only to lose to them in five games in the playoffs. Their all-star that season and this season, forward Julius Randle, had a historically bad series. Randle now has something to prove, but he is questionable for the series with an ankle sprain. First year Knicks guard Jalen Brunson outplayed Mitchell last postseason as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
The Series could come down to the health of Randle who missed the last 5 games of the regular season with a sprained left ankle. His status when they play game 1 in Cleveland Saturday has not been determined at this point.
New York Beacon Prediction: Knicks In 6.
