Knicks Take it in 5

  

            Written By: Spencer Teman, of Swish Tribune

            It turns out that us Knicks fans weren't wrong when we were chanting "Knicks in 5" all the way down 7th avenue as the Knicks defeat the Cavs in the best of seven series, 4 games to 1.

            For the first time in 10 years, the Knicks have made it out of the first round. If you look at that Knicks team from 10 years ago, not a single one of those players are currently an active player in the NBA today. It is certainly a great time for us as Knicks fans as we have been so devastated with so many bad teams over the past decade, but now finally this team is accomplishing something. 

            The difference maker in this series was Madison Square Garden. I am convinced that there is no arena or stadium in sports that can top the home-field advantage that MSG brings. If you think you've been in a loud area, MSG can double the decibel level very quickly. 

            The Cavs weren't prepared in the slightest to deal with the Mecca. Game 3 was a blowout, but game 4 was definitely the biggest game of the series as that in my opinion was the final blow. The Knicks totally deflated the Cavs morality and mentality headed into Game 5 and left them looking very flat throughout the game.

            I couldn't give one MVP this series because there is definitely multiple. Topping the list is Jalen Brunson and then moving down you have Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, and RJ Barrett. From Game 3 to 5, RJ Barrett played out of his mind and played like the type of guy the Knicks thought they were getting consistently at the #3 overall pick.

            As for Mitchell Robinson, if the ball was in the air and he was on the court, most likely the ball would end up being in his hands. Mitch got tired of being bounced and pushed around when he first entered the league and decided to bulk up and put on some muscle so he could do the same thing his opponents were doing to him.

            If you compare the Knicks last playoff series against the Hawks and this one now, 3 of the 4 MVPs of this series did not play and two of them weren't even on the Knicks roster. Josh Hart is the definition of a difference maker. When he came over at the deadline, fans thought the Knicks gave up a little too much, but now they are saying that the Blazers were stupid enough to give up Hart alone.

            Hart totally changed the projectile and mentality of this team. Without Hart, this series would still be going on and possibly the Knicks wouldn't even be the #5 seed. Now to talk about his former Villanova teammate Jalen Brunson. In the words of Charles Barkley, Brunson may be the best free agent signing in the history of the NBA.

            He's the point guard that the Knicks have been missing for a very long time and he brings it each and every game. Brunson was the only player all series, on both teams, to have at least 20 points in every game. He didn't win most improved player, but if there was an award for the best addition to a team, I think he would win it unanimously. 

            Looking ahead in the second round, almost everyone thought that if the Knicks would pull off a first round win they would be headed to Milwaukee. Instead, they are going back to the Garden with home-court advantage to take on the Miami Heat. The Heat are the #8 seed but seed numbers don't mean anything when you have playoff Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra on the opposing bench.

            The Heat may be a little banged up and a bit of a more favorable matchup for the Knicks, but just because they are the #8 seed does not mean the Knicks will be wrapping this series up very quickly. I expect a very nitty gritty, classic Knicks Heat playoff matchup that will have the entire NBA watching.

            The Knicks have advanced to the second round for the first time since 2013, but the time to celebrate is minimal as the next task at hand is in just a couple of days on Sunday. Knicks Heat at the Garden at 1 on ABC, it should be a great series. 



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