The New York Knicks are two wins from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
Tom Thibodeau’s roster has been among the best in the NBA this season. New York’s rigorous style of defense has become a calling card. Jalen Brunson has proven to be the head of the snake and one of the NBA’s top scorers.
Nonetheless, Draymond Green thinks the Knicks’ success this season is a fluke.
“In the Eastern Conference, you can get to the Eastern Conference Finals a la the Atlanta Hawks, by playing very mid teams,” Green stated. “This is setting up for what occurred to the Atlanta Hawks three years ago, when they reached the Eastern Conference Finals and never returned…It was a fluke. That’s what the Knicks are setting you up for right now. And it will probably take another 15 years of pain before we can all gather together and laugh at Knicks supporters.”
The Knicks have had a deep playoff run despite missing their second-best player in the rotation. Julius Randle was sidelined before the postseason started due to a shoulder ailment.
Mitchell Robinson has also struggled this season due to injuries. Thibodeau’s team’s success thus far demonstrates the roster’s talent.
If the Knicks can continue to improve this summer and avoid big injuries next season, they will have one of the top rosters in the Eastern Conference. They might finish second only to the Boston Celtics.
It’s unlikely that New York’s possible run to the conference finals is coincidental. However, it may have a difficult path if the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers improve over the summer.
Nonetheless, Green may have to retract this comment. The Knicks have been preparing for this moment for some years. Now that they have it, they are unlikely to let go of the rope.
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