LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 16: Og Anunoby (center, L) #8 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks lift the trophy after the team defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 to win the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals.
Let the words sink in.
It has now been 27 years since the organization was slated to play the final game of the season and it has come during a run that could make the staunchest doubters reconsider their thoughts. The Knicks currently hold the NBA record for the highest point differential during the playoffs with a 41 point lead over the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors. Not only that, but they’ve compiled a list of so many blowouts that their 11 game winning streak is the largest point margin for teams in both the playoffs AND the regular season.
The question is, is it sustainable? The ride has probably felt magical for New Yorkers, but that feeling of euphoria is oftentimes followed with the figurative shoe dropping. The history of the organization is filled with missteps and heartbreak, but most fans would rebut that this is different. The opponent will certainly be a worthy one, but let’s take a deeper look at what has helped fuel the success and whether fans can expect to see the same winning results.
Transition
The Indiana Pacers taught New York a whole lot about winning basketball games during their run to the NBA Finals last year. One way in which they gashed the team over and over was through easy transition buckets. The Knicks made a decree this season to take similar advantage of opponents and it has remained true during the playoffs. They currently have the best transition offense in the NBA by scoring an incredible 126.7 points per 100 possessions and the manner in which they’re scoring their buckets doesn’t seem like it’s ending any time soon.
The waves of players storming up the court feels overwhelming and neverending. They attack relentlessly and are opportunistic when a moment arises. That is the Knicks brand this season and they’ve been consistent in their overtures to break the will of the opponents. Turnovers, generally, are the best way for teams to score in transition and that is exactly what the Knicks are doing. They currently have the 7th best turnover percentage in the playoffs, which is right in line with the 15th placed ranking they had during the regular season (the playoffs only have 16 teams that make the postseason).
Here is a perfect example of this type of defense. Landry Shamet does an excellent job of staying tied to Donovan Mitchell and forcing Evan Mobley to get involved in the action before he crosses the half court line. Shamet stays active and takes complete advantage of the sloppy play from the all-star while Anunoby bodies Mobley enough to throw him off balance from receiving an entry pass. OG then zooms up the court to finish off the play with an easy transition dunk that erased any chance of the Cavaliers from making a late push.
Taking advantage of missed shots by the opponent is a secondary way in which teams will look to generate easy shots. The playoffs are a bit slower paced as clubs try to take care of the ball a bit more. The Knicks have consistently been a top-10 team in manufacturing points off of missed shots both during the regular season and now in the playoffs. It buoyed their efficiency and gave them the ammo to be the best transition squad in the NBA during the playoffs. It’s a stark contrast to the struggles they had in converting on those same opportunities just last season.
Opportunities
Offensive rebounding has made a comeback in the NBA over the past few seasons, but not against the Knicks. Players trying to sneak by for second chance opportunities find themselves being walled off by boxed out mammoths in orange and blue. That consistency from the regular season has carried over to the postseason where New York allowed a paltry 24.3 offensive rebounding rate to opponents. It has led to limited second chance point opportunities, which is a fulcrum of how the Knicks have played since October.
They did an excellent job of proving just this during the historic comeback against the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. As Cleveland’s lead started to dissipate the effort of the Knicks only increased. Karl-Anthony Towns has been a beast with his rebounding– constantly putting a body on big men and spacing them out of the paint to where he has room to pull in long rebounds. Anunoby was able to do the same by taking on Jarrett Allen and preventing him from making an attempt at grabbing the high bounce off of the rim. Mikal Bridges got back into the play and skied high enough to tip the ball away from an uncontested Sam Merrill. Shamet was able to swoop in at the last second to secure the rebound, but it took the concerted effort of the team to make it happen. It is emblematic of the togetherness the group has played with during this run, especially on the defensive glass.
The Knicks are just as well-versed in gobbling up those second chance points when they miss. They have been the best team in that stat during the playoffs, which coincides with a top-7 ranking they had during the regular season. Maintaining the upper hand on the offensive boards will be pivotal in beating a difficult defense, especially if Mitchell Robinson is unable to suit up.
Dominance is a high bar to clear, especially in the playoffs. The numbers prove that the New York Knicks have a high floor, but it may be tough to repeat this level of success on the world’s largest stage.