The NBA playoffs are here, and the New York Knicks are primed to make a deep run. The team has been impressive this season, thanks in large part to the contributions of Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley. These two players have been named finalists for NBA awards, with Brunson up for Most Improved Player and Quickley in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. But it’s not just these individual honors that have Knicks fans excited – both players will be key contributors as the team takes on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.
Brunson’s Playoff Experiences and Preparation for Leading the Knicks against the Cavaliers
Jalen Brunson is no stranger to playoff basketball. Last season, he had a star turn for the Dallas Mavericks during their run to the Western Conference Finals. That performance was a convincing factor in the Knicks’ decision to pursue him in free agency last summer. Now, he’ll lead his new team against the Cavaliers beginning on Saturday in Cleveland.
Ahead of the series, Brunson was asked about his adverse playoff experiences and what he learned from them to prepare for leading the Knicks against the Cavaliers. In 2019-20, he didn’t play in the Mavericks’ first-round loss to the Clippers, and last year he averaged about 16 minutes per game off the bench in another first-round elimination by the Clips.
Brunson said he learned that everything happens for a reason and it’s all about how you respond to things. He looks at everything that he goes through as a win-win situation and tries to contribute as best he can. Despite dealing with some injuries late in this season, Brunson said he’s “ready to go” for his second straight first-round matchup against Donovan Mitchell, this time against the Cavaliers.
Analysis of the Knicks vs Cavaliers Opening-Round Playoff Series
The Knicks and Cavaliers will begin their opening-round, best-of-seven playoff series on Saturday in Cleveland. One of the key questions heading into this matchup is what will happen in the clutch, which may give the underdog Knicks an edge.
The Cavaliers have struggled in clutch games all season, having been a .500 team all season in close games and having a poor offensive rating in clutch situations. On the other hand, the Knicks have performed better in clutch games, winning 10 of their last 15 games that were decided by fewer than 10 points.
Jalen Brunson of the Knicks has been one of the best clutch performers all season, averaging four points per game and shooting 51.6 percent in clutch situations. Despite Cleveland having a better net rating in clutch situations, the series is seen as evenly matched and a pick-em series. Both teams lack playoff experience, making it difficult to predict the outcome of the series.
The nuance of matchups late game will be crucial as well as who ends up on who and who they decide to target for both teams.
On paper, this first-round matchup between the Knicks and Cavaliers is one of the most intriguing of the playoffs. With two great individual performers in Brunson and Quickley and two teams with something to prove, fans can expect an exciting and unpredictable series. The winners of the awards are expected to be announced during the NBA playoffs.
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