The NBA playoffs are never short on surprises, and this year’s bracket is setting up to be an entertaining one so here are five bold predictions for the Knicks and contenders at large.
Minnesota upsets Denver
This lowkey postseason rivalry finds these two teams at a crossroads: Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets trying to maintain the vestiges of their 2023 championship mettle, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves facing potential big changes if this core fails to build on its previous successes.
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Denver is favored heavily, with about a 70 percent implied win probability, despite a mixed year and tough foe.
There are more questions facing the favorites than the underdogs, though.
Cameron Johnson has been an underwhelming addition, their rotation beyond the starting five is shaky, and they’ve lost to this team in a series before. Minnesota has a rising young star and the tougher supporting cast while the biggest knock on them has been their lack of effort at times — not an issue likely to resurface in the playoffs.
They’re pulling off the big first-round upset out of the West.
Philadelphia upsets Boston
Remember Tyrese Maxey’s last postseason appearance? It was against the Knicks, and he averaged 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists on 53 percent shooting from two and 40 percent shooting from three.
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They’ll likely be without Joel Embiid this series, but with Maxey, the 76ers have a real shot at upsetting the Celtics.
Much like the Knicks last season, they have their unstoppable lead scoring guard, the wing defenders to handle Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and are a bothersome offensive rebounding team. Boston’s had less than a month to integrate a post-Achilles Tatum and is relying on a bunch of young, unproven guys in their rotation.
Maxey is ready to solidify his stardom in primetime, and can do so against a susceptible Celtics team.
Jalen Brunson shines in the playoffs again
Maybe this isn’t so bold, but it’s now four consecutive postseasons of Brunson turning into Michael Jordan incarnate, and five straight of bloviators questioning his ability to lead a team on this stage. Spoiler alert: he has and can.
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For those that need reminding of his resume: 72 points in two games taking over for Luka Doncic in 2022, 79 points in two elimination games trying to come back against the Finals-bound Heat in 2023, 42 points and 10 assists a game for four straight to beat the Sixers in 2024, and 29 points per game in New York’s Conference Finals run last season.
He’ll now have the benefit of a familiar roster, diversified offense and the best spacing of his Knicks career.
It may take a couple games to get going like in postseasons past, but expect more of the same once he turns it on.
San Antonio makes the Finals
Oklahoma City has been the league’s unimpeded juggernaut for close to two full seasons, but we may have found their kryptonite. It’s a 7-foot-4 Frenchman from outer space and his band of talented guards and heady role players.
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In fact, the Spurs are 4-1 in their season series against the Thunder, including their massive matchup in the NBA Cup. Inexperienced teams don’t often jump right into the playoffs and make a run, but this one is built to break that trend.
Knicks make the Finals
The oddsmakers, national media and fans are not banking on this outcome, but that locker room sure is. They’ve been preparing for this run since the early days of training camp, and all that work comes to fruition now.
It won’t be an easy path, and they’ll provide plenty of opportunities for doubt. But the advanced stats rate them as one of the best teams in the league, and the eye test follows suit.
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They’ve been great outside of a bad 2-9 stretch coming off the Cup Championship, have beaten every contender between them and their goals, and are the hungriest team in the East.
This is the Knicks’ time, and they’re going to take advantage.
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