It has been over two decades since the New York Knicks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and even longer since their last NBA Finals appearance. Both times, they had to fight their way through the Miami Heat. From 1997 to 2000, the two teams engaged in a series of intense showdowns, with each series going the distance. These battles have created a level of enmity that still exists among both franchise’s fan bases. The Knicks and Heat will now engage in their latest playoff showdown: the Eastern Conference semifinals kicking off at Madison Square Garden.
What Could Decide Knicks-Heat Series
Jimmy Butler will be a key player for the Heat in their quest to advance to the East finals. With Tyler Herro out with a broken hand, the onus will be on Butler to lift the Heat, especially against big-bodied athletic wings like Josh Hart, Quentin Grimes, and RJ Barrett. Additionally, the Knicks’ coach Tom Thibodeau will likely send more double-teams at Butler. The All-Star forward suffered a sprained ankle late in the regular season, but he put up a triple-double in Miami’s Game 5 series-clincher.
The Knicks’ star player Julius Randle has struggled with his shooting in the first round against Cleveland, shooting just 33.8%, including 8-for-34 from 3-point range. If Randle is back on the court, going against smaller Heat defenders compared to Cleveland bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen inside should help.
The Heat’s regular-season 3-point shooting ranked 27th in the league, hitting only 34.4%. However, during the playoffs, they have been taking virtually the same number of 3s per game, and that number rose to 45%, which is the highest among the 16-team field. Miami will need shooters such as Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Kevin Love, Gabe Vincent, and Kyle Lowry to keep burying triples.
The Knicks dominated the offensive glass in the first round, repeatedly taking advantage of a Cavaliers team that ranked 20th in defensive rebounding rate during the regular season. The Knicks are unlikely to enjoy a similar advantage in this series, with Miami posting the fourth-best defensive rebounding rate during the regular season. Much of the paint battle could hinge around Love, who at 34 years old remains an excellent rebounder and shooter.
In conclusion, the Knicks and Heat’s classic rivalry has been reborn, and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals is at stake. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said, “If you love competition, that’s what it’s all about.” The series is set to kick off on Sunday, May 15th, at Madison Square Garden, and it promises to be an exciting one.
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