Watching the rest of the NBA Playoffs is always an interesting experience for recently eliminated teams and their fans. It must be even more painful for the players and coaches themselves, knowing they came up just short of a chance to hoist the trophy. No one should feel more disappointed than the New York Knicks. NY can confidently say they were the third-best team in basketball this season, losing in a hard-fought six-game Conference Finals clash with their rival, the Indiana Pacers. Whereas the Minnesota Timberwolves were blown off the floor in five games by the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York actually had a chance to beat the Pacers. One could even argue they were even with Indiana, but choked away the series. Watching those same Pacers go up 2-1 in the NBA Finals against the supposedly unbeatable Thunder makes it sting more.
Knicks Passed Up Legit Championship Opportunity
The OKC Thunder were 68-14 this season. Their +12.9 net rating is second only to the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who won a then-record 72 games. Oklahoma City’s defense is arguably the best of all time, relative to the offensive-driven era of today. They have the league MVP in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, two more young ascending stars, and the deepest team in the sport.
With all that said, Indiana has somehow taken a 2-1 lead after their thrilling Game 3 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers, led by their outstanding role players, now have the advantage in a series that few gave them a chance. Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and T.J. McConnell have all given Indiana excellent contributions off the bench, flipping the script on Oklahoma City.
New York Should Have Won the East Finals
Indiana holding a lead through three games makes it that much more painful that the Knicks choked away the Conference Finals. Yes, the Pacers are an awesome team that deserved to win the series. They’re proving their worth yet again in the Finals, and might just be the best team in the entire league. However, it’s indisputable that New York let a golden opportunity at a title slip through their fingertips when they blew Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. Up nine points with under a minute left, heroics from Aaron Nesmith and a crazy bounce on Tyrese Haliburton‘s game-tying shot led to an overtime loss for the Knicks. It was just one of the four incredible comebacks that Indiana engineered in these playoffs.
If the Knicks win that game, or even respond in Game 2 at home to even the series, the East Finals would likely have gone seven games. New York would’ve had a Game 7 at home to go to the NBA Finals, at the very least. Unfortunately, they did blow Games 1 and 2, and the Pacers won in six. Again, Indiana undoubtedly deserved to advance, and may very well hoist the trophy in a week. It just stings for everyone involved with the Knicks that they fumbled away a legitimate chance to win their first title in 52 years.
However, NY enters 2025-26 as one of the top contenders in a wide-open Eastern Conference field. They were as close as they could be in 2025. With a few tweaks to the roster and a correct coaching hire, this team can break through.
Featured image: © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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