The New York Knicks, after beating the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics in the first two rounds, lost to Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. This series was one of the most devastating in my Knicks fandom, and it makes me hate Tyrese Haliburton even more.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were no match for the Indiana Pacers. Game one ended in a catastrophe, as Tyrese Haliburton’s game-tying buzzer-beater still reigns supreme in my mind and my soul. From then on, I knew the rest of the series was doomed. The Knicks lost all their fight and determination, while great performances from Siakam and Haliburton led the Pacers to their first final appearance in 25 years.
The Knicks need a change. They need depth, as Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride are not enough to lead a strong, NBA finals-worthy bench. The Knicks also needed new coaching, as shortly after their loss, Leon Rose decided to fire Tom Thibodeau. This decision is bittersweet to me, and I am still not sure if I fully agree with it. Tom led the Knicks to the playoffs four out of five years, had back-to-back 50+ win seasons, and led the team to their first conference finals appearance in 25 years. However, this was not enough, as the Knicks now expect to win championships. I guess Rose felt Tom was not the guy for this, and now we have to go coach hunting this offseason.
Going into this offseason, there are some pretty interesting free agents that the Knicks could potentially sign. For example, Malike Beasley, Cam Thomas, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker could be great potential depth/bench pieces the Knicks should look to get. Or, the Knicks could maybe make another big splash like they did this offseason for a player like Giannis or Kevin Durant. Whatever they do, they need to make this team better! Our window to win is now, and we need to act quickly.
Overall, I love the Knicks. However, they need to make changes to be better. Right now, they are good, not great. Clearly, we are not as good as the Pacers. Our offense becomes too stagnant in the bright moments, relying too much on Jalen Brunson’s heroics. When he isn’t dishing and swishing, the Knicks are not thriving and striving. Hopefully, new coaching and new players can change this, and we can become a real threat to hold up the Larry O’Brien trophy!
