For the second year in a row, the New York Knicks’ playoff journey ended with a loss to the Indiana Pacers. This season had many ups and downs — from a big win over the Boston Celtics to the disappointment of losing in the Eastern Conference Finals. Even though it was their best season in 25 years, the Knicks still have some important problems to fix.
The Knicks’ playoff journey
In the first round, the Knicks took on a young and talented Detroit Pistons team. It wasn’t easy, but the Knicks won the series 4-2 after several tough games.
Next, they faced the Boston Celtics in the second round — the same team that had beaten them four times in the regular season. Most people thought the Knicks didn’t stand a chance. But the Knicks shocked everyone by winning the series 4-2. Their victory included two amazing games where they came back from 20-point deficits.
That win took them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. There, they met the Indiana Pacers — a strong and often underestimated team. Unfortunately for the Knicks, the Pacers once again ended their playoff hopes, just like they did last year.
In the end, the Pacers proved to be too strong for the Knicks once again. They clearly outplayed them and won the series 4-2 to reach the NBA Finals.
The Knicks couldn’t keep up with Indiana’s fast offense and quick transition plays. Jalen Brunson, who had been one of the top performers this postseason, found it hard to score when defended by Andrew Nembhard.
It was a tough finish for a Knicks team that was built to win now. After beating Boston, they likely believed a spot in the NBA Finals was within reach—but things didn’t go as planned.
The biggest disappointments
Every season, the New York Knicks face high expectations because of their huge and passionate fan base. Some fans are unhappy with coach Tom Thibodeau, saying he makes poor choices and doesn’t use enough players from the bench.
But the truth is, the Indiana Pacers were simply the better team. One key reason is that they had more players to rely on. The Knicks mostly used just seven players, and this year’s playoffs have shown that having a deeper bench is important for success.
Also, the Knicks’ defense wasn’t strong enough to keep up late in the season. While stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are excellent at scoring, they don’t do enough on defense to help the team win in the playoffs.
The players on the Knicks’ roster just aren’t strong enough on defense to cover their weaknesses.
They also need another dependable ball-handler and shooter to help take pressure off Brunson. When Brunson gets shut down, the team struggles to create offense, which leads to too many turnovers—as we saw in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Thibodeau has received criticism, but maybe the truth is simple: the Knicks just weren’t good enough to beat the Pacers, and they need to make some changes this offseason.
Looking ahead for the Knicks
The Knicks could have up to nine players becoming free agents, so they’ll face some big decisions. If they can improve the team by adding a few solid players to support their main core, they have a real chance to be strong contenders next season.
But they don’t have much salary cap space, so they’ll need to be smart with their moves. They might need to develop talent from within, or make a bold trade involving a key player—like Josh Hart—to improve their depth.
Still, it’s worth noting that this was their best playoff run in 25 years. The team showed big progress, and overall, it was a successful season—even if it didn’t end the way they wanted.
That said, expectations are always high in New York. Thibodeau is under more pressure now, and the team is in an interesting spot. They’re built to win right now—but so far, they haven’t quite gotten there.