Uptown wrote:martin wrote:IMO, there hasn't been nearly enough discussion about how historically dominant the Knicks' defense was during this championship run.
For context, Defensive Rating measures points allowed per 100 possessions. Because NBA offensive efficiency has risen dramatically over time (league average Offensive Rating was 115.7 this season compared to 102.2 when the Knicks and Spurs met in the 1999 Finals), the best way to compare defenses across eras is relative to the league scoring environment of their season.
During the 2026 playoffs, the Knicks averaged a Defensive Rating of 105.0 per game: +10.7 points per 100 possessions better than the NBA's 115.7 league average Offensive Rating.
Going back to the introduction of the 3-point line in 1979-80, the Knicks' playoff Defensive Rating was 10.7 points per 100 possessions better than league average offense, the 2nd best mark by an NBA champion, trailing only the 2004 Pistons.
Top 5:
2004 DET +11.2
2026 NYK +10.7
1999 SAS +8.0
1996 CHI +7.9
2025 OKC +6.4
Kudos to Knicks defensive coordinator Brendan O'Connor for orchestrating one of the greatest playoff defenses in NBA history.
And while every Knicks player deserves credit, I want to give a special shoutout to Karl-Anthony Towns. Long criticized for his defense, KAT elevelated that side of his game throughout the playoffs and played a key role in a championship defense that many pundits -- and even his former team -- thought was impossible with him at center.
💯....remember last year when word on the street was the Knicks could never be an elite defensive team with Brunson and Kat sharing the defensive side of the court?
Yep, that was Mike Francesa’s big talking point.
New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
What's up man!!! Long time!!! Do you still play ball?
eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
Oh dang. Rock out dude. Let’s go win the SL and start the season in style!
Rewatched Game 5 last night and couple of observations.
Brunson was so freaking good! Kept us in the game at the start with his three point shooting and didn't allow that Spurs lead to go into the 20s. Scored 29 points in the 2nd half! He was determined to win this game and made so many tough drives to the basket. He's a special player and you can make the argument the best small scoring guard in NBA history! He's better and way more clutch and efficient than Iverson ever was.
Mikal was also really clutch in the 2nd quarter with his shot making. Hart played outstanding defense the entire game and that And1 flagrant kind of turn the game around. Shamet hit a huge three early in the 4th and also had a nice driving layup. Hukporti's block on Kornet was huge! Mitch had the biggest offensive rebound in Knicks history beating Wemby to the ball. Total team effort on defense!
The zebras really REALLY helped the Spurs! The KAT fouls were such bullshit! Them not calling a flagrant on Wemby when he closed out on Brunson and didn't allow him to land exposed the league for their bias. Wemby could have connected a punch and they would've called it a non-call. They clearly were given instructions Wemby was to get away with murder in this game and there would be no chance he'd get into foul trouble or get suspended for a Game 6. So thankful and blessed we survived this biased bullshit officiating!
Fox was soooo bad! Karma for talking shit about the Garden and laughing at us when we dropped in the draft. A lot of the blame should go on Mitch Johnson though. Harper was killing us all game and he barely got any touches in the 4th until the very end and thankfully he blew a wide open layup and missed 2 clutch FT's. Castle was also invincible but credit Hart and OG for the defense! Champagnie killed us. Wemby was nothing special offensively. He was a monster at the start defensively but he has a long way to go offensively. It never felt like he was a legit threat to take over the game.
We overcame a lot to win this game. Team defense, resiliency to fight through the poor shooting and officiating and of course having a special player in Brunson won this game. Well deserved champions! Best of all, this team and this run will not just be another championship run. This was unique and special and will be remembered with the all time great teams and runs!
One of the best things about this championship is that we did it without LeBum or KD.
Brunson's ring is right up there with any championship ring imho! LeBum's Miami and KD's rings don't match up. Not even close. Brunson ended a 53 year drought and he did it in NYC as the alpha. This has to be considered a top 5 ring in NBA history. 16-3 overall, 9 road rings in a row, multiple blowout wins, two of the most incredible comeback wins in NBA history. We should all be extremely proud of what we witnessed and accomplished. It will never be better than this!
Philc1 wrote:Uptown wrote:martin wrote:IMO, there hasn't been nearly enough discussion about how historically dominant the Knicks' defense was during this championship run.
For context, Defensive Rating measures points allowed per 100 possessions. Because NBA offensive efficiency has risen dramatically over time (league average Offensive Rating was 115.7 this season compared to 102.2 when the Knicks and Spurs met in the 1999 Finals), the best way to compare defenses across eras is relative to the league scoring environment of their season.
During the 2026 playoffs, the Knicks averaged a Defensive Rating of 105.0 per game: +10.7 points per 100 possessions better than the NBA's 115.7 league average Offensive Rating.
Going back to the introduction of the 3-point line in 1979-80, the Knicks' playoff Defensive Rating was 10.7 points per 100 possessions better than league average offense, the 2nd best mark by an NBA champion, trailing only the 2004 Pistons.
Top 5:
2004 DET +11.2
2026 NYK +10.7
1999 SAS +8.0
1996 CHI +7.9
2025 OKC +6.4
Kudos to Knicks defensive coordinator Brendan O'Connor for orchestrating one of the greatest playoff defenses in NBA history.
And while every Knicks player deserves credit, I want to give a special shoutout to Karl-Anthony Towns. Long criticized for his defense, KAT elevelated that side of his game throughout the playoffs and played a key role in a championship defense that many pundits -- and even his former team -- thought was impossible with him at center.
💯....remember last year when word on the street was the Knicks could never be an elite defensive team with Brunson and Kat sharing the defensive side of the court?
Yep, that was Mike Francesa’s big talking point.
KAT's jump defensively was key. He jumped like 5 tiers! And kudos to Mike Brown for game planning to help Brunson at the end too. Brunson himself improved so much closing out on shooters.
ramtour420 wrote:eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
What's up man!!! Long time!!! Do you still play ball?
What's up bro! Yes. I still play. Mostly shoot around. You?
Rookie wrote:eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
Oh dang. Rock out dude. Let’s go win the SL and start the season in style!
Let's fucking goooooooooooooooooo
Panos wrote:eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
eVil!!! Wazzap??!
I'm good brother. With the sudden popularity of the Knicks. I had to come back here where I can trust only true Knicks fans reside.
How are you? I can't get over the Finals win.
eViL wrote:Panos wrote:eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
eVil!!! Wazzap??!
I'm good brother. With the sudden popularity of the Knicks. I had to come back here where I can trust only true Knicks fans reside.
How are you? I can't get over the Finals win.
I'm good man!! True most of us here been here through the dark ages.
Aren't we supposed to change the banner of this site to reflect that we are the champions and maybe add some photos? it is not an ordinary thing that happens every 53 years!!!
Dragon wrote:Aren't we supposed to change the banner of this site to reflect that we are the champions and maybe add some photos? it is not an ordinary thing that happens every 53 years!!!
You mean we can move on from JVG's Honda Civic?
eViL wrote:Panos wrote:eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
eVil!!! Wazzap??!
I'm good brother. With the sudden popularity of the Knicks. I had to come back here where I can trust only true Knicks fans reside.
How are you? I can't get over the Finals win.
Hope all is well evil. I was gone for awhile too.
Panos wrote:Dragon wrote:Aren't we supposed to change the banner of this site to reflect that we are the champions and maybe add some photos? it is not an ordinary thing that happens every 53 years!!!
You mean we can move on from JVG's Honda Civic?
I mean the site is too black and white for what we feel now..... We are the Champions .... we need to fly our banners everywhere!
martin wrote:
Love this. Have watched it at least once every day since we won.
I still can’t believe that we are champions. What a time to be alive!
Dragon wrote:Panos wrote:Dragon wrote:Aren't we supposed to change the banner of this site to reflect that we are the champions and maybe add some photos? it is not an ordinary thing that happens every 53 years!!!
You mean we can move on from JVG's Honda Civic?
I mean the site is too black and white for what we feel now..... We are the Champions .... we need to fly our banners everywhere!
It’s true, I’m on it when I get a minute
game 4 really destroyed the psyche of the Spurs coaching staff
because they went from mixing doubles/icing brunson in games 2-3 to completely playing him 1 on 1 with only gap help in game 5.
Spurs saw all the movement 3s we were looking for with Shamet/Mikal/deuce in games 1-3,
all the corner 3s OG hit in the game 4 comeback
and basically got scared into playing brunson 1 on 1 bc they decided the Knicks over time were learning and improving their shot quality vs the spurs heavy help defense.
another huge coaching moment was the knicks figuring out how to counter the wemby lob. Fouling him before every lob and high tagging him every game was such a genius game plan. it killed his gas tank at the end of the game and discouraged them from even running the lob plays because they could never figure out the right counter other than to bait the knicks into tagging him but to slip the tag defender's man out to the 3pt line for a 3.
also that hukporti defensive sequence in game 5 is going to be forgotten but was so important
eViL wrote:ramtour420 wrote:eViL wrote:New York Knicks have a 7 day championship drought. What are we doing here?
What's up man!!! Long time!!! Do you still play ball?
What's up bro! Yes. I still play. Mostly shoot around. You?
I had to stop. I used to go once or twice a week with this crew of like 12-15 ppl. We would rent out a school indoor court for the winter.I am 46 now and my knees would hurt for days after every game. I went out with a bang tho, hit a game winner :) I still remember all your lessons and I appreciate it!
