The New York Knicks Are Inevitable

The New York Knicks pulled off the biggest comeback victory in NBA Finals history on Wednesday night.

In Game 4, the Spurs were in cruise control. Up 29 points, it seemed like San Antonio was on the verge of doing the unthinkable – marching into Madison Square Garden and pulling off back-to-back victories to even this series at two games a piece.

Then, another comeback ensued.

The Knicks have five comebacks of 20 points or more during the last two NBA postseasons. It’s something about New York’s never say die attitude that causes the Knicks to never give up, even when facing seemingly insurmountable leads.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks did this exact same thing. They found themselves down 22 points in the second half and found a way to win that game. It completely reshaped the series against Cleveland, and the Cavaliers were demoralized after that game. Similarly, it might be very difficult for a young Spurs team to rebound from a loss like that.

Teams are 37-1 in the NBA Finals when they gain a 3-1 lead. LeBron James and the Cavs defeating the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals was the only time a team was able to overcome that dreaded 3-1 deficit.

That’ll make life tremendously difficult on the Spurs.

The series heads back to San Antonio for Game 5, where the Knicks will have their first of three attempts to win their first championship since 1973.

But it just feels like this New York team is inevitable.

They have the perfect mix of youthfulness and experience. Jalen Brunson is a coldblooded killer that has fueled many of these late game comebacks. OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the crew understand and have accepted their roles, which is when a championship contender becomes most dangerous.

Victor Wembanyama is only 22 years old. He completely vanished during the second half of Game 4, and the Knicks capitalized. It’s a big learning lesson for a player that’s expected to become the face of the NBA. You absolutely can’t waste opportunities like what happened in Game 4. Because when you do?

The other team will utilize that momentum and steal the series.

And that’s exactly what New York appears prepared to do, even if it requires one more mindblowing comeback before they can lift their first Larry O’Brien trophy in five decades.