by Darnell "The Playmaker" Sallins
The 2023 NBA Playoffs are set. The Eastern Conference has been steadier throughout the season as the East will run through Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Bucks. Nevertheless, we will focus on the four vs. five matchup in the East. The New York Knicks against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
This series will be heavily watched during to the fact that Donovan Mitchell is playing for the Cavs and not the Knicks. Instead, the Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to a big contract while keeping their core players and draft picks and Cavs traded for the star guard from the Utah Jazz. Bruson and Mitchell have well in their first seasons with their respective teams.
However, the New York Knicks won 3 of the 4 matches this season which were the last 3 meetings with 2 of them being by double digits.
New York Knicks
As mentioned earlier, the New York elected not to trade for Donovan Mitchell but instead sign Jalen Bruson and keep their team as is. That move paid off pretty well, finishing 5th in the East with a 47-35 record. Julius Randle playing like the main man in the Big Apple averaging a double-double this season. 25.1 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. Against the Cavaliers, Randle is averaging 23 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5 assists. Surprisingly enough, Randle shoots the well versus Cleveland, 43.4% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. Unfortunately, Randle is dealing with an ankle going into this series and is questionable for Game 1.
The addition of Jalen Brunson has been vital for the Knicks. In his 1st season in New York, Brunson averaged 24 points on 49.1% shooting from the field and 41.6% from three to go along with 6.2 assists. 13 30-point games and 4 40-point games this season. Against the Cavs this season, Brunson is averaging 25.3 points on 47.5% shooting including 45.5% from three-point with 6 assists.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The year of expectations for the Cleveland Cavaliers was reached as of now. 4th in the East with 51-31 record, the Cavs placed themselves to make the East Semis with homecourt advantage. The Cavaliers traded for Donovan Mitchell during the offseason without crumbling the future of the Cavs. They added Mitchell with Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Mitchell is the star of Cleveland, with no shoots taking at the young core of the Cavs. Mitchell averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists this season. 18 30-point games and 13 40-point games not to include the 71-point game Mitchell put on against the Chicago Bulls at the beginning of the new year. This season has been Mitchell best shooting season of his career, 48.4% from the field and 38.6% from three. Versus the Knicks, Mitchell has been unstoppable despite losing 3 of 4, averaging 31.8 points on 50.6% shooting and 46.8% from three with 4.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists.
Mitchell can't be the only player to show in these playoffs. Darius Garland must be the second-best player of the team and the twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley must play big inside against Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle. Last season, this team made the play-in before getting bounded by the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks and that's before getting Donovan Mitchell.
Garland averaged 21.6 points and 7.8 assists while the twin towers are both averaging close to double doubles this season. Allen with 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds. Mobley with 16.2 points and 9 rebounds.
The series begins Saturday, April 15 in Cleveland
Series Schedule (* If Necessary)
Game 1: Saturday, April 15 in Cleveland at 6:00PM on ESPN
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18 in Cleveland at 7:30PM on TNT
Game 3: Friday, April 21 in New York at 8:30PM on ABC
Game 4: Sunday, April 23 in New York at 1:00PM
*Game 5: Wednesday, April 26 in Cleveland
*Game 6: Friday, April 28 in New York
*Game 7: Sunday, April 30 in Cleveland