Cavs and Knicks: Now or never? NBA opportunity in the East.

In the world of basketball, as Tex Winter, a great 20th-century coach, used to say, “everything depends on a trifle.” This phrase encapsulates the essence of the NBA, where elite teams often find themselves on the brink, thriving on stability but always in a state of fragility. This reality is reflected in the Eastern Conference, where two teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, are emerging as favorites. They will face each other in an anticipated televised game on Wednesday in New York. Consistency in their templates and the bad luck of other contenders have put these teams in an advantageous position. Injuries to key figures like Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered Achilles tendon injuries, have opened a valuable opportunity for the Cavs and the Knicks. For the Cavaliers and the Knicks, who are keeping their key players and have reinforced their rosters, the window to the Finals is open.

We have a target on our backs. We better be prepared.

Mike Brown, new coach of the Knicks

The Cavaliers have been building their team for five years, with All-NBA players like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, and a deep roster that has raised their payroll to almost 400 million dollars this season, including luxury taxes. However, this has led them to the “second restriction zone”, where they are currently the only team. Staying in this restrictive zone is usually brief, so the Cavaliers must start getting results soon to keep their team together. The Cavaliers, who were outplayed in two of the last three playoff seasons, will seek to improve their performance. Cavs president Koby Altman acknowledges the challenges presented by the collective bargaining agreement and financial restrictions. To address this, Altman has reinforced the team with defensive specialist Lonzo Ball and several substitute centers. Coach Kenny Atkinson emphasizes the importance of maintaining the team’s identity, but also making tactical adjustments. Evan Mobley is expected to take on more offensive responsibility, and De’Andre Hunter will play a more important role due to Max Strus’s injury. Meanwhile, the Knicks have kept their roster and added reinforcements. Despite the addition of Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, the most significant change was the dismissal of coach Tom Thibodeau. The new coach, Mike Brown, will implement a faster offense to reduce the load on Jalen Brunson.

It’s always good to have short-term memory to focus on what’s coming and discover how you can improve.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks have narrowly avoided the second apron, giving them some flexibility in the trade market. However, the six first-round picks they traded to acquire Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns have committed them to the current roster. This was evidenced when they couldn’t finalize a transfer for Giannis Antetokounmpo in August. Despite the player’s interest, the Knicks couldn’t make a sufficiently attractive offer. This increases the pressure on the Knicks for the 2025-26 season, where they could have their best chance in 25 years to reach the Finals. The interest in Antetokounmpo represents the kind of opportunity the Knicks have sought for years. Although they could revisit those conversations, there is no guarantee that Antetokounmpo will choose the Knicks. For now, the focus is on the current roster.

Our team is united and has the necessary continuity to achieve great things. We showed it last year and we are going to build on that.

Karl-Anthony Towns