How Good are the "Knicks"?

They played like Oklahoma City's machine Saturday night. They have won ten straight playoff games; they are 11-2 in these playoffs, their only two losses by a combined two points. 

But that is in the Least.

During the Cleveland series they have evolved as a living organism does: when Cleveland targeted Jalen Brunson he evolved into a point guard; Josh Hart became a dead-eye shooter; Karl-Anthony Towns morphed into Kevin Durant.

But that was against Cleveland. 

They swept Philadelphia--when the "76ers" were fully healthy; when Philly had just beaten BEANS. 

Do the "Knicks" have a reasonable chance to bring an NBA championship to Mecca for the first time since 1973? Do they have a realistic shot at defeating San Antonio or, in greater likelihood, Oklahoma City?

Magic Johnson says yes. I say no. I would be gobsmacked, delighted but befuddled, if the "Knicks" took down the Rustless Thunder Bolts.

Everything that I have written about Cleveland and its people--it began in 2010 with "The Devil and LeBron James"--has been how I honestly feel. I began reading cleveland.com's sports writers, which reinforced and deepened my contempt. I did odd bits of research here and there, the Cuyahoga River fire was lived history for me, I remember it--and everything that I read over sixteen years confirmed my feelings. Nothing contradicted them. Sometimes when I got on a Cleveland jag and wasted time I would develop self-contempt and turn the damn computer off. 

I don't know when Cleveland became a condition rather than a place or people, but that specific thought, "condition", came to mind only in the first post this morning. I had written previously that people who are life-long residents have it, and people who move there get it, but people who leave leave it behind. It's "self-limiting", a medical term, that is, it's not "contagious" as e.g. a virus is. You can visit Cleveland and not contract "Cleveland"--At least I think you can--I've never set foot in the place, not even the airport. I was good friends with a guy from Cleveland in Miami and I didn't get it from him. But there is something there, something that when you're exposed to it over some length of time, when you are only around Cleveland people, you get as long as you are there and are and around them. Cleveland people are aware that they have it. 

I don't know what it is but this morning I just feel BAD for them, not contempt, and here I've just wasted another half hour on it and on them.

That sequence with 1:52 left is instant infamous

Even ESPN's casters noted it:

One particular sequence by the Cavaliers late during the fourth quarter of the game drew ire from both fans and commentators alike. With the Knicks leading 116-102 with just under two minutes left, the Cavaliers appeared to simply stop playing, allowing New York star Jalen Brunson to get a completely uncontested layup.

That led to criticism on the air from ESPN’s Mike Breen (who said that the Cavaliers “just stopped playing on that possession”) and from Breen’s broadcast partner Richard Jefferson (who added that Cleveland had even stopped playing on the possession prior to that as well).

‘Why bother even showing up for Game 4?’

cleveland.com

I momentarily FORGOT that there was a Game 4! They have to show up.

Hmm mmm mmm

 

Sunday morning...

...and I just feel BAD for Cleveland people. First time I can ever remember feeling empathy for them. On national television, in their home town...Oh my God how painful.

"They just stopped playing"

 Same possession that I screen-shotted:

They Gave Up*

Rob Perez
@WorldWideWob

Did the Cavs just give up? What the hell was that last 30 seconds?
10:37 PM · May 23, 2026
·172.8K Views

Yes, they did. I have screengrabs of the last 1:52 seconds and they just let Jalen Brunson walk through them and score. Can't post the screengrabs from my phone. Emailed to myself and will tomorrow.

*Here are the pics:

       1:53 left, almost two full minutes of playing time, and they turn into the Washington Generals.

Cleveland is not bound to place and time. Cleveland is a condition.

Kevin O'Connor
@KevinOConnor

The Cavaliers look like they quit. Why even bother showing up for Game 4? Totally embarrassing.
10:40 PM · May 23, 2026
·59.4K

Earvin Magic Johnson

@MagicJohnson

The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 and go up 3-0 in the Series. I was disappointed in the Cavaliers effort and body language tonight. There’s no way you’re at home, down 2-0 to the Knicks, and come out with a lack of effort and urgency. The Knicks are on their way to the NBA Finals playing their best basketball, which is going to be trouble for the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs!

11:05 PM · May 23, 2026

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40.3K

Views

Stephen A Smith

@stephenasmith

This is a disgraceful late-game show of effort by the

@cavs

. Hate to say it, because I’m a

@nyknicks

fan, but it’s just the truth: when you see this franchise quit like they just did, it needs someone who cares a bit more. Someone proudly accountable to Cleveland. Yes…..I’m saying it…….they need

@KingJames

to return home to save the day…..if THIS group is ever going to bring a title back to Cleveland. Seriously!!!!

10:43 PM · May 23, 2026

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227.8K

Views

James Harden waves good-bye to Jalen Brunson with the old Olé

 

THIS IS FROM CLEVELAND.COM! WTF?!

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks: Relive Game 3 as it happened

Why would you do this, cleveland.com? You want your readers, all of whom are Cleveland inmates, to be driven further insane??? EXTREMELY insensitive.

The highlight of the game...

It's unanimous: Taylor Swift's reactions to Travis Kelce shotgunning a beer courtside.

https://x.com/AshleyBastock42/status/2058369840738398459

It's over, finally, mercifully, it's over. FT A very Sensitive City (0-3) 108 Mamdani City 121

Do they have no pride? They are talented, they won 52 games this season, one fewer than the "Knicks". So, it's not talent. It's heart. They have no heart. They know no shame. Dennis Schroder, piece of shit that he is, like all of them, will post cavalierly (yes, intended) "0-3" with pics of him imitating a winning basketball player. 

BLOWN out. Cle. 102 NY 118, 1:49 left, Kenny Atkinson takes time, no doubt to put the subs in. Disgusting.

 Trent Attyah

@BookitWithTrent

Cavs are actually such losers man don’t even play game 4.

10:30 PM · May 23, 2026

·84 Views

Little Donovan Mitchell is too small for a big stage

At the moment, 32' played, 20 pts, 8/18 (2/7), 4 asts, 4 turnovers, a team-worst -26.

86-99. Anybody think Cleveland has a miracle comeback in them? Mama?

 

No. Mama says it's over. I agree. Mamdani City will take a 3-0 lead in the Leastern Conference Finals.

Yeah! Mamdani City had the better 3Q, 31-28. Now 96-86, 9:18 left to play. Cleveland has NEVER lead...

I had to refresh the stats to double-check. My goodness.

HT Sensitive City 54 Mamdani City 60

I have such contempt for Cleveland and its people. If I was from there, I think I'd end my life rather than continue living there. 

This game is so exasperating for Clevelanders. It's must win, you can't go down 3-0; you're at home. And yet your team "starts" 1-9. AND NEVER HAS THE LEAD IN THE WHOLE HALF. 

They can't stop Mamdani City and they can't make FREE throws or keep hold of the ball. New York shot 13/14 from the line, Cle. 6/11, a seven-point difference in made FREE THROWS at the basket when the diff at HT is SIX. 

They had nine turnovers, which is only one more than Mamdani City, but GAWD Cle's seem to come at the worst times, which is probably anytime when you're behind. 

They tied it twice in the 2Q, but each time Mamdani City inched away, the last time opening up a nine-point lead.

The 3Q has been Cle's throughout the playoffs. Maybe it will be again, but I honestly don't see them winning this game. I think they made their third quarter run in the second quarter.

51-60, :38.3 2Q

Donovan Mitchell just missed two FTs🤦

51-56, 1:39 2Q

Sensitive City 50 Mamdani City 52, 3:25 2Q, "Knicks" FTO, Beard shooting the second of 2 FTs

First tie 48-48, 5:23 2Q. "Cavs" 21-11 this Q.

41-43, 7:01

Cavalry Coming: 39-43, 7:10 2nd

Sensitive City 27 Mamdani City (2-0) 39, end 1Q

Cleveland must be shell-shocked. They had no answers, couldn't keep New York from scoring and so fouled them. "Knicks" made 9 of 10. "Cavs" only 1 of 2.

Karl-Anthony Towns was exquisite in the first frame: 13 pts, 4/5 (1/2), in 11'. Extremely unusual for a NBA player to play 11' of the 12' quarter.

Yes, they are

Sam Block
@theblockspot

The Knicks are a fantastic basketball team. It’s impossible to deny it at this point.

8:41 PM · May 23, 2026
·14 Views