The NBA Finals are set, and it’s a matchup that basketball fans have been waiting for all season: the New York Knicks versus the San Antonio Spurs. These teams met three times during the regular season, including the NBA Cup Championship, where the Knicks defeated San Antonio 124-113 to capture the cash prize. The Spurs got revenge in the second meeting, winning 134-132 behind a career-high 36 points from Julian Champagnie. The final matchup belonged to New York, which dominated the Spurs by 25 points at Madison Square Garden.
As unstoppable as the Knicks' offense has looked throughout the playoffs, this could be the series where they finally come back down to earth. New York has not faced a defense remotely close to San Antonio's, which I believe is the best defensive unit in the NBA. Expect the Spurs to make life difficult for Jalen Brunson by forcing the ball out of his hands and turning him into a passer. Unlike previous opponents, San Antonio has one of the league’s best perimeter defenders in Stephon Castle. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama will likely spend plenty of time roaming off Josh Hart, acting as a free safety around the rim. If Hart can't make open shots, the floor could shrink quickly for New York. The biggest X-factor for the Knicks is Karl-Anthony Towns. He should see favorable matchups throughout the series, and New York needs to establish him early. Whether it's through post scoring, pick-and-pop action, or his playmaking, Towns has the potential to force San Antonio out of its comfort zone defensively. He has to stay out of foul trouble.
For the Spurs, the game plan seems straightforward: attack Brunson and Towns whenever possible. San Antonio will likely put both players into constant pick-and-roll actions and force them to defend. The Knicks likely will choose to keep Towns away from Wembanyama to avoid foul trouble, potentially placing him on players like Champagnie, Devin Vassell, or Castle. Defensively, New York's best option against Wembanyama is probably OG Anunoby, who will need to front the post, play physically, and try to wear down the Spurs superstar over a long series. That has been proven to be the best way to defend him. One matchup to watch is Brunson defending Champagnie. The Spurs will likely use Champagnie as a screener in ball-screen actions to force switches and create downhill opportunities for their guards. If San Antonio consistently gets the matchups it wants, it could put enormous pressure on the Knicks' defense.
Prediction: Spurs in 7.
