Lace Code readers, we are SO back!!!

Today is about one of my biggest fandoms and the absolute joy I was brought last night with the New York Knickssweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals to reach the Finals for the first time since 1999.

Let me tell you…the excitement I felt last night, and honestly am still feeling right now, is incredible. Turning 30 this year, I was technically around for their last Finals trip, but I do not remember a damn thing because I was like 2 or 3 years old. So this is really the first time in my life that I can consciously experience the Knicks making the Finals. And man…it feels surreal.

Now, this is not the first time one of my professional sports teams has made a championship round.

The New York Mets made the World Series back in 2015 and lost in five games to the Kansas City Royals. The New York Rangers also made the Stanley Cup Finals the year before in 2014 and lost to the Los Angeles Kings…also in five games.

So as you can see, the common theme for my teams lately has basically been getting gentleman swept. Hopefully that does NOT happen to the Knicks. And if it does involve a gentleman sweep, hopefully we are the ones doing it this time.

Those losses definitely hurt because your team gets so close, but still cannot finish the job. But honestly? I still do not think anything compares to the heartbreak of the New York Jets losing back-to-back AFC Championship Games. Since then, the Jets have basically become the internet’s favorite punching bag. The butt fumble. Constant rebuilds. Dysfunction every year. I need them to lock in within the next couple seasons because I am tired, man.

But anyways…this is about the KNICKS.

The Knicks have been on an absolute tear since that first-round series with Atlanta. ATL honestly looked like they might upset us early on, but once the Knicks found their groove, they have not let up since. Sweeping both the second round and the Eastern Conference Finals on the way to the Finals is insane.

And the biggest thing? They look locked in.

They know the job is not finished.

One thing I have seen people talking about online is that Becky Hammon quote about how you cannot win a championship with Jalen Brunson as your best player. Guys…we have not won anything yet, so let us wait before victory laps start happening. Historically, small guards being the best player on a championship team usually does not work outside of a few rare cases.

But honestly, I do not even think this team is as simple as “Brunson is clearly the guy.” To me, Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are more of a 1A and 1B situation. People get blinded by Brunson’s numbers sometimes without actually watching the games. Brunson has absolutely been incredible these last two rounds, but this has also been a complete team effort. Everybody has contributed.

Now, because the Western Conference Finals between Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs is tied 2-2, the Knicks are getting some extra rest before the Finals. And honestly? That could be huge this late into the season. Everybody is banged up by this point after an 82-game season plus multiple playoff rounds.

Hopefully the extra rest gives the Knicks fresher legs heading into Game 1.

At the same time though, too much rest can also create rust. We actually saw that earlier in the Cleveland series where the Knicks came out a little flat before making that insane fourth-quarter comeback to steal Game 1. That very easily could have been a Cavs win and maybe we are talking about a much longer series right now. Instead, the Knicks dug themselves out of that hole and never looked back.

The Finals matchup is going to be tough no matter who comes out of the West.

If it is OKC, obviously they are the best team in basketball. They have the MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but what really makes them scary is how deep they are. Even when guys miss time, it feels like they never lose rhythm. They are just a machine.

If it is San Antonio, that is another dangerous team. Obviously having Victor Wembanyama changes everything because he is THAT good already, but the Spurs are not just him. They are young, athletic, and play hard.

Either way, I think it would be a really fun series.

If OKC wins it all, they would become the first repeat champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. If San Antonio wins it all? I am going to have to hear the “Wemby already top-10 ever” conversations immediately. And look, I absolutely think Wemby has the potential to be one of the greatest players we have ever seen. But ring culture has ruined basketball discourse sometimes.

People already started doing that with SGA after one title run, comparing him to Kobe and MJ-level guards. Like relax. Let these guys build their careers first. One championship does not automatically put you in those conversations yet.

Now if the Knicks win?

Oh my GOD.

Knicks fans are going to become absolutely unbearable and honestly…I will be right there with them. The Knicks have not won a title since the 1970s. The city has been starving for this. Outside of the New York Liberty recently, New York has not had a championship since the New York Giants won the Super Bowl in 2012.

The entire city is itching for another championship.

If the Knicks win, New York City is going to be COMPLETE chaos. And honestly? It deserves to be.

Madison Square Garden is going to be ROCKING during these Finals too. One of the best atmospheres in sports, easily. I wish I could be there in person because I know that building is going to sound insane. But hey, hopefully this is not the last Finals run and one day I can experience it live.

Until then, I will be counting down the days until June 3rd while watching the Western Conference Finals, Mets baseball, and continuing my Mets franchise on MLB The Show 26. I have been grinding that game since it came out, but honestly, with this Knicks playoff run? It has me itching to hop back on NBA 2K again.

Also counting down the days until EA Sports College Football 27 drops too.

But until then…

LET’S FUCKING GO KNICKS.

– Jett Garden