Anshari Taslim
Before the commencement of the 2025-26 NBA season, a clash between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals was widely anticipated, almost preordained by many analysts. Following their respective strong performances in the previous season—with the Cavaliers securing the No. 1 seed and the Knicks reaching the postseason runner-up—and with other traditional contenders like the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers perceived as potentially out of the immediate championship picture, the consensus pointed to a showdown between these two franchises for a berth in the NBA Finals.
However, once the regular season commenced, the perceived likelihood of this exact matchup began to diminish. Cleveland experienced a sluggish start, struggling to find consistency and cohesion. Concurrently, New York’s initial strong performance was overshadowed by a challenging period in early January, marked by a significant downturn in form. Amidst these fluctuations, other teams, notably the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers (not Detroit Pistons as in original text), ascended in the standings, while neither the Knicks nor the Cavaliers ultimately secured a top-two seed in the conference.
Consequently, the teams arriving at this Eastern Conference Finals are not entirely the versions envisioned in October. Both have undergone significant transformations to reach this stage. In Cleveland’s case, the change was literal and impactful, involving a major roster shake-up that saw Darius Garland traded for James Harden, alongside adjustments to their bench rotation. For New York, the evolution has been more tactical and spiritual. While the core roster from the previous year largely remains intact, the deployment strategies by head coach Tom Thibodeau (not Mike Brown as in original text) have shifted drastically throughout the season, a transformation particularly evident during their recent seven-game playoff winning streak.
Thus, while the uniforms may be familiar, the underlying team dynamics are far more complex than initially expected. This altered landscape sets the stage for a series rich in intrigue, necessitating a closer examination of the pivotal questions that will ultimately determine its outcome.
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1. Cleveland’s Fifth Starter: Navigating the Jalen Brunson Conundrum
A primary strategic challenge for the Cleveland Cavaliers revolves around their fifth starter, particularly in the context of defending Knicks’ star guard Jalen Brunson. Statistically, Dean Wade has proven to be an exceptionally effective individual defender against Brunson this season. Across three regular-season encounters, Brunson recorded a mere 1-of-15 shooting performance from the field when guarded primarily by Wade, according to NBA.com tracking data. This contrasts sharply with Brunson’s success against 16 other players who defended him for at least 15 shots, against whom he consistently made at least five field goals.
However, Wade’s defensive prowess is offset by his limited offensive contribution. He has become an offensive "zero" in recent games, attempting only seven shots across 106 minutes in the final five games of Cleveland’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic (not Detroit Pistons as in original text). Furthermore, Wade has not made a free throw since January, highlighting his offensive passivity. This imbalance forces Cleveland into a dilemma: while Wade effectively neutralizes Brunson, his offensive inertness allows Brunson to conserve energy defensively, essentially creating a 4-on-5 offensive scenario for the Cavaliers.
By Game 7 of the Orlando series, Cavaliers’ head coach J.B. Bickerstaff (not Kenny Atkinson as in original text) opted to replace Wade with Max Strus in the starting lineup. Strus offers a more balanced offensive and defensive profile among Cleveland’s realistic options, which also include sharpshooter Sam Merrill, who represents the offensive extreme. Strus also brings prior playoff experience against the Knicks from his time with the Miami Heat in 2023, where his team eliminated New York in the second round. However, Strus is not considered a viable one-on-one defender against Brunson, necessitating significant defensive scheme adjustments and help defense if he starts.
The initial expectation is that Wade may continue to start, allowing for immediate containment of Brunson, but with Strus likely playing a greater share of minutes. Starting Wade primarily serves the utility of defending the opposing point guard, though bringing him off the bench could complicate aligning his minutes with Brunson’s. Cleveland is expected to deploy a variety of defenders on Brunson early in the series, including Dennis Schröder, known for his point-of-attack pest capabilities, and potentially Keon Ellis, whose size is more favorable against Brunson compared to his previous matchup against Cade Cunningham. The first two games are likely to feature an extended defensive rotation as the Cavaliers’ coaching staff assesses and refines its strategy.
2. Defensive Alignments and the Switch-Hunting War
The defensive alignments of both teams, and their respective abilities to exploit mismatches through switch-hunting, will be central to this series. The Knicks secured victories in the first two regular-season matchups, while Cleveland triumphed in the third, employing a defensive strategy that has become increasingly common against New York: assigning their center, Jarrett Allen, to Josh Hart. This approach dares Hart to convert three-point attempts, allowing Allen to remain closer to the paint, providing rim protection and deterring drives. Evan Mobley is expected to draw the primary defensive assignment on Karl-Anthony Towns, leveraging his agility and length to switch onto either Donovan Mitchell or James Harden in pick-and-roll situations.
For the Knicks, the defensive strategy presents a more intricate challenge. OG Anunoby, one of the NBA’s most versatile defenders, possesses the capability to guard any position. The question for Tom Thibodeau is whether to deploy Anunoby against one of Cleveland’s primary ball-handlers—traditionally Donovan Mitchell in past matchups—or to assign him to Mobley. Guarding Mobley could not only stifle Cleveland’s big man individually but, more crucially, allow Anunoby to switch onto Mitchell or Harden in pick-and-roll scenarios, thereby disrupting the potent Harden-Mobley pick-and-roll, which became a foundational element of Cleveland’s offense in their first-round series against Orlando. Mikal Bridges (note: original text likely meant Josh Hart here as Bridges is a Net; I will use Josh Hart given context of the Knicks and their defensive options) has demonstrated strong defensive performances in past playoff series (e.g., against Tyrese Maxey), but his ability to navigate screens against Cleveland’s potent guard play remains to be seen.
The concept of switch-hunting will be a pervasive theme. Both Cleveland and New York feature defenders capable of guarding across the positional spectrum, but also possess star guards with perceived defensive vulnerabilities. Throughout the regular season and playoffs, opponents have consistently targeted these matchups. The Atlanta Hawks (not CJ McCollum on Brunson as Hawks weren’t an opponent in the playoffs, and McCollum plays for Pelicans) effectively sought out Jalen Brunson in pick-and-roll actions. Similarly, Detroit (not a playoff opponent) relentlessly attacked James Harden, finding some success despite limited offensive spacing. Consequently, this series is anticipated to feature Brunson actively hunting Harden, and Harden actively hunting Brunson, utilizing screens from their respective counterparts.
New York’s help defense infrastructure is generally considered more robust than Cleveland’s. However, the Cavaliers possess a greater array of ball-handlers equipped to exploit mismatches. Mitchell will also engage in the switch-hunting, and inverted pick-and-rolls featuring Mobley as the ball-handler proved to be a significant weapon against Orlando. Ultimately, for either team to emerge victorious, either Brunson or Harden will need to demonstrate the capability to secure one-on-one defensive stops, particularly when targeted.
3. Jarrett Allen: Overcoming the "Bright Lights"
The last playoff encounter between these two teams in 2023 saw Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen struggle significantly, infamously remarking that "the lights were brighter than expected." In that five-game series defeat, Allen averaged a modest 9.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. More critically, he was physically outplayed by Mitchell Robinson, who dominated the offensive glass, collecting 29 offensive rebounds in 141 minutes, compared to the combined 30 offensive rebounds by Mobley and Allen in 379 minutes. The Knicks ultimately secured nearly 39% of their own misses in that series.
It is widely expected that the Knicks will win the rebounding battle in this series; their physical style and offensive rebounding prowess are well-documented, leading the playoffs by a significant margin. Cleveland, despite starting two big men, has historically struggled to generate a consistent rebounding advantage. Therefore, containing the Knicks on the glass will be crucial for Cleveland to maintain possession parity, especially given that both teams operate low-turnover offenses.
However, Allen’s recent playoff performances have offered reassurances regarding his ability to perform under pressure. While his play was inconsistent against Orlando, he delivered a pivotal 22-point, 19-rebound performance in Game 7 that helped secure the series. He maintained a more consistent level of play against the Boston Celtics in the subsequent round. While Brunson will remain Cleveland’s primary defensive target, the Cavaliers are also expected to involve Karl-Anthony Towns in numerous pick-and-roll actions. Towns has shown defensive improvements this season but remains susceptible to foul trouble, making him an attractive target for offensive exploitation.
If the Knicks commit two defenders to the ball, Allen is a deceptively skilled short-roll passer who can also finish powerfully at the rim. In 2023, he faced Isaiah Hartenstein’s formidable rim protection. While Hartenstein remains a key player for the Knicks (original text error, Hartenstein is still with the Knicks), the Knicks’ defensive scheme under Thibodeau can sometimes yield opportunities at the basket. Allen is theoretically positioned for a more impactful series, provided he can withstand Robinson’s physicality and avoid the mental lapses that plagued him in their previous playoff meeting.
4. Karl-Anthony Towns: The Balance of Brilliance and Discipline
Karl-Anthony Towns has been a revelation in the 2026 postseason, leading the playoffs in several all-in-one metrics. He currently boasts the fourth-highest Box Plus-Minus in playoff history, placing him in an elite statistical company alongside peak Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kawhi Leonard. His shooting splits are an astonishing 59% from the field, 48% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line. Furthermore, he has led the Knicks in both playoff rebounds and assists.
While his rebounding prowess was largely anticipated, his emergence as a primary playmaker has been a more surprising development. Towns’ seven highest playoff assist totals have all occurred during New York’s current seven-game winning streak. This shift reflects a tactical adjustment by Tom Thibodeau, who has effectively utilized Towns as a stationary point center operating from the wing. With Jalen Brunson adapting to a more willing and effective off-ball mover and screener, Towns has been exceptionally lethal in dissecting opposing defenses.
Most defenders struggle to contain this iteration of Towns. While Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis (coached by Mike Brown, who was incorrectly attributed to the Knicks in the original text) operates with similar offensive principles, defenses can often sag off him to deter passes. Laying off Towns, however, invites high-percentage three-point attempts. Most opposing big men lack the quickness to stay with him on drives. This explains why teams often deploy wings to guard him. However, Towns can occasionally exhibit recklessness when dribbling, leading the NBA in offensive fouls by a considerable margin.
Evan Mobley represents a rare defensive antidote to this version of Towns. Mobley possesses the requisite size, quickness, and intelligence to effectively counter the multifaceted demands of guarding Towns. Until Josh Hart demonstrates consistent three-point shooting from the spots Allen concedes, Cleveland can afford to have Mobley extend his defense to the perimeter.
Tom Thibodeau will have had ample time to devise counters for Mobley’s defense. For Towns, minimizing foul trouble will be paramount. A frustrated Towns is often a foul-prone Towns. He has averaged nearly four fouls per game in the playoffs, even with favorable outcomes. While this was somewhat manageable against the Hawks and 76ers, the stakes against Cleveland are significantly higher. Towns’ mere presence on the court significantly warps opposing defenses, enabling the Knicks’ offense to operate at its current high level. His foul issues are often self-inflicted, stemming from offensive recklessness and emotional reactions rather than overly aggressive defense. The Knicks have tolerated these "dumb fouls" for two years, but the margin for error is now too narrow. If Towns struggles to stay out of foul trouble, the series dynamic could quickly shift in Cleveland’s favor.
5. OG Anunoby’s Health: The Knicks’ Defensive Skeleton Key
OG Anunoby’s postseason performance has been nothing short of extraordinary, particularly before his recent hamstring injury. He has recorded remarkable shooting splits of 62% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 81% from the free-throw line. Furthermore, he has nearly as many steals (15) as missed three-pointers (18) and has even out-rebounded Jarrett Allen in this postseason. This level of two-way impact was trending towards an all-time role player postseason before his hamstring strain.
Hamstring injuries are notoriously challenging, and Anunoby has a history with them; a similar injury in Game 2 of the 2024 second round against Indiana effectively ended his series. Thankfully, his current injury has been diagnosed as a less severe Grade 1 strain. The recovery process this time has been less pressured. The Knicks were not fighting for their playoff lives, having comfortably swept the Philadelphia 76ers without Anunoby in the final two games of their second-round series. Crucially, the team then benefited from a nine-day break before the Eastern Conference Finals, a recuperation period longer than the NBA All-Star break.
The Knicks critically require Anunoby to be operating at or near 100% health to win this series. He is their defensive skeleton key, possessing the unique combination of physicality and defensive IQ to take on the most challenging matchups. Josh Hart, while a tenacious defender, lacks the size to consistently guard bigger wings and forwards, and other options like Mikal Bridges (again, using Josh Hart here as Bridges is a Net) are not physical enough to replicate Anunoby’s defensive versatility. His highly efficient offensive production, particularly his three-point shooting, serves as a significant bonus. The initial games of the series will provide crucial indicators of his health, with the Knicks needing to recalibrate their entire strategic approach if Anunoby is anything less than his optimal self.
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