Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons begins at Madison Square Garden on Saturday at 6 PM. It will start the Knicks’ third attempt at a deep playoff run with Jalen Brunson, and their first with their new core. Despite winning 51 games, maintaining the third seed all season, and having a top-five offense, New York has had a somewhat disappointing campaign. Their inability to beat a single elite team this year has ratcheted up the noise about shuffling up this core after just one season if they flame out early in the postseason. There’s a ton of pressure on this team, but specific players are bearing the heaviest burdens. Let’s count down in descending order the three Knicks facing the most pressure in the playoffs.
3 Knicks Under the Most Playoff Pressure
3. Josh Hart
Josh Hart is an incredible basketball player who has ingratiated himself with New York City in a way that few others have. He plays hard every night, always shows up, and competes with a ferocity that is rare in today’s league. Hart gets every rebound and loose ball near him, and has been great in both playoff runs with the Knicks. He’s even had the best statistical season of his career in 2024-25. There’s just one issue with his game, and it’s the reason he’s on this list: his shooting.
For all of the great things Hart does on a basketball court, his one weakness is debilitating. Despite being a great shotmaker, he struggles mightily to hit spot-up threes. Hart shot 33.3% from deep this year but has been mired in a deep slump ever since a hot start. He’s shot 30.2% from three since February 1st and has often refused to even take open threes. Unless he heats back up, teams like Boston and Cleveland will simply ignore Hart on the perimeter and play five-on-four defense. If this is the case, he becomes completely unplayable, regardless of the other value he brings to the Knicks.
Hart could make or break New York’s offense. If he breaks it, Miles McBride needs to take his starting spot. If Hart is cold all postseason, Rose will have to have some tough conversations in the offseason. He’s an excellent player who is beloved in the community, but modern basketball leaves no room for non-shooters. Hart would do well to shoot with confidence starting Saturday night.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns
The case for Karl-Anthony Towns is simple: while he’s had a phenomenal season that will yield him All-NBA honors, he must prove that his weaknesses don’t hamstring a team’s championship hopes. He’s gained a reputation in his career as a soft player whose game doesn’t translate to the playoffs. With the Knicks, he’s dispelled the notion that he can’t handle the bright lights and tough matchups. He also played a huge part in Minnesota’s West Finals run last year.
Unfortunately, KAT’s one glaring flaw was ever-present this season in every big game. Cleveland, Boston, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, and Golden State have all exposed his inability to defend in drop coverage. The formula to beat New York is straightforward. Just run pick-and-rolls with your best ball-handler and force Towns to defend the rim. His slow foot speed and lack of verticality make him an easy target for perimeter players and wings. In a playoff series, this issue should only be exacerbated.
Luckily, the Knicks have a bunch of quality defensive players who can help cover for Towns. If they can switch everything and force enough misses, their elite offense could carry them to a deep run. If KAT doesn’t do his job defensively, it re-opens the career-long question about his ability to be a main piece on a champion.
1. Mikal Bridges
The answer to this question is easy, and it’s not even the player’s own fault. Unfortunately, when a team trades five first-round draft picks to acquire someone, that guy better transform their franchise, and fast. Well, New York did send those selections to Brooklyn for Mikal Bridges, and the criticism is at an all-time high. Bridges had never been in a situation like this before, with a microscope on his every move, and he hasn’t always responded well.
While Bridges’ season averages are solid (17.6 points, 3.7 assists on 50.0/35.4/81.4 splits), he’s disappointed in two key areas. The former Sun just hasn’t looked like the elite defender who placed second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022. A huge part of the appeal when Leon Rose brought Bridges across town, was forming the league’s best defensive wing tandem with OG Anunoby. Anunoby has done his part, defending at an All-NBA level, but Bridges has struggled in his toughest matchups. He’s been torched by Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, and others all season. He’ll now face another guy who’s done well against him in Cade Cunningham. Bridges has still been a very good defender, but NY needs him to validate the expensive trade with an excellent playoff run on that end.
Bridges has also underperformed in New York’s biggest games, a scary omen for the upcoming postseason. In eight games against the East’s top two teams (NY is 0-8), Bridges has averaged just 14.1 points. He’s looked tentative vs. players more talented than him, often passing up scoring chances. If the Knicks are going to defeat Boston and/or Cleveland on their way to the Finals, they need all four top scorers to play with confidence.
Photo credit: © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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