The Ride Ends… The Elusive Next Step Awaits Knicks…

All in With John Jastremski

The end of the road has finally come for the 2024/25 New York Knicks.

18 playoff games, the first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, but the reaction following the series has been somewhat polarizing amongst the fan base.

There is a sentiment of Knicks fans, satisfied with the core of the team, the head coach and the roster.

There is another group of fans that find themselves in the glass half empty category.

I think the reasons for that negativity may vary.

Is it triggered by an all time Knicks playoff loss in Game 1 of this series? Perhaps.

Are there certain Knicks fans concerned that the defensive comings of Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns cannot be overcome?

The last triggering event amongst the Knicks negativity could be always be related to head coach Tom Thibodeau. Some more negative minded fans just don’t think he can get a team to the top of the mountain.

These are the narratives.

Some of them are fair in Knicks land, some of them are not. 

Heres the reality, this group accomplished something that hasn’t been seen in 25 years.

Did the Knicks have a perfect season? Far from it. However, when you go to the Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter century, that’s a success.

Look, I get it. 

The Indiana series was incredibly frustrating. The turnovers, the horrific defense and yes the Game 1 meltdown.

The Indiana Pacers were also the better team in the series.

Sometimes the truth hurts.

The next step will have to wait another season.

It will be the most important and most difficult step for the franchise to make.

This Knicks group for the most part earned another chance to hunt down the dream next season.

They can use the disappointment of the Indiana series as a lesson in the next step of franchise development.

The innocent climb is over. Next year, its finals or bust for this Knicks group. 

And if that’s not the case, then you will see change of some sorts.

Minor change sure, major change should not be in the Knicks cards for 2025/2026.

You can watch me nightly on Honda Sports Nite on SNY.