If the season were to end today, the Cleveland Cavaliers would have homecourt advantage in a first round playoff series against the pesky New York Knicks. So far this season, the Knicks have been a thorn in the Cavs side, holding a 2-1 edge in the season series, with one additional matchup to play on March 31. The big storyline in this matchup comes from the offseason, where Donovan Mitchell was ever so close to becoming a Knick and going back home.
However, the Knicks did not reportedly want to give the Utah Jazz an extra first-round pick, so the Cavs swooped in and got the deal done. This has not derailed the Knicks season though, as they have won 42 games. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have reaped the benefits of the Mitchell trade, as they have already surpassed their win total from last season, and rank in the top 10 in offensive and defensive rating.
Both teams missed the playoffs last season, but are in good position to make their return this season and face each other in the first round. If any of the regular season matchups are an indication, these two teams are in for a physical, long, and hard-fought series.
With that said, how do the Cavaliers match up with the Knicks, should they face off in the playoffs?
Let’s start in the backcourt.
The backcourt outlook
The Cavs have Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who are the engines of an offense that ranks ninth in the NBA. Both are averaging over 20 points per game, and their three-level scoring would cause problems for the Knicks.
Garland though is the X factor. Mitchell will definitely get his, but the Knicks are going to throw a litany of defenders at Mitchell and double teams as well, leaving Garland to have one-on-one matchups. He needs to be aggressive with those opportunities, and in general, as he seemingly has been more so of late, and take advantage of them. The Cavs also have Ricky Rubio off the bench, and he has picked up his level of play recently. His veteran presence will be needed for a team that lacks playoff experience.
The Knicks though, have some solid guards in their own right that can give Cleveland trouble. Jalen Brunson is having the best season of his career and it is mind blowing that he wasn’t an All Star. He is averaging 23 points per game, and 6 assists per game on 48/41/84 shooting splits. That contract looks like a bargain now given Brunson’s high level of play.
Meanwhile, the Knicks also have Sixth Man of the Year candidate Immanuel Quickley, who has been stellar since the calendar turned to 2023. Since Jan. 1, Quickley has averaged 16 points per game, and he is shooting 38% from three-point range in that same span. Finally, sharpshooter Quentin Grimes rounds out the Knicks guard tandem. Grimes is shooting 36% from three this season and his two-way play has made him a favorite of the Knicks.
Both teams have good guards that can change the game, but given the Cavs All-Star backcourt, I’ll give them the edge here. Mitchell and Garland are elite, three-level scorers that can each explode for 30 on any given night, and Rubio’s steady hand off the bench has been vital for the Cavaliers lately.