Knicks advance to Eastern Conference finals after tactical overhaul
Head coach Mike Brown’s decision to utilise Karl-Anthony Towns as a playmaking centre has driven a seven-game playoff winning streak, setting up a conference final series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The New York Knicks have secured their place in the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference finals, advancing to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 on Tuesday. The breakthrough follows a seven-game playoff winning streak that saw the team record a plus-24.5 point differential and an offensive rating of 130.5 points per 100 possessions. The turnaround was catalysed by a tactical shift implemented by head coach Mike Brown during the first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, which repositioned Karl-Anthony Towns as a playmaking centre.
The strategic pivot originated from a critical film session between Games 3 and 4 of the first round, where Brown confronted Towns for failing to set a screen for Jalen Brunson in Game 3. This moment prompted Brown to retool the offence on the fly, incorporating movement principles he observed during his tenure as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2022. The adjustment resulted in a 59-point victory in Game 6 against the Hawks, closing out the series and igniting the team’s current playoff momentum.
Towns has been central to the offensive revitalisation, averaging 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists on 60% shooting in 26.3 minutes during the postseason. His playmaking efficiency has reached unprecedented levels, with 18.5% of his passes resulting in assists—a rate that leads the NBA for players with at least 100 passes and is double his regular-season output. Towns has recorded four games with double-digit assists since 1 April, including performances against Memphis, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.
The tactical shift has also benefited other key players, revitalising Mikal Bridges, who averaged 15.6 points on 67% shooting and 44% from three-point range since the change, following a scoreless Game 3 against Atlanta. Jalen Brunson has maintained his scoring output, averaging 27.4 points per game with improved efficiency and nearly the same assist numbers. The new system has allowed the Knicks to operate with greater unpredictability, keeping defenders off-balance and creating open looks for perimeter shooters.
The Knicks now prepare for their toughest test yet against the Cavaliers, who feature big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, the latter being last season’s Defensive Player of the Year. While the 76ers previously struggled to contain Towns’ passing lanes, Cleveland’s interior defenders are expected to provide a more robust challenge. Nevertheless, Towns’ ability to facilitate from the centre position has established him as a versatile threat, offering New York a reliable offensive option as they seek their first NBA Finals appearance this century.
