Whether they win or lose, these Knicks may not be able to unseat the ‘73 team, regarded as the great collection of Knicks.
If the Knicks win, there will be plenty of debate that likely can be warranted.
If they lose, the aura of the ‘73 team won’t be disturbed.
These current Knicks had an easier route to the Finals than their 53-year predecessors.
They finally disposed of the pesky Hawks in a series where head coach Mike Brown was rumored out if they lost.
Well, they didn’t, and they haven’t.
Their 51-point win over Atlanta in Game Six began an incredulous 11-game run.
Yes, the Knicks deserved plenty of credit for their dominance during the current streak in which they haven’t lost since April 23.
They handled both overrated Philadelphia and Cleveland. Joel Embiid and James Harden continue to be two of the league’s biggest frauds. You can throw in New York bred Donovan Mitchell, too.
Still, to their credit, the Knicks are in the Big Dance.
They have the edge in experience over a vibrant Spurs squad that is filled with budding talent. Victor Wembayama is on his way to the league’s next centerpiece, and his play and presence disrupted Oklahoma City.
Karl-Anthony Townes isn’t another Willis Reed, but he finally is handling the post like everyone thought he could, and, more importantly, the offense is running through him.
Jalen Brunson could be considered to be a mirror image of Walt Frazier with his coolness under pressure and leadership abilities.
Critics state that these Knicks may be more talented than the old ones. If you’re basing it on pure talent, you would have to agree with Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikhail Bridges.
Overall, the ‘73 Knicks played team ball and played defense. The remaining cast of Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe, Dick Barnett, Jerry Lucas, Dena Meminger, Phil Jackson , and John Gianelli are hard to dispute. If you’re a diehard fan, you’ll remember cult hero Hawthorne Wingo along with Luther Rackley and Tom Riker.
Those Knicks had to go through the Baltimore Bullets, who many thought were the best team, in five games, and the Celtics, who won 68 games, in seven before they met the Lakers.
The point here is the 73 Knicks should never go away into the night.
But these ‘26 Knicks can make everyone seal their memory and create their own with the first Knicks title in 53 years.
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