Unfinished Business at the Garden: Bing Bong, Cleveland Your Time Is Up.

Written by Brandon Pulmano

Founder | Sideline Society Media

The New York Knicks open the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals as the clear favourite against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that has shown too many cracks to be trusted at this stage. Cleveland's defense has been one of the worst among the remaining playoff teams all postseason they gave up 60 points in the paint in Game 1 alone.

To be honest their inconsistency runs deeper than any single night.

Rooted largely in the unreliable play of James Harden who might not be able to beat the allegations. He went 5-of-16 from the field with six turnovers in the opener, while Donovan Mitchell was left to carry the entire burden. The Knicks are built for exactly this kind of series.

Their rotation is deeper, their fourth quarters are stronger, and Jalen Brunson is playing the best basketball of his career.

He dropped 38 points in Game 1 on 51.7% shooting while attacking Cleveland's paint defense relentlessly, 24 of those points coming inside.

This was an incredible comeback win by the Knicks.

With New York already up 1–0 and Game 2 on Thursday , the series has the feel of a mismatch waiting to be confirmed.

Cleveland can steal games when Mitchell is brilliant and when Harden shows up, but the Knicks' depth, grit and the growing Brunson problem are all pointed in one direction.

My Prediction the Knicks in 6