Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 4 Keys: 3 Factors That Could Decide Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks are only one victory away from advancing to the NBA Finals. Now that they have won Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers by a score of 121-108 on Saturday night, the New York Knicks have a 3-0 lead and have the opportunity to win the series next Monday night in Cleveland.

The city of New York often and early went out for a run. In total, six Knicks scored in the double digits, with Jaleen Brunson leading the way with 30 points. The New York Knicks have maintained their remarkable nature. By a margin of at least ten points, New York has won ten consecutive playoff games, including five consecutive victories away from home.

For the first time since 1999, New York has not made it to the NBA Finals. However, if the franchise were to emerge victorious in Game 4, it would be a remarkable occasion. In order to successfully conclude the series on Monday, these are the keys.

Pushing the pace

During Game 3, the Knicks made a deliberate effort to prevent mistakes and misses in order to increase their chances of getting easy looks. In addition to that, they utilized Cleveland’s products. New York was able to establish a pattern for the rest of the game by scoring a number of easy baskets in transition during the first quarter of the game.

When it came to fastbreak points, the Knicks had the upper hand, outscoring Cleveland by a score of 17-4. There are two big men in the starting lineup for the Cavaliers, and it is safe to assume that James Harden is not the most physically agile guard in the National Basketball Association. The New York Knicks made use of that opportunity on Saturday.

A significant portion of New York’s success in the postseason may be attributed to the team’s ability to transition: according to NBA Stats, 13.8 percent of New York’s points come from the fastbreak. Among all sixteen playoff clubs, that is the fourth-highest mark in the league. In terms of fastbreak points per 100 possessions, the Knicks have the highest rate of any club (17.0). Additionally, they prevent the opponent from leaking out, as they allow only 9.8 fastbreak points per 100 possessions, which is the third-lowest total in the playoffs.

If New York continues to push the ball on Monday, there is a significant likelihood that they will participate in the NBA Finals as the Eastern Conference’s representative.

Elite shot-making

Mikal Bridges is one of the most effective transition weapons that the Knicks have. Throughout the course of Saturday, the starting wing was everywhere, making cuts off the ball, drawing up as a shooter, and hounding Harden with relentless pursuit. During the course of the night, Bridges was engaged in a variety of activities, some of which were listed above.

In the final moments of the game, Bridges concluded with a complete set of statistics, including 22 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Bridges is currently averaging 19.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while competing in the conference finals. The efficiency with which he scores is virtually unmatched. Game 3 saw Bridges shoot 11 of 15 from the field, which is a 73.3 percent percentage. In the conference finals, he had a blistering 27-for-38 shooting percentage from the field, which is 71 percent.

Being able to watch Bridges, who was my X-Factor for this series, has been an incredible experience. As he sprints from beginning to end, he covers a great deal of ground. Following his check on Tyrese Maxey in the second round, Bridges has also taken on the responsibility of guarding Harden.

Sham-wow

The season of Landry Shamet has been a year filled with both highs and lows. The veteran Malcolm Brogdon unexpectedly retired at the beginning of the year, which allowed him to clinch the final roster slot during the preseason. During the course of the regular season, Shamet emerged as an indispensable member of the Knicks team.

As the first round series between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks progressed, he was removed from the rotation early on. Over the course of the second round, Shamet eventually worked his way back to playing consistent minutes.

Now that the most important time of the year has arrived, Shamet is deciding to take action. For starters, the 6-foot-5 guard made a critical three-point shot that sent the game into overtime during New York’s victory in the first game of the series this past Tuesday. This was followed by a performance on Saturday in which he scored 14 points and made four three-point shots. In the fourth quarter, Shamet assisted New York in preventing a potential resurgence by Cleveland by kicking three long-range field goals. This allowed New York to maintain their lead.

During the conference finals, the Knicks have relied on Shamet’s ability to play both offense and defense off the bench. A swift release allows him to create space on the floor. Despite the fact that his scoring totals in the series are relatively low (7.7 points), the defenses of the other team respect his ability to shoot from beyond the arc. Shamet has also demonstrated that he is capable of protecting Donovan Mitchell, a star player for the Cavaliers.

At this point in the series, Shamet has earned his minutes, and his consistent play in both directions should continue to have an influence on the series in Game 4.

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