Analyzing Knicks' potential first-round matchups for 2025 NBA playoffs

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With the NBA playoffs just one month away, the Knicks find themselves firmly in the third seed in the Eastern Conference, 4.5 games behind the Celtics for second and 5.0 games ahead of the Bucks in fourth.

There’s plenty of uncertainty as to how they close out the season without Jalen Brunson, but barring an unforeseen disaster, they’re highly likely to end up matched up with the Bucks, Pacers, or Pistons in the first round. 

Let’s dive into each of these potential opponents and see how they stack up against New York…

Bucks

The Bucks have failed to recapture their bonafide contender status since winning the 2021 NBA Finals, despite their blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard — but their deadline deals for Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. and former Knick Jericho Sims have given them a top-five defense since early February and a 10-6 record over that span.

They also boast the still-dominant Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s only lost his MVP sheen due to his team’s performance.

New York hasn’t played the new-look Bucks yet, but they have a meeting slated for late March after dusting them in a pair of blowouts earlier this season. The weaknesses displayed in those losses haven’t fully been addressed and New York is primed to take advantage in a potential first-round series. 

Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 31 points in those wins, a stylistic nightmare for Milwaukee’s opposing center Brook Lopez. Lopez is a good defender, but he lacks the mobility to cover the space created by Towns and his ferocious driving game.

Expect them to hide Lopez on Josh Hart out of the gate and force Towns to find his spots against their wings — a popular look that’s worked well for better teams. New York will have to get creative getting Hart involved in on-ball actions and be willing to sit him for a shooter in response. 

Despite their high-level defense, the Bucks also don’t have a great individual answer for Jalen Brunson, who had a surgical 44 points on 26 shots during their last matchup. Milwaukee's guards are lacking defensively, so they will likely be hidden on New York’s wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, who will need…

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Publish date : 2025-03-14 14:45:00

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