Categories
Game Thread

2026 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 1 – It’s Still All Happening!

During the 76ers series, I named one of the game threads, “It’s all happening!” as we were seeing, in real time, the Knicks suddenly taking the amazing play they had in the final three games of the Hawks series, and apply it to another team, and just smother the life out of the Sixers.

Well, it is still happening now! The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t a BAD team. There is theoretically a chance that the Cavs can win this series, but, like, I mean, come on, dudes. The Knicks are playing at an all-time level and the Cavs….aren’t. But sure, stranger things have happened! Not MUCH stranger, but stranger!

Here’s a poll for the series…

Who do you think will win the Knicks vs. Cavaliers series?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Let’s go, Knicks!

8 wins to go!

355 replies on “2026 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 1 – It’s Still All Happening!”

Maybe it’s just gamesmanship and my nerves, but I’d feel better if we weren’t talking about OG as a game time decision.

This team has become so cohesive, I wonder if they can beat down the Cavs without OG

OG cleared to play about 7 minutes ago. Doesn’t necessarily mean anything that the announcement just came out then.

from last thread….glad OG is playing…see where that hammy is and if its not going to make it…gives us more time to adjust to reality

Charles thinks the Cavs will win, Shaq says Knicks by 15. I know which blowhard *I* like today….

“Forget what I said about the Mets being accidentally watchable.”

Hey JK, Bo Knows. Different.

In the playoffs when Mikal starts the scoring with a bunny, the Knicks have won

Hey JK, Bo Knows. Different.

Mets gave up an inside the park grand slam. Im not switching off Knicks game even during commercials…ugh

Is Brunson injured?

Also: told you guys that centers on Hart are our kryptonite.

This is what you worry about with the long layoff. They look slow and rusty.

Someone sprain Hart’s finger so he can shoot…….

Yeah, was thinking the same. LOL

This is difficult to watch…

Ok, we’re gonna win this. BBA, the new Pags. 😀

They’re playing tight, but I’d give it a quarter or a half for them to loosen up before we start worrying

Looks like the thermal exhaust port was still open after all

if they hit one of those open threes, the score would look a lot better.

streameast only sends you to gambling sites now. Any other suggestions for someone out of the country to catch a stream?

streameast only sends you to gambling sites now. Any other suggestions for someone out of the country to catch a stream?

League pass is great. No commercials.

We have Mitchell Robinson and they don’t gg go next

Great lineup adjustment. Also Chase bridge seats are much nicer than I thought.

1

Great lineup adjustment. Also Chase bridge seats are much nicer than I thought.

Did it cost you a kidney? 😀

Clarkson as the first to sink a 3P is a sign… of what, i don’t know. 😛

Well Clarkson’s three completely killed my Karen complaining about him. So there’s that.

2

We’re not even playing well and we’re up six I’m feeling good

This might be a Mitch series more than a KAT series. Nervous start and still rusty but the defense is showing up.

Have no fucking idea how the hell Knicks are up 7 at end of 1st quarter but I’ll gladly take it.

1

If the Cavs keeping make these ghastly turnovers, this will be a short series.

I would very much encourage the Knicks not to help off Merrill and Strus to try to contest Mobley.

Cyber, how does League Pass work for you? I have it, but it doesn’t say I can use it live.

Edit: I did get on, finally just had to do a free trial to Fubo. Watching some intense D and a lot of misses.

1

Keep allowing Cavs to shoot 3s they’re gonna eventually start fucking making them…

Yeah, those 3s are the difference between facing the Cavs and Detroit

I think we’re still getting back into the flow of things.

1

streameast only sends you to gambling sites now. Any other suggestions for someone out of the country to catch a stream?

I’m watching on streameast now. When you open streameast, it does open gambling sites in another tab… close that and reclick on the game a couple of times in the streameast tab and the game opens.

1

I’m not used to a team losing the ability to shoot the 3 after a layoff

2 of fucking 19. But most of them were terrible shots.

I’m quite disappointed in Brown. You could see this coming from a mile, and he has no good responses to the ghost coverage of Hart.

Josh will be fine. He does this shit all the time and then suddenly starts shooting 60% from 3. The real issue is that were shooting 10% from 3 collectively. The offense itself has been fine as evidenced by our 2pt%. Once the 3s start falling the cavs are cooked.

1

I’m watching on streameast now. When you open streameast, it does open gambling sites in another tab… close that and reclick on the game a couple of times in the streameast tab and the game opens.

Get the UBlock Origin browser extension, it’ll take care of all the pop-ups and redirects.

2

Well, this is the NBA, you can’t be as cold from 3P as we are. But we’ll be better in the 2nd half

We’re 2-19 from 3pt, Cavs are shooting a normal percentage, and we’re only down by 2.

We’re 2-19 from 3pt, Cavs are shooting a normal percentage, and we’re only down by 2.

4 of those were Hart, how many other shots were grenades because the offense is stuck in the mud?

There’s a reason Hart is -11. This is going according to plan for the Cavs.

Didn’t take much for the nattering nabobs of negativism to start wetting themselves. Shooting 19% from 2, shooting 4 three throws to 10, only winning rebounds by 1 and only trailing by 2 after being idle for 9 days? Take an Ativan and enjoy the game.

1

I don’t Cleveland is doing anything special. We look slow. They need to wake up

This is what we get for focusing on the Spurs and OKC instead of the Cavs.

I’m quite disappointed in Brown. You could see this coming from a mile, and he has no good responses to the ghost coverage of Hart.

Seems like there kinda aren’t any and we’ll be dealing with that from here on in

Instead of having Hart on Mitchell and Bridges on Harden we might have to flip those defensive assignments.

What a fucking joke

According to the nba if you do a wwe wrestling move on a player but there’s a foul proximate to that it may as well have never happened.

If you think the problem is just missing shots, I don’t know what to tell you.

Someone should have punched Allen in the mouth on that rebound.

KAT has been really bad

Well if this is how we’re gonna play we’re not winning anything. That stretch right there is the first time the Knicks’ defense has looked bad in quite a while.

This lineup hasn’t worked for 2 years when Hart is guarded by a center. That didn’t magically change in the last two games when Hart was guarded traditionally. It was clear this was going to happen.

Jason Kidd is probably watching this game with a huge smile right now…

Sorry, just getting back now. All is going to be better with me here. 😉

Brunson hero ball ain’t working, either. It’s like all the old habits coming back…

We need Deuce.

This reffing is a complete joke. But also I have no idea why we’re sagging off their shooters so hard when Allen dives to the rim.

1

This is the bad version of the Knicks. I’m kind of shocked how poorly they are playing. This is embarrassing.

Flashbacks to last season’s choke… let’s hope it’s just rust.

This is fucking stupid. Doubling Mitchell in the middle of the court to generate an open 3 from Merrill. Give me a fucking break, this is the most stupid stuff you can do.

2

Can’t believe they are being so thoroughly out coached by Kenny freaking Atkinson.

What possessed the Knicks to run the defensive strategy of doubling the ball handler? They do not need to that and have the Cavs easy ways to score.

The offense looks so slow too

So MB saw what worked in the previous series and reverted back to double teaming the ball handler leaving shooters all alone to get the ball and shoot?

The defense was the one thing that was working in the first half, but somehow that’s what Brown decided to change.

Down this far, with Mitch not affecting the defense much anyway, they should have taken him out.

Hack a Mitch put this game out of reach. Mike Brown having a nightmare game.

It was somebody on here who
Mentioned the Josh hart issue . It’s viable in this series .

I must remind you all that we lost a game to the Hawks at MSG, so even if we lose there’s no need to panic. We just need to get back to what worked instead of this.

yikes, we are about to be down 0 – 1 in the eastern conference finals…

not good…

we do not look like the same team from when we last played…

I’ll say it again.

Huge mistake to leave Mitch in. Our whole offense is Mitch FTs

The Knicks offense . Josh hart shooting or Mitch free throws . You don’t want either r

Brown has not played 5 out a single minute despite this coverage.

Even in the first game of the season against the Cavs, he played 5 out.

Coaching malpractice.

Cyber this is a better team . Hawks best player is CJ mccolum?

Of course, they’re better, but losing ONE game isn’t the end of the world. We can do this if we change our play

Also not a fan of this crowd tonight. When you price people out you get corporate crowds

1

They had a chance to push for a two for one, and didn’t. Instead they get one point, and give Cleveland the ball with 11 seconds.

Cleveland missed, but it just shows you how dumb they’re playing.

1

Common sense would dictate you open the fourth with the starters minus Hart plus Deuce.

Brown won’t.

I’m blaming the cameraman that only knows Ben Stiller and not Christine Taylor, he only filmed Ben and that brought us bad karma. 😀

A really pathetic performance so far. We look like pre-game 4 Hawks series Knicks. The defense is inexcusable with the stupid strategy of overcommitting.

Hart is scoring but he’s made some bonehead decisions. OG too passive makes me think he’s not healthy. KAT is not imposing his will. I don’t like Brunson game on both ends.

Doesn’t look good. A performance out of nowhere really. Rust is not an excuse

I don’t know if we can come back to win this one. It looks impossible. It has been an embarrassing game for the Knicks so far. It’s not just rust. The team looked helpless and confused, the coach looked lost, the Cavs looked prepared for us and our schemes, and we looked unprepared for them. We had all the time in the world to rest and prepare. And they are out-scheming us? Hard to swallow it.

1

We probably deserve this for beginning to actually believe in this team…

Cavs had one day to prepare for this game, the Knicks had all week. Embarrassing tactical choices.

Deuce has taken 1 shot. It might be wise to start him and let him play off Brunson. Just my opinion

Common sense would dictate you open the fourth with the starters minus Hart plus Deuce.

Instead, it’s Clarkson and Hart.

1

I’m not sure deuce on the second unit will make any sense either because he’s not really going to leveraged by jose

Cavs had one day to prepare for this game, the Knicks had all week. Embarrassing tactical choices.

Apparently they prepared for Detroit.

The “let them take open 3s” defense does not seem to be working

Luckily we’ll never play this poorly again in this series

What have you seen in this game that looks promising at all. The coach should put in proper lineups to check things out

I will say I’d be pissed if I wasted money tonight , better to be priced out.

I know some on here are at the game. Should be some good reviews coming.

This is such a demoralizing loss. Gives Cavs all the confidence in the world. We looked so lost out there…

This is why you go for the gentleman’s sweep instead of going 4-0. Too much time off.

If OG and KAT aren’t going to play like the 2 best players in the league, somebody else needs to step up and nobody is doing it

OK, I’m out. 4AM here and I feel dumb for having been excited about this. They have reverted to how they played the first few Hawks games. WTF? It’s incomprehensible.

Nobody on this team can do what KAT does. The teams offense has been running through him .

Ebw it’s very hard to not get it when the other team quits on game 4

By the way, the Knicks would still be losing if they were hitting 40% of their 3s.

Offense looks hesitant, like they’re just waiting that extra split second to make decisions. Cleveland isn’t a great defensive team but we’re making it easy for them by putting up way too much soft stuff

If Mike brown loses this series while his team has look better in the playoffs the coaching hire becomes lateral and Dolan will nuke the team for Giannis

OK, I’m out. 4AM here and I feel dumb for having been excited about this. They have reverted to how they played the first few Hawks games. WTF? It’s incomprehensible.

🙁

3AM here… Zzzz

Yeah we aren’t winning this game or the series.

Mike Brown reminds me of Woodson. We found out in that playoff run that when Woodson looked like a good coach it was a total accident. He didn’t understand why we were good and got us killed by Roy Hibbert when we could and should have spaced him off the floor.

Thermal exhaust port isn’t just open, he put fucking Christmas lights on it. At least it all makes sense now

1

Everybody wants to say that rust isn’t a thing… This team is RUSTY AS FUCK right now.

Dreadful performance. I still can’t imagine how we lose a seven game series to this Cavs team.

1

This was a terrible loss, but given it’s only the 3rd worst thing to happen in my life today I’m taking it quite well.

1

Back to being the worst team in the world, you guys are insane. It’s ONE game.

1

Yeah we aren’t winning this game or the series.

Oh good, now this fucking moron is on record saying we’re gonna lose the series, so we should be in business.

3

Dreadful performance. I still can’t imagine how we lose a seven game series to this Cavs team.

That will require coaching moves. The starting lineup doesn’t work here. Brown got his pants pulled down badly

Mike Brown reminds me of Woodson. We found out in that playoff run that when Woodson looked like a good coach it was a total accident. He didn’t understand why we were good and got us killed by Roy Hibbert when we could and should have spaced hom off the floor.

You might be making an excellent point.

Maybe that’s why I’ve been all over the map on Brown all season. When he looks brilliant, it’s by accident.

What a surprise, the 5 out lineup goes on a run.

Makes me even more angry that Brown waited until the game was out of reach.

1

We aren’t dead yet. I’m not sure I can handle this shit. Today has been crazy enough.

Please don’t let this be a fake comeback please please please

2

What a surprise, the 5 out lineup goes on a run.

Makes me even more angry that Brown waited until the game was out of reach.

Brunson is trying hard to save the Knicks and Mike Brown. It is true that we changed our game after we went down by 20, and one wonders why so late.

Ha, I figured I’d leave it on and do some email, and hot damn, Brunson decided it was time to stop deferring and bring us back. Yawning but hoping….

1

Even if we lose this game we have the blueprint now on offense. Just put harden into action over and over.

Crazy that it took this but there it is.

Jarrett Allen isn’t clogging the lane anymore . Anybody want to guess why..

Yeah marechal this is bizzarro world pacers knicks game 1

Lol wtf don’t do this to me i had accepted the loss

1

Our death was clearly overstated

Reports of my death were premature…

I’m here, Cyber! Almost quit, but couldn’t quite let go…even if we lose, I’m happy. This was the fire we needed to see. LET’S FREAKING GO!!!!!

1

Towns doing Towns things tho. I mean holding his arm like that?
I thought we were done with the mental mistakes

Started watching in the 4th. Fun run there by Brunson making a game out of this. I’ve never rooted for a Harden team before, at least he’s not wearing Celtic green, that’s all I got. Go cavs?

Hahaha I turned it off in the 3rd, but reading the story of these comments has made that worthwhile choice.

I’m here, Cyber! Almost quit, but couldn’t quite let go…even if we lose, I’m happy. This was the fire we needed to see. LET’S FREAKING GO!!!!!

That’s the spirit 😉

They just…let us run the same play over and over for 13 minutes. They really did. I cannot believe it.

1

Don’t delete the draft posts about how this L would be devastating, i’d like to read it 😀

I was thinking this is like the Houston game a few months ago when the Rockets handed us the W in a plate at the end, but tonight is even worse for the visiting team. I wouldn’t want to be a Cavs player if they lose.

It was my fault, i was late to comeback from the half, and only got back with a 11pt Cavs lead… without that we would’ve won in regulation. Won’t happen again, sorry.

Cavs playing dumber than we did this time last year

God bless you, Mikal! This sorry lot doesn’t deserve you’re greatness, but I always believed in you!!!

Bridges with the steal!

Meanwhile, let’s make all our foul shots, please, guys

This wasn’t a basketball game it was an honest to god exorcism

4

I don’t know what else to say except fuck them picks

3

Best start to a season of Conference Finals, including both East and West, of all time?

4

The reverse game 1 from last year!!!!

We looked so dead early in the 4th… I can’t believe we won this!

1

Best start to a season of Conference Finals of all time?

That’s quite an overkill for a game we should have lost. There is a whole lot to avoid doing if we want to win this series.

That was fucking SICK.

I think Knickerblogger should collectively celebrate this great win by banning Pags.

4

Jalem Brunson, oh my god…

I was full on dooming here at my TV and then they start to come back… insane.

2

I think the Cavs ran out of gas from that tough Detroit series and we shook off the rust and got some momentum at the same time. Epic. I’m in shock.

2

Harden was the liability I expected, and the Cavs were tired down the stretch

Yeah, Mitchell played brilliantly. Of course. Everyone is better than Brunson until it’s time to be better than Brunson.

2

if this is the biggest playoff comeback win in franchise history AND it gets Josh Hart out of the starting lineup, this is one of the greatest nights in the history of our sport.

Glad we won, but this was bad coaching on both sides. The only reason we won is because Jalen Brunson would not let us lose. He simply said, no fucking way. And the team followed him, we stopped stupid doubles, and Shamet was much better than Hart. But Brown nearly blew it anyway. And meanwhile, Atkinson…what was he thinking? He let that run keep going. He didn’t stop it and deal with the Harden iso on defense. Just coaching malpractice.

2

Glad we won, but this was bad coaching on both sides. The only reason we won is because Jalen Brunson would not let us lose. He simply said, no fucking way. And the team followed him, we stopped stupid doubles, and Shamet was much better than Hart. But Brown nearly blew it anyway. And meanwhile, Atkinson…what was he thinking? He let that run keep going. He didn’t stop it and deal with the Harden iso on defense. Just coaching malpractice.

Quote of the evening. I was pulling whatever hair I have left on my head watching those insane doubles and open threes in the third quarter.

Hart is gonna remain in the starting lineup and hit a few 3s in Game 2.

1

Can we please play more 5 out now?

I love Hart, but this I may not be the series for him. If he’s a liability just take him out. It’s not rocket science. Everyone knows our weakness.

2

Look, part of this is when Brunson starts to cook, the floor opens. The OG can penetrate. Shamet shoots the lights out. Things open up.
And the Cavs got frazzled.
Sometimes you just beat the other guy. The Cavs got beat in the fourth.

Is it safe to call James Harden the most consistent player of all time? A true COAT.

Hope Z-man survives the celebration lol

Wish I had been there. As is, time for bed. Don’t know how you do it, Cyber. Though I’m thinking of heading to Portugal next to watch the Finals with you if the Knicks get that far!

2

Matchups matter. We could get away with Hart in the starting lineup against the two previous teams – I’m not sure with the Cavs personnel. We will keep running it out tho which is so annoying.

Shamet with clutch shots and excellent defense on Mitchell. I would hate to see him go. He’s been invaluable to us this year – ready to go at a moment’s notice. He might/should take Clarkson’s minutes

1

You can start Hart and do like OKC did with I-Hart. Pull him after a couple of minutes.

What a game! I watched from San Antonio with my kids. We lost our voice. You’all may not know this- my wife is in the military. She’s stationed in San Antonio in a pretty important position for 3 years now. We bought a house here and I moved the entire family here. I’m from queens. I still have a house there. My octogenarian parents currently live in my house. I’m a physician and my practice (running 3 nursing homes), is still in New York. I fly back and forth and run my practice, with the help of my childhood buddy (who’s also a doc and a Knicks fan). Anywho, my wife is away at a military conference this week, and I had to stay with the kids and sell my game 1 ECF ticket to a buddy of mine. And I’ll miss the entire ECF.

But now I’m delaying by my return till June 4th, in the hopes that it’s Knicks vs spurs, and I can go to game 1 of the nba finals in San Antonio. With my kids. All 3 of us, for cheaper than what it would cost to go to msg. I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s win game 2. Let’s go Knicks.

9

Still can’t believe that Merrill 3 didn’t go in.

gave up after the 3rd…rewatching the 4th and OT now…

that merrill three went in, swirled around and fate spit it back out…

close call there…

44-11 run to close the game. It’s basically the first quarter of Game 6 in Atlanta.

Yeah we aren’t winning this game or the series.

Thank you, Pags, for calling the Game and the Series over! Your disdain is the lucky charm we all needed!

Knicks in 4!

3

I’ve been to a bunch of playoff games in my life but that was easily the craziest ever. The crowd was totally out of it and the the deficit was 15, 13, 9, 7 and the noise started to build and build and we started to believe it was possible.

And then we all went fucking nuts.

Still can’t believe that Merrill shot didn’t go in.

1

we need you in those stands llcoolbp in san antonio when the knicks come visiting in a couple of weeks…

working for the military is most definitely a family affair, often involving sacrifice for all that goes above and beyond…appreciate you and the fam llcoolbp…

1

Atkinson said after the game that he thinks Harden has been one of the best defenders in the playoffs. Lol.

Atkinson is delusional lol. Harden was a literal statue out there and he and everyone else on the floor knew it.

If you’re the Cavs…how do you come back from this? We came back and made it a series against Indiana last year, but that took a lot of grit and heart that I’m not sure that team has. I mean, this is just crushing. Knicks in 4.

The five out lineup created the spacing that allowed Brunson to endlessly roast Harden. I know Hart was very good in the ATL and DET series, but five out is the recipe to beat these guys.

I hate the Hart Haters, but he was -23 tonight. Only other negatives were Mitch at -8 (why did you leave him in, Brown?????) and Alvarado at -1.

Shamet was the big winner at +25.

Harden was defending Brunson, so Atkinson put his money where is mouth was.

And I’m not sure it qualifies as five out just really replacing Hart with Shamet. It seemed to make the Cavs defense untenable, at least when they were tired late in the game. Shamet was just burying the open looks he was getting. When Brown put heart back in the game at the end, I think it was because he wanted the rebounding since the Knicks were leading by nine points or so.

Harden was 5-16 with six turnovers and got repeatedly roasted beyond all recognition on defense.

Yeah…Hart has to be a cheerleader this series…everything opened up when he sat…

I’ve been saying since yesterday that Hart was going to be a problem, but genuinely I love the guy. He’s fantastic in so many ways. This is just not his series. You can’t have your offense depend entirely on whether he can hit shots.

“With 7:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers held a 93-71 lead and a whopping 99.9% chance of winning the game, according to ESPN analytics.”

I guess shutting it off and going to bed paid off. Just woke up and checked the score and laughed.

This was an amazing win, and I am, of course, very happy right now (and, come on, this is the kind of loss that destroys a team, as we saw last year with the Knicks and the Pacers), but it’s funny that the COMEBACK aspect of it is really leaving me a bit cold.

Don’t get me wrong, it was awesome, but man, the NBA just has SO many big comebacks nowadays. I was watching a video of the biggest NBA comebacks of all-time a few months back, and, like, most of them came from the last five years.

Again, great, great win, and I loved it, but it’s interesting how this “2nd biggest comeback in playoff history” is less shocking than coming back from, like, seven points in 1997, ya know?

By Post Author

I have thrown my share of shade at bridges…but he hit two big cojones buckets tonight…

Just got home from the game, I was exhausted before I even got there, went to work at my old school and did recess duty in a sweltering asphalt playground. I was literally sweating and out of breath the entire drive home.

What a monumental game to witness live. I was especially happy for my buddies who sat through the game 1 debacle last year.

More tomorrow. Sleep well, Knicks faithful!

3

THIS GAME HEALED SEVERAL OF MY CRIPPLING NEUROSES!

2

also…OG understandably looked tentative and rusty but seemed to get some mojo back in OT….hope that carries over…

OG was looking pretty comfortable by the end of the game. Did some OF stuff and seemed to have his timing back.

OG was looking pretty comfortable by the end of the game. Did some OF stuff and seemed to have his timing back.

OF stuff? Did he.. did he start an OnlyFans?

1

The Cavs’ pick and roll defense in the fourth was completely hapless. The Knicks got the switch they wanted every single time. The Cavs were trying to use Wade and Merrill to guard Brunson, but the problem is those guys cannot fight through a screen to save their lives, so you end up with Harden guarding Brunson every time down the floor. Just send whichever guy Harden is guarding to set a screen for Brunson, and voila.

Combine this with the better spacing the Knicks got from the Shamet lineup, and you get a LOT of space for Brunson to operate in.

Comments are closed.