Knicks fans have major reason to root for Heat to beat Bucks in playoffs
If you say that you had the New York Knicks advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the Heat, you’re lying. Okay, well someone out there must have predicted that to happen. The Knicks and Heat are up 3-1 over their playoff opponents, meaning that if both teams can close the series out, they will meet up in the second round.
Jimmy Butler had the game of his life against Milwaukee on Monday. With Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup for the Bucks, Butler dropped a franchise playoff record 56 points on absurd efficiency (19-of-28). The Heat were down by 12 in the fourth quarter, but Butler scored 21 points in the final 12 minutes (after dropping 22 in the first quarter) to push Milwaukee to the brink of elimination.
The series will return to Milwaukee on Wednesday, and if the Bucks lose, the No. 1 Eastern Conference seed will be booted from the playoffs. Like the Knicks, the Heat need to win one of the next three games to advance to the second round. New York and Miami could knock out Cleveland and Milwaukee on the same night.
Chances of Knicks-Heat facing off in second round rises due to playoff Jimmy Butler
A Knicks-Heat second-round playoff series would be notable for many reasons (hello, Pat Riley), but more importantly, it would mean that New York would have homecourt advantage. The power of MSG was put on full display over the weekend when the Knicks took Games 4 and 5 in front of their electric home crowd.
Imagine what Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals would look like at the Garden if New York and Miami advance. It’s been 10 years since the Knicks made it to the second round, so if you thought MSG was rocking over the weekend, advancing past the Cavaliers paired with homecourt advantage would multiply the energy in that atmosphere.
Also, New York’s depth is superior to Miami’s. Unfortunately, the Heat lost Tyler Herro (broken hand) and Victor Oladipo (torn patellar tendon) in the first round. New York went 3-1 against Miami in the regular season, but of course, the playoffs are a different beast. Look no further than how Jimmy Butler has played for an example.
Hopefully, the Knicks will eliminate the Cavaliers from the playoffs on Wednesday night, and after that, hopefully, the Heat will do the same to the Bucks. What a second-round matchup that will be if it happens.
