After a surprisingly brief yet extremely satisfying opening round, the New York Knicks are advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2013. New York is going from being the underdog in their matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers to the team with homecourt advantage facing the Miami Heat.
Fans are excited about this matchup for many reasons. Obviously, the Knicks faithful are encouraged by the dominance the team displayed against Cleveland and think they can keep that momentum going. There is a nostalgia factor at play since some of New York’s most recent and successful playoff runs came against Miami in the 1990s at the height of their historic rivalry. And to some, this series is seen as an easier one to handle because Miami is the No. 8 seed while New York is the No. 5 seed.
However, New York shouldn’t take this matchup lightly, as the Heat did have to defeat the East’s No. 1 seed to get here. No playoff series is truly easy, and this series should be no different.
5 biggest questions ahead of Knicks-Heat second-round playoff series
If they are to win another round, many changes and challenges will need to be made and addressed, while some of their positive patterns will need to be maintained and perfected. In no particular order, here are the five biggest questions for New York as they countdown toward their date with Miami.