Knicks' Playoff Edge: Rest or Home Court vs. Cavs?

The Knicks are positioned to face either the Cavaliers or Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Cavaliers defeat the Pistons, securing a 3-2 series lead, they would face New York. This scenario grants the Knicks home-court advantage as the higher seed, allowing for crucial early games at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks also benefit from a rest advantage, having last played on May 10, while the Cavaliers may have had a grueling series against Detroit.

However, if Cleveland wins, the NBA has scheduled the potential Cavaliers-Knicks series to begin on May 17, featuring an unusual two-day break between Games 2 and 3. This schedule could allow the Cavaliers to recuperate from their prior seven-game series, potentially mitigating New York's rest advantage and disrupting the Knicks' momentum.

Offensively, the Knicks appear to hold an edge, outscoring opponents by approximately 10 points per game. Cleveland's offense heavily relies on Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, with limited consistent scoring from other players like Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The Knicks' centers, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, also possess a rebounding advantage over Cleveland's bigs.

Despite these advantages, the Cavaliers present challenges. Their defensive frontcourt of Allen and Mobley can contest shots, and their resilience, demonstrated in a seven-game series win against the top-seeded Pistons, indicates they won't yield easily. Cleveland's undefeated home record further strengthens their position, potentially forcing a decisive Game 7 where anything can happen.