The Underdog Knicks are Two Games Away From the NBA Crown

Two games into the NBA Finals, and I am eating crow right now. The narrative has changed dramatically, with the Knicks going home to New York with a solid 2-0 slate.

The supposedly young, unstoppable San Antonio Spurs now find themselves staring at a dangerous 0–2 hole after the New York Knicks escaped with a tense 105–104 victory in Game 2. And now comes the frightening part for San Antonio, as the series shifts to the Madison Square Garden, where the atmosphere will definitely be even more unforgiving than the basketball itself.

For all the pre-Finals talk about Victor Wembanyama’s rise, the Spurs’ youthful energy, and the arrival of a possible new dynasty, the Knicks have delivered a blunt reminder to the basketball world: experience, physicality, and playoff maturity still matter.

And perhaps the biggest revelation of all is this: the Eastern Conference, perennially ridiculed as the weaker Division in the NBA, is once again showing the West a thing or 2 about basic championship basketball. And I too am guilty of spreading this outrageous blasphemy.

Throughout the postseason, many analysts dismissed the Knicks’ dominant playoff run by questioning the quality of Eastern Conference competition. The Western Conference was supposedly deeper, tougher, and more battle-tested. The Spurs’ survival against the defending champs Oklahoma City was hailed as proof that whoever emerged from the West would overpower New York.

Instead, the Knicks have looked like the more complete team. Matchup after matchup, New York has quietly established control of the series.

Karl-Anthony Towns has thoroughly outplayed Wembanyama in Game 1, and held his own in Game 2. While Wemby continues to flash brilliance defensively, Towns’ experience, physical strength, and offensive versatility have forced the young superstar into difficult situations. KAT has stretched the floor, punished smaller defenders, and shown a level of composure that only years of playoff battles can provide.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference playoff MVP, Jalen Brunson, has looked every bit like the best guard in the series. De’Aaron Fox, still clearly limited physically, has struggled to consistently attack the way he normally does. Brunson, on the other hand, continues to dictate tempo, manufacture big shots in pressure moments, and has emotionally steadied the Knicks whenever the game tightens.

Then there is OG Anunoby. Perhaps no matchup better symbolizes this series than Anunoby versus Julian Champagnie. Comparing OG and Julian in the 2026 postseason is fascinating because, stylistically, they play similar modern forward roles. They are both undersized power forwards who thrive in a positionless ball environment. But the gap in impact, consistency, and overall dominance still clearly favors Anunoby. Champagnie has played hard and shown flashes, but OG’s playoff experience as a member of the Toronto Raptors champion team in 2019, plus his physical strength and defensive discipline have been crucial in key moments. Anunoby has simply looked like the veteran who understands exactly what Finals basketball demands.

Mikal Bridges has also given the Knicks a major edge over Stephon Castle. Castle’s future remains incredibly bright, but Bridges is currently operating at a different level of efficiency and poise. His defense, shot selection, and all-game calmness in Game 2 repeatedly frustrated the Spurs and swung momentum to the Knicks.

And then there’s the battle between Josh Hart and Devin Vassell. Now this is where the Finals matchup becomes truly fascinating, because these are no longer just star-versus-star battles anymore. These are identity clashes between role players who often determine championships. This match-up encapsulates the Knicks’ veteran toughness versus the Spurs’ youthful athleticism.

And when you compare the playoff numbers of Josh Hart vs Devin Vassell, you begin to understand why this Finals could become an all-time classic. Hart’s relentless hustle and rebounding continue to define New York’s emotional edge, while Vassell’s perimeter scoring has helped keep San Antonio afloat during difficult stretches.

So the question now is: How can the Spurs make this series competitive again?

First, Wemby needs to be more aggressive offensively. The Spurs cannot survive if he remains primarily a defensive presence while Towns controls the interior matchup. San Antonio needs Wemby attacking early, drawing fouls, and forcing the Knicks to adjust defensively.

Second, Fox must find another gear despite his injuries. Or bring in Dylan Harper, his able secondary. Without consistent dribble penetration, the Spurs’ offense becomes too dependent on difficult perimeter shooting. Fox and Harper need to draw the defenders to them in order to give their shooters that split-second to aim for the basket.

Third, the Spurs’ young players must survive the emotional storm awaiting them at Madison Square Garden. MSG during the NBA Finals is unlike anything most of this roster has ever experienced. Every Knicks run will feel deafening. Every Spurs mistake will feel magnified.

Yet despite the bleakness of the situation, counting out San Antonio entirely would still be dangerous. This is a young team that has repeatedly responded to adversity throughout the postseason. They survived elimination against Oklahoma City. They won a brutal Game 7 on the road. They have already shown resilience beyond their years. They allowed MInnesota to briefly lead their series. They also allowed Portland to tie them with Wemby sidelined for concussion protocol. They’ve shown resilience before, let’s see if that still works in the biggest title series of their lives.

But right now, this series belongs to New York. The Knicks look stronger. Smarter. More physical. More prepared. Most importantly, they no longer play like a franchise merely happy to be in the Finals. After decades of heartbreak, frustration, and ridicule, the Knicks now play with the confidence of a team that truly believes that destiny may finally be wearing the orange and blue.

And if the Spurs cannot change the emotional and physical tone of this series quickly, New York may soon witness something basketball fans have waited generations to see: the Knicks raising the NBA championship trophy in their homecourt in Madison Square Garden.

Cover photo from NBC News.