Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

The Knicks’ Path Through the East Is Easier Than It Looks

September 8, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Knicks’ path through the Eastern Conference is easier than most fans realize. Host XJ runs through every NBA team and assigns each a tier based on how they would fare against the Knicks in a seven-game playoff series at full strength. The tiers range from “Be serious” (Knicks have a 90%+ chance) to “Need a miracle” (roughly 10%). After evaluating the entire East, only two teams land in the “Knicks’ edge” tier — the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons — and neither is a sure bet to beat New York.

The central argument: Deployment over talent

XJ’s entire framework rests on a single conviction he has held for two years: the Knicks are one of the two most talented teams in the league, but they were held back by suboptimal deployment under Mike Brown. The proof, he argues, came in the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks were the only team to push the Knicks to six games, and observers joked they were the second-best team in the NBA. XJ rejects that. He says the Hawks simply caught the Knicks before Brown figured out how to maximize Karl-Anthony Towns — specifically, pulling Towns away from the rim to exploit Atlanta’s lack of interior defense. Once the Knicks did that, they destroyed the Hawks. “When you maximize KAT, you are going to get the best version of this team, and they’re gonna be able to defeat anyone,” XJ says. That same principle applies league-wide

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What you'll learn

  • 1 Timestamped Outline
  • 2 (01:05) **The Central Thesis: Nobody Can Beat the Knicks in a Seven-Game Series** - Host XJ introduces the premise: ranking every NBA team by their likelihood of beating the Knicks in a hypothetical playoff series, controlling for health
  • 3 (05:32) **Atlanta Hawks: "Be Serious"** - The Hawks pushed the Knicks to six games last postseason, but XJ argues that was about Mike Brown's suboptimal deployment of Towns, not Atlanta's quality
  • 4 (09:09) **Boston Celtics: "Knicks Edge" (~60%)** - XJ likes Boston's roster better than the version with Jaylen Brown, but still picks the Knicks as slight favorites
  • 5 (11:03) **Brooklyn Nets: "Be Serious"** - XJ spends more time analyzing the Nets' rebuild than their chances against the Knicks, which are essentially zero
  • 6 (15:08) **Charlotte Hornets: "We Got This"** - Despite being less talented, the Hornets scare XJ slightly because of their unprecedented three-point shooting depth
  • 7 (18:01) **Chicago Bulls: "Be Serious"** - The Bulls lack the talent to compete, and the Knicks can do whatever they want offensively

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

The New York Knicks dominated the playoffs last season: can anyone in the NBA truly challenge them in a seven-game series? XJ ranks every team’s chances against the defending champs, spotlighting the Knicks’ overwhelming edge versus East teams like the Hawks, Nets, Bulls, and Bucks. The breakdown includes insights on Karl-Anthony Towns’ optimal use, Jalen Brunson’s unstoppable iso game, and the potential impact of perimeter defenders like Lou Dort. Which Eastern Conference rivals pose a genuine threat, and why do the Celtics and Pistons stand out on XJ’s tier list?

Dive into critical matchups and tactics, from Boston’s ghost coverage of Josh Hart to the Hornets’ elite three-point arsenal, and how roster changes for teams like the Cavs and Pacers shake up playoff odds. With strategic takes on player development—from Evan Mobley to Paolo Banchero—and bold predictions for potential upsets, this episode sets the stage for a heated NBA season. Who can upset the Knicks’ championship momentum?


00:00 – Knicks Opponent Tier List!
1:01 – Tier List Rules
4:17 – Atlanta Hawks vs Knicks
7:59 – Boston Celtics vs Knicks
9:55 – Brooklyn Nets vs Knicks
12:00 – Square Ad Break
13:59 – Charlotte Hornets vs Knicks
16:23 – Chicago Bulls vs Knicks
17:51 – Cleveland Cavs vs Knicks
20:43 – Fan Duel
22:28 — Third Segmenters, Stand Up!
23:01 – Detroit Pistons vs Knicks
25:18 – Indiana Pacers vs Knicks
27:28 – Milwaukee Bucks vs Knicks
28:45 – Miami Heat vs Knicks
30:04 – Orlando Magic vs Knicks
33:09 – Thanks and please subscribe!

 

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke; Vincent Carchietta; Trevor Ruszkowski - Imagn Images

 

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Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

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