2023 NBA Playoffs: Knicks vs. Cavaliers Series Odds, Picks & Predictions
The Eastern Conference first round is full of some incredibly intriguing matchups, but none more so than the Cavaliers against the Knicks. The Cavaliers will look to win their first playoff series since Lebron James left for Los Angeles after the 2018-19 season. The Knicks are looking for their first playoff series win since being led by Carmelo Anthony in 2012-13. This series tips off on Saturday with the 4-seed Cavaliers having the home-court advantage over the 5-seed Knicks. It will be the first time these two teams have met in the postseason since the Knicks swept the Cavaliers in the First Round in 1996. Expect a hard-fought series that could go the distance. Let's dig a little deeper into the matchup.
Best Bets for Knicks vs. Cavaliers
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Cleveland Cavaliers
For the first time in a quarter-century, the Cavaliers will be playing a playoff game without Lebron James. The 51 wins that Cleveland put up this season is the fourth most in franchise history without the superstar. The addition of Donovan Mitchell to pair with Darius Garland in the backcourt has allowed the Cavaliers to take the next step, jumping up from 20th in adjusted offensive rating in 2021-22 to 10th in 2022-23. The elite defense they showed last year only got better with another year of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley as twin towers in the post. Although they are only the 4-seed, they have their sights set on winning the Eastern Conference. Finishing second in adjusted net rating, behind only Boston, shows that they're a capable dark horse.
New York Knicks
The Knicks return to the playoffs after missing in 2021-22. They added Jalen Brunson in the offseason, who, along with Julius Randle, helped lead New York back to the postseason. They finished the season strong, led by a strong offense that finished fourth in adjusted offensive rating. Harkening back to the 90s, the Knicks were a gritty team on the boards. They joined Toronto as one of two teams in the league that was top 10 in OREB and DREB rates. New York has the depth and talent to keep up with anyone in the Eastern Conference, but they're shooting limits them against some of the other best teams.
Season Series
The Knicks took three of four when these two teams met during the regular season. Most recently, on 3/31, the Knicks took a game in Cleveland where both teams played their full rotations. The most glaring mismatch during these games was how New York dominated the glass. It's unsurprising as New York was an excellent rebounding team, but they secured OREB at a rate of 29% and DREB at 81.7%. A discrepancy in free throw attempts also fueled New York. One could expect this also to continue as the Knicks are a top-eight team in FT rate, so they draw fouls often. The Cavaliers will have to improve in these areas if they want to pull off this series win.
Series Prediction
The Cavaliers are favored, being the home team, but the Knicks may be as tough of a first-round matchup as they could get. New York gave Cleveland everything it could handle in the regular season. I see this series going at least six games, with a strong chance to go the distance. Cleveland needed an exceptional three-point shooting performance to win their lone game in the season series, and if they can't keep the Knicks off the glass, they'll need to hope for more hot shooting. I like the Knicks to win their first playoff series in a decade and send the Cavaliers home early.
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