Knicks fail another test against NBA heavyweight in embarrassing loss to Cavaliers
NY Post
CLEVELAND — The Knicks arrived and left Cleveland with the same problem: Their defense is atrocious against the NBA’s best.
Tom Thibodeau’s group was massacred Friday night by Kenny Atkinson’s high-octane Cavaliers, who made the Knicks look jayvee in a 142-105 laugher.
“You can’t explain it,” Jalen Brunson said. “I’m at a loss for words really.”
The defeat dropped the Knicks to 0-6 this season against the league’s top three teams — the Cavs, Thunder and Celtics — while casting further doubt on their ability to compete with those teams, let alone beat them, in a playoff series.
The problem was familiar and easy to spot: the defense. Donovan Mitchell, the former Knicks trade target, dissected New York’s soft shell while dropping 27 points in just 26 minutes on 10-of-15 shooting.
The Cavaliers shot 61 percent overall and 51 percent on 37 3-point attempts, scoring 41 in the opening quarter and building a 27-point advantage at halftime.
The Chiefs may be down another quarterback.
Draymond Green got tossed again, but this time, he has a point.
Andy Reid isn’t going anywhere.
The Yankees are bringing back another swingman.
It is not about any one thing.
The Rangers have another injury worry on their hands.
The loudest ovation of Friday night’s 116-107 loss to the 76ers had nothing to do with the Knicks’ pregame celebration for winning the NBA Cup.
Tyler Shough isn’t just a quarterback that the Jets let get away.
There are nights during an 82-game season where every lingering issue around a team crashes down on it all at once, creating a veritable tsunami of a loss.
Another day, another AL East team making a big splash, and the only white smoke around Yankee Stadium is coming out of fans’ ears given their frustration over a quiet offseason to date.
The Knicks’ legs just weren’t there.
Tony Jefferson’s best friends told him to stay retired.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Just call him O.T. Miller.