The New York Knicks made one of the boldest moves of last offseason when they brought in Mike Brown as head coach, fresh off their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. It was a clear message from the front office: maintaining the status quo wasn't enough. Brown’s hiring signaled a desire not just to repeat last year’s success under Tom Thibodeau, but to build on it.
But with heightened expectations comes intensified scrutiny - and some around the league aren’t convinced this version of the Knicks is built to take the next step. ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill recently weighed in, saying he doesn’t believe the Knicks can win the Eastern Conference Finals unless the opponent is, in his words, “a team that shouldn’t be there.”
His reasoning? This team still struggles mightily when things don’t go their way.
Let’s unpack that.
A Team That Rides the Wave - Until It Crashes
The Knicks opened the new year with a rocky 2-9 stretch, only to bounce back with a 9-1 run. That kind of volatility has become a theme - and it’s exactly what concerns Goodwill.
Their recent overtime loss to the Pacers at Madison Square Garden served as a microcosm of the issue. It wasn’t just the loss, but how it happened.
Goodwill pointed to Jalen Brunson, the team’s leader and engine, as emblematic of the Knicks’ struggles under pressure. Normally composed and efficient in crunch time, Brunson went into full takeover mode late in that game - and not in a good way.
“I'm taking every shot,” was the vibe, as Goodwill described it, and the offense stalled. When Brunson is on, he’s a late-game assassin.
But when he’s off, the Knicks don’t seem to have a plan B.
That’s the concern: when everything is clicking, the Knicks can overwhelm teams with physicality, depth, and energy. But adversity - whether it’s a cold shooting night, foul trouble, or a defensive breakdown - seems to throw them completely off rhythm.
The Karl-Anthony Towns Rollercoaster
Goodwill also spotlighted Karl-Anthony Towns, who joined the Knicks to give them another All-Star-caliber weapon. Towns is undeniably talented, but his game can be a rollercoaster.
When he’s locked in, he’s a matchup nightmare - stretching the floor, attacking off the dribble, and drawing fouls. But when he’s off, it’s hard to miss.
Offensive fouls, frustration plays, and emotional outbursts can derail his impact.
“He’s a microcosm of the team,” Goodwill said. “Their highs are so high, and their lows are so low.”
That’s not just a Towns issue - it’s a team-wide identity problem. The Knicks can look like a legitimate contender one night and a fringe playoff team the next.
Can They Win Three Series?
When asked if the Knicks could win three playoff series - enough to claim the Eastern Conference crown - Goodwill didn’t hesitate. He believes they can win two, but not three. And in a conference that features battle-tested squads with championship DNA, that’s a fair concern.
Still, there’s a lot of basketball left to play. The Knicks have already shown they can swing dramatically in either direction - from the lows of a 2-9 slump to the highs of a 9-1 surge.
They’ve won the NBA Cup, stumbled out of the gate in 2026, then found their footing again. That kind of experience - both the triumphs and the turbulence - could end up being invaluable when the playoffs arrive.
The question is whether they’ve learned how to weather the storm - not just ride the wave. Because in the postseason, every team hits adversity. The ones that survive are the ones that don’t flinch when the game gets messy.
Mike Brown was brought in to elevate this team beyond its previous ceiling. Whether that means a return trip to the Eastern Conference Finals - or something more - will depend on how this group handles what’s coming next.