The Post staff makes their NBA Finals series predictions ahead of Wednesday’s Game 1 between the Knicks and Spurs.
Stefan Bondy: Knicks in 6
The Knicks have been riding an undefeated wave for over a month, and I’m not ready to get off. It will be much more difficult than the previous three series, but the Knicks have had success cracking Wemby’s defense and will win the title at MSG.
Zach Braziller: Knicks in 6
The Knicks will get tested. They will trail in a series for the first time since the opening round. Victor Wembanyama gives them all kinds of issues. Ultimately, though, they have Jalen Brunson, one of the premier closers in the sport, who writes himself into New York City lore. Becky Hammon, Draymond Green, and so many others, get your apologies in order.
Howie Kussoy: Spurs in 7
The Knicks can win it all. They have the talent, the depth, the cohesion, the experience. But the franchise that had the misfortune of colliding with two of the greatest big men of all time (Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan) in its most recent NBA Finals appearances will again see the league’s best player, Victor Wembanyama, destroy its dreams. A once-in-a-generation Knicks run will fall just short against a once-in-a-lifetime defensive force.
Brian Lewis: Spurs in 7
The Knicks are nuclear-hot, have Jalen Brunson, and own the largest point differential in playoff history. They’ve steamrolled everybody they’ve faced. But Landry Shamet has to cool off eventually, and San Antonio is a cut above Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. And most of all, the Knicks haven’t faced anybody like Victor Wembanyama, because there ***isn’t*** anybody like Wemby.
Jared Schwartz: Knicks in 6
The Knicks match up well with the Spurs and have multiple options to throw at Victor Wembanyama. This isn’t the same version of the Spurs the Knicks beat in the NBA Cup final, but it’s certainly not the same version of the Knicks either. The incredibly young Spurs core will have to wait. The Knicks’ drought finally ends.
Mike Vaccaro: Knicks in 6
The Spurs are every bit as formidable as advertised and have the champs’ pelt hanging on their wall. But nothing I saw in that series tells me we should undervalue what we’ve seen out of the Knicks for 11 straight games. Get a split of the first two, then take your chances.