NBA Season/Playoffs 2025-26

[Redz]

The Knicks winning the title is kind of crazy. Its only the second time in like the last 40 years that the NBA champ didn't have a MVP or DPOY on the roster. They were only a +6.4 and a 3 seed in the regular season which is low for a champion. They didn't hit the 40/20 rule.

So why did they win? They shot 39.1% from three and allowed only 31.4% from three in the playoffs. That's a +7.7% net. This is the shooting variance the Celtic were hoping for. The Knicks had massive shooting luck. Now credit to them they also came up clutch a number of times, but if the Spurs do make dumb mistakes late in two games this might be 3-2 Spurs now right.

To put that 39.1% in perspective the last 8 NBA champs in the playoffs:

Knicks: 39.1%
Thunder: 33.8%
Celtics: 36%
Nuggets: 37.5%
Warrior: 37.5%
Bucks: 32.1%
Lakers: 35.4%
Raptors: 34.6%

The Knicks are an outlier, even out shooting the 2022 Warriors and 2023 Nuggets each of which employed one of the best offensive engines of all time in Curry an Jokic.

Just a crazy heater.

Crazy stats indeed.

Confidence breeds hot shooting and hot shooting breeds confidence.  I just think they were a supremely confident group, who knew, from experience, that they could come back on anyone if they just stuck to it.

[Vermont Green]

Break this down a little further, by half:

            1st Half     2nd Half
NYK       37.5%         35.9%
SAS       39.4%         26.8%

I think this is partially due to NYK being more veteran and able to handle the pressure better.  But I also think that SAS wore down with the way they played defense.  They pressured NYK all game and it takes a toll.  Overall, every team I checked shot a little worse in the 2nd half.  Players get tired, shots don't fall quite as much.  If I find time, I may do a deeper dive into 1st half vs. 2nd half 3-point shooting.