New York Knicks advance to NBA Finals with historic 11-game win streak

The New York Knicks have reached their first NBA Finals since 1999 after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure an 11th consecutive playoff victory.

The historic run sees the Eastern Conference champions arrive at basketball’s biggest stage having won every post-season game by double digits.

It completes a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that endured a dismal 2-9 streak during the middle of the regular season.

Owner’s bold prediction justified

Franchise owner James Dolan was widely criticised in January when he publicly demanded a championship while his team struggled for form.

Getting to the Finals, we absolutely have to do. Winning the Finals, we should do.

Dolan told local radio at the time, speaking just hours before his team suffered a 31-point thrashing by the Detroit Pistons.

However, the basketball landscape shifted dramatically during the playoffs, clearing a path for the surging New Yorkers.

Brunson leads modern resurgence

The catalyst for this modern revival has been Jalen Brunson, who was recently crowned Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player.

The 6ft 2in point guard is aiming to join Isiah Thomas and Stephen Curry as the only undersized undisputed headliners to win an NBA championship.

His 2022 arrival in free agency initially drew skepticism, viewed by many as another misguided move by a front office with a history of chasing stars.

Past decades saw the Madison Square Garden faithful place their trust in high-profile but ultimately flawed centerpieces like Stephon Marbury, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Carmelo Anthony.

Chasing a 51-year drought

Unlike those previous eras built on superstar hype, the current squad has forged a cohesive, modern identity.

They now stand just four wins away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Should they succeed, it would mark their first championship triumph since 1973, ending a 51-year wait for the sport’s ultimate prize.