So much for finally breaking through last year. So much for basically putting the Celtics on the brink even before Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in Game 4 of the second round, for beating Boston in their first playoff matchup since 2013, for — despite their inability to beat the Celtics consistently during the regular season — signaling the potential for a changing of the guard atop the Eastern Conference. Maybe Boston was still Boston, but the Knicks could do more than just hang.

But so much can change in a year. Tatum is already back from an injury that typically sidelines athletes for a year. He returned in just 298 days. The Celtics have leapfrogged the Knicks in the conference standings and will likely end up as the No. 2 seed, too. And the Knicks have been plagued by rocky stretches and an inability to defeat teams above .500. The decision to fire Tom Thibodeau and hire Mike Brown has paid off at times, but key pieces such as Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges have still been inconsistent — and sometimes invisible.

The Knicks convincingly winning their Eastern Conference semifinals series last year was supposed to vault them to a new tier. But instead, they almost need to beat the Celtics again to establish themselves as a true contender and silence any critics suggesting otherwise. Because until then, the optics suggest that the Knicks are still chasing the Celtics.

Entering the season, this had been pegged as a rebuilding year for Boston. Sure, they still had Jaylen Brown. Sure, they still had Derrick White. But, with an increasingly onerous payroll, they sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks and shipped Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers. The Celtics, like the Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton, were supposed to be outside the tier of contenders. That was supposed to open the door for the Knicks. If there was any year where they’d have a clear path to at least reach the NBA Finals, this was going to be that year.

New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson’s sister called out ESPN after personality Stephen A. Smith took aim at her brother’s team and best friend, Josh Hart, during a “First Take” segment. 

Smith called out Hart, Brunson’s teammate and “Roommates Show” podcast co-host, as the Knicks have struggled in recent games, especially against NBA teams with an above-.500 record. 

Erica Brunson, Jalen’s sister, took time to post to X on Wednesday, where she ripped the “Worldwide Leader” after listening to Smith’s rant about the Knicks. 

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Jalen Brunson and Erica Brunson attend Haute Living Jalen Brunson Cover Celebration with J.P. Morgan Wealth Management and Mijenta Tequila at Avra Rockefeller on Oct. 26, 2024 in New York City. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

“I used to always have ESPN on in the background during the day,” Erica Brunson wrote on X. “It was such a staple growing up. Now? I never turn it on. And this is a big reason why. Utterly ridiculous.”

The post was prompted by a video capturing Smith’s rant about the Knicks, who have now lost three straight games. 

MICHIGAN STATE COACH TOM IZZO: IT WAS ‘HARD’ TURNING DOWN SUNS JOB IN 2025

While the team is in playoff position, Smith aimed right at Hart.

“A message to Josh Hart: Do I need to shut the hell up now? Does it make sense what I was saying now? I mean, you’re getting it now?” Smith said. “You haven’t won a game since you clapped back at me. You’re on a losing streak since he talked back to me. Maybe if you prioritize what I was saying, and pay attention to the substance and veracity of my comments instead of protecting your boys, you’d be winning games when you go up against teams that are better than .500 with their record. 

“Do I make sense now? Because I ain’t getting personal. I’m talking basketball, because every time you go up against somebody who’s relatively respectable, you’re wetting the bed. You’re like 4-8, or 4-9, against winning teams since the All-Star break. But you’re 9-0 against sub-.500 teams. Well, who the hell you think you’re going to be playing come playoff time?”

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center.  (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

The Knicks may be struggling in recent outings, but they’re still winners in seven of their last 10 contests. But Smith added the struggles are coming against teams they will see in the playoffs very soon.  

“The New York Knicks are literally a couple of weeks away from the playoffs starting, and Josh Hart is on camera talking about, ‘We’re moving in the wrong direction. You know, what gotta get our stuff together.’ We’re looking at a team that still doesn’t have a definitive identity. We’re looking at a team that New York Knicks fans know are talented, know they’re playoff caliber,” Smith said. 

Like her brother, Erica Brunson went to Villanova, graduating in 2023 with a degree in communications and a minor in education. She currently works at CAA, Jalen’s agency, in basketball client and marketing services. 

Stephen A. Smith joined Bill Maher on the Mar. 27 episode of “Real Time,” discussing politics and who could potentially lead both parties going forward. (Real Time with Bill Maher/YouTube)

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The Knicks have just six regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin. They currently sit third in Eastern Conference standings, only behind the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics.

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Mike Brown is ticked off by the starts but isn’t considering a lineup change. 

At least not yet. 

“Right now I don’t feel the need to,” Brown said Sunday after his team beat the shorthanded Warriors 110-107, but not before falling into a 21-point hole in the first quarter. “But like I said, if I felt the need to, I would. I don’t feel the need to right now.” 

When fully healthy, the Knicks starting lineup has consistently included Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

However, recent injuries to Hart, in particular, have thrown the lineup in flux.

Landry Shamet has been the most reliable plug-in. 

Bridges, meanwhile, has struggled mightily and was benched again in the fourth quarter Sunday.

He logged just 21 minutes as Shamet and Jordan Clarkson soaked up a lot of the two-guard playing time. 

“It’s not too late to do anything. And if I feel the need, I will,” Brown said of a lineup change. “I’m not thinking that right now. I’m not concentrating on each individual because, like you said, we’ve started different people at different times.” 

Brown said he’s disappointed in the starts in four of the last five games, including the entirety of their current three-game winning streak — all against subpar opponents. 

After Warriors coach Steve Kerr again campaigned Sunday for fewer games on the schedule, Hart agreed it would help the NBA product but doubted the relevant parties — meaning owners and players — would sacrifice money. 

“Do I think it will probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven,” Hart said. “I think everybody puts that above everything else.” 

Kerr has been publicly pitching to reduce the schedule because of the rash of injuries, believing a lighter load would allow players to be more effective and available. Sunday’s game became another example of a diminished product on prime-time national TV. 

The Knicks were fully healthy outside of Miles McBride.

But the Warriors were missing almost all their top players, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III. 

“Looking at the data, hearing the experts in our own group talk about the load that these guys are facing and then you get older players like Steph or Al [Horford] or Jimmy — we have to manage them through 82,” Kerr said. “So there are nights where you just have to say, ‘Can’t play this guy.’ I get emails all the time from fans saying, ‘I spent $2,000 on tickets to go to this game and Steph didn’t play.’ 

“And it wasn’t an injury designation, and I held him out. Shouldn’t we reconcile that somehow?” 

Kerr said Sunday he’d take a pay cut. 

“I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing,” he said.

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s hard to be surprised by Mitchell Robinson’s rebounding prowess at this point. It’s a recurring theme. 

But even for him, this was a special performance. 

He recorded a career-high 22 rebounds in the Knicks’ 101-92 win over the Pacers Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Nine of them were on the offensive glass. 

Perhaps just as important, though, he played 31 minutes, his biggest workload of the season. 

“It definitely feels good,” Robinson told The Post. “First time playing 30 minutes. Just getting out there and playing like that, to see the buildup, all the hard work I put in with this plan.” 

Robinson has already played more games than either of the past two seasons. The Knicks’ load management plan for him — not playing both legs of back-to-backs, and at times sitting non back-to-back games — has clearly worked, even it’s been frustrating at times. 

His workloads are only increasing. That’s a good development for the Knicks heading into the playoffs. 

“It’s obviously shown that it’s paid off,” coach Mike Brown told The Post, “because of his ability to, knock on wood, stay on the floor and play in games and play the minutes he played tonight.” 

Beyond Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns both missing Friday’s game due to knee soreness, Jeremy Sochan was out due to illness. 

Pacome Dadiet, with the Knicks shorthanded, got very rare non-blowout minutes. In fact, Dadiet, along with Ariel Hukporti, came in together as Brown’s first subs of the game in the first quarter.

Dadiet promptly drilled a 30-foot 3-pointer from the logo as the shot clock expired in the first quarter. He also got a brief stretch of action in the third quarter. 

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What our Post expert thinks about Knicks vs. Clippers

The Knicks are playing the second game of a back-to-back set in Los Angeles after losing an ugly game against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. There will be no rest for the weary as they head to Inglewood for a meeting with the new-look Clippers.

The Clippers have clawed their way back to respectability this season after a terrible start to their campaign. They enter this game just one game below .500 and have won four of their past five games.

Adding Bennedict Mathurin and Darius Garland has given them the youth and scoring they lacked before the trade deadline. Those additions alongside Kawhi Leonard make the Clippers much more dangerous than their record suggests.

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Why Trust New York Post Betting

Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.

Who can stop the Spurs?

Two of the NBA’s largest superstars, Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama, will converge on the Garden floor for a Sunday matinee.

The Knicks, who are third overall in the East, are pegged as 2.5-point underdogs while the Spurs, closely trailing the West lead, roll in on an eleven-game win streak.

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What our Post expert thinks about Knicks vs. Spurs

These two played in San Antonio on New Year’s Eve, when the Spurs edged the Knicks 134-132. The Spurs’ balance was on full display with Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie scoring 31 and 36 points, respectively, and De’Aron Fox recording 26.

Now, both head into this game as top-five teams in net rating, with the Spurs ranking No. 3 (6.9) and the Knicks (5.4).

This projects to be a high-scoring affair with both teams ranking within the top-seven of offensive rating and the Knicks averaging 119.3 points at home.

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Why Trust New York Post Betting

Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.

CLEVELAND — At this point, you have to pick a side. Or assign blame. The system or KAT? KAT or Mike Brown? They’ve left us no choice.

Earlier this season, their messaging, if not the results, reflected congruity. The Knicks’ new offensive system, predicated on pace and conceptual basketball over playcalling, was the problem. As Brown often said, Karl-Anthony Towns’ adjustment was the most difficult given the vast responsibilities of the center.

There was a learning curve.

But Brown’s messaging has shifted lately, emphasizing repeatedly since the All-Star break that Towns is “right where he should be” in the offense.

CLEVELAND — Brick by brick, the Knicks were dismantled by the Cavs.

An atrocious shooting night ended Tuesday with a 109-94 loss for New York, which folded easily to its fellow Finals contender and left Rocket Arena tied for third in the East.

The third quarter was the breaking point. Or better yet, bricking point. It was horrendous.

The Knicks managed just 11 points in those 12 nasty minutes, shooting a combined (shield your eyes, children) 3-for-24 overall, 1-for-12 from beyond the arc and 4-for-8 from the foul line.

So they entered the fourth quarter down 18 and couldn’t recover, not against a stout Cavaliers defense and without the help of competent shooting.

Mike Brown finally waved the white flag with 2:42 remaining, emptying his bench and sending the starters to the walk of shame.

Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Landry Shamet and OG Anunoby combined to miss 42 of their 61 attempts. Bridges was aggressively misfiring at 6-for-17 on the evening.

Brunson was worse at 6 for 19. Karl-Anthony Towns was perfect but only took five shots, furthering the head-scratching trend of alternating strong performances with disappearing acts. Anunoby (five points, 2-for-9 from the field) has struggled since returning from a toe injury.

Brown’s attempt to give an opportunity to Jeremy Sochan was also a miscalculation, with the newcomer appearing utterly lost in his two first-half minutes. Mohamed Diawara got the call in the second half and also tossed up bricks.

It was an all-around dud. The Cavs responded with a balanced but not especially potent attack. They shot just 42.5 percent as a team but it didn’t matter against the Brickerbockers.

The Knicks (37-22) are now even with the Cavs (37-22) and at least 1 ½ games behind the No. 2 Celtics, who played Tuesday night against the Suns.

But the Cavs are surging. They revamped at the trade deadline, acquiring James Harden for the talented but habitually unavailable Darius Garland. They also brought in bench pieces Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.

It’s all been positive for Cleveland, which has won 13 of 15 after Tuesday’s blowout. Kenny Atkinson just missed out on guiding Harden in Brooklyn before he was unceremoniously dumped by GM Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai. Now he’s excited for the chance in Cleveland.

“His composure, calmness,” Atkinson said. “He’s just got a command of the game. That settles everybody down. It’s huge. He knows where the ball’s got to go. He knows the end of game stuff. Sharp, sharp player.”

The Knicks understood the difficulties of defending Harden and Donovan Mitchell, perhaps the best offensive backcourt in the NBA.

But defending wasn’t the problem Tuesday for the Knicks. It was the bricklaying.

“You know how tough Harden is,” Bridges said. “His ability to create, not just for himself, but for everybody else at really an elite level. They’ve got a tandem with Donovan, how well he’s been playing and everybody else. Can definitely be tough.”