Well here’s a post I’ve been dreading to write. None of us wanted this joyride to end. We hoped and prayed, paid for witches to cast spells (true story), and hoped Kylie Jenner would fly to Indy with Tim. Kylie came through but unfortunately the Knicks couldn’t in game six, falling 125-108 to lose the East Final 4-2. Game six was really more of the same recipe that led the other Knicks losses in this series. Indiana turned up the pace, their depth outlasted the Knicks bodies and turnovers stunted New York’s offense.

Seven Pacers reached double figures while only five Knicks did, and some of that was cosmetic in garbage time. This game wound up being rather similar to game four, as the Knicks were in it at the half, and actually had more going for them than they did in Tuesday nights loss. They came out shooting the ball well and were able to dictate the tempo of the game. But an early second half run by Indiana really spelled their doom, as the Pacers couldn’t miss from three shooting 17/33 from deep. I hate to give them credit, annoying as they are, but Indy is a very solid and well coached team.

Lots of questions will now swirl around this team in the aftermath of going home. The most popular relates to the future of Tom Thibodeau who we were all hard on at one point or another in these playoffs, myself included. All signs point to Thibs being back as he backed by the front office and a roster that has a lot of admiration for him, but part of me would love to see this team under someone else. I say that as a fan of his as well, but I just wonder if this may have run its course with him at the helm.

Beyond Thibs the roster and its play style will come under scrutiny. There is no question that Karl Anthony Towns helped to elevate this team this year, but his defensive lapses are frustrating to say the least. Mikal Bridges had high highs and low lows, can he be more consistent in these big games to be more of a consistent factor. Mitchell Robinson was fabulous in this postseason with energetic play at both ends of the floor, but lingering concerns about his health potential offensive liabilities could still lead to a change for him.

Those are just some of the things that will come up from this point until the trade deadline next year. The Knicks are clearly very good. They are right there on the doorstep of doing something the franchise hasn’t done since the 70’s, but the final moves to get them there will be difficult to sort out. They will be all in, rightfully so, and while I’m sure you’ll hear them linked to Giannis and many other stars, I wouldn’t expect those rumors to come true. Jalen Brunson gave you his thoughts above on this roster and this coach, he doesn’t want big changes and things typically go the way he sees them around here. I’d expect mostly the same group back, with improved depth that MUST be used by the coach.

We need not ask how this series got away. Game 1 of this series and the blown lead will forever live in infamy, much like the Yankees fifth inning meltdown against LA and the Mets ninth against Kansas City. Nesmith becoming unconscious from deep, Haliburton getting a bounce and missed free throws were the perfect storm to have a victory stole out from under the Knicks, one that ultimately swung the series. Sports have strange karma and the reversal from what they did to Boston twice to having it happen to them is cruel.

But we won’t remember this run for that loss and the moments within, at least I hope we won’t. Instead I suggest we remember it for the moments that brought us joy, like the one above. There are no moral victories, this team fell short of the ultimate goal, but it is wise to appreciate the journey as a fan. This is not just some standard journey of a good team trying to win it all, but rather a 25 year odyssey from laughing stock to contender that has reminded this city just how much it loves basketball and this team. The genuine joy this team brought Knicks fans everywhere was much needed in this strange and divisive world we live in. Much like last year, there can be no “KNICKS IN 8,” but this team will be back again next year ready to go for it all and rock the Garden and I can’t wait!

I hope you enjoyed our coverage of this Knicks playoff run. This was our second straight spring of living and dying with this team and it was a blast doing it with all of you! These games and the hysteria around them are like time capsules to an era of New York basketball we only ever read about and watched on YouTube. Now we live it night in and night out. We’ll be back with more Knicks coverage as they go through their offseason and of course ongoing coverage of the Yanks and Mets. It’s officially full on baseball season and fortunately we have two first place teams to talk about! We’ll also have an array of special feature stories coming and Around the Horn MLB coverage will return. Stay tuned everyone!

On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.