The Knicks are staying sharp during the break.
The New York Knicks are back in the Eastern Conference Finals after rolling through their first two playoff opponents.
They beat the Atlanta Hawks in six games during the first round, then swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round without much resistance, and now they find themselves in an unusual spot where the only thing left to do is wait for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons to finish their series.
Jalen Brunson talked about that layoff at Wednesday's practice, acknowledging what everyone around the team has been thinking.
"I think the only thing that's different is obviously our rest right now," Brunson said. "But we still got to be prepared. We still have to do a lot of things to make sure we're ready to go. We have a lot of work to do."
Brunson has been the best player on the floor for most of this postseason, averaging 27.4 points and 6.1 assists per game through 10 playoff contests.
That production is a continuation of what he did during a regular season where New York went 53-29, and his tone on Wednesday suggested he has no plans to let up just because the schedule opened up.
Rest Can Be a Double-Edged Sword
New York last played on May 10 when they blew out Philadelphia 144-114, and depending on how the other semifinal wraps up, the Knicks could be off for well over a week before the conference finals start.
On one hand, the extra time helps a team dealing with injuries.
OG Anunoby is still recovering from a hamstring strain suffered during the second round, so more rest only benefits his timeline.
On the flip side, the Knicks have won a franchise-record seven straight playoff games and have looked like a completely different team than the one that lost in the conference finals a year ago.
Sitting around too long could take the edge off that momentum.
Karl-Anthony Towns has been a big part of that transformation, averaging 17.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists this postseason while running the offense through the high post in ways that have opened everything up for the Knicks.
Who Would the Knicks Rather Face?
Cleveland grabbed a 3-2 series lead over Detroit on Wednesday night after James Harden went off for 30 points in an overtime win, and the Cavaliers now get a chance to close things out at home in Game 6 on Friday.
If the Pistons survive, Game 7 would be Sunday.
The Knicks went 2-1 against Cleveland in the regular season and the way Brunson and Towns play together seems to match up well against what the Cavaliers do defensively.
Detroit is a trickier opponent though.
New York went 0-3 against the Pistons this year and their physicality caused problems all season long.
The Pistons also finished with the best record in the East at 60-22, so there is nothing easy about that matchup regardless of how the Knicks have played.
Brunson did not seem too concerned about either opponent on Wednesday.