The New York Knicks cruised their way through a sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and advance to the Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons and they clinched Game 4 on enemy turf in Philadelphia, though if you looked at the crowd you might have thought it was Madison Square Garden.

Both games in Philadelphia were a total takeover by Knicks fans, swarming the seats of XFinity Mobile Arena with orange and blue.

In a game as momentum-heavy as basketball, the influence of the crowd is felt deeply and the idea of home-court advantage is as true as can be.

But if you're the Knicks, it seems like home-court advantage can be in any arena on the east coast with the way that the rabid New York fanbase travels. 

The issue of a Knicks takeover was something that the 76ers prepared for, with Joel Embiid even basically begging 76ers fans to hold on to their tickets to try and prevent that kind of a situation. It seems that Embiid's pleas were no use.

The takeover was felt so strongly that it's even led Josh Hart, who had a big role to play in the 144-114 takedown of the 76ers with 17 points, and nine rebounds, to question the sports integrity of the entire city of Philadelphia.

"I used to think Philly was a sports town. I don't know if it is anymore," Hart said (via SNY). 

The passion of Knicks fans comes from an almost spiritual place.

Until the Brooklyn Nets moved into the city from New Jersey in, the Knicks were the only basketball team in New York City, a culture that seems made for basketball. Madison Square Garden stands out as one of the most iconic arenas in American sports and when the Knicks are on the court, it becomes a church of basketball.

That passion and loyalty is juxtaposed with a relative lack of success despite the Knicks' long history. The franchise has won just two championships in nearly 80 years, most recently in 1973, and their fans have laid in wait for a long time to see another banner rise into the rafters. 

This Knicks team, more than any in recent memory, has the greatest chance at fulfilling that generational desire. The Knicks have been on a monstrous run with the best net rating by a team in playoff history and with the wind of this series sweep at their backs, they look unstoppable.

There's still more work to be done, of course, and the players know that. There's still two more series' to be played but with the energy that's around the franchise, it seems increasingly likely that the fanaticism of New York will be rewarded at the end of this season with a championship.