Knicks post best net rating since 1978

The New York Knicks entered the Eastern Conference finals after two closeout wins that were not close. New York beat the Atlanta Hawks by 51 points on April 30 and the Philadelphia 76ers by 30 points on May 10, both on the road, to finish its first two playoff series. Through 10 postseason games, The Strickland reported on May 15, the Knicks had a plus-20.3 net rating, citing Stathead data back to 1978. NBA.com’s playoff bracket lists New York as awaiting the winner of the Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers series, which is scheduled for a Game 7 on May 17. ### How unusual is a plus-20.3 net rating through 10 playoff games? The Strickland said the Knicks’ plus-20.3 net rating through 10 playoff games was the highest by any team through the first 10 games of a single postseason since at least 1978. Net rating measures point differential per 100 possessions, combining offensive and defensive performance into one possession-based number. (thestrick.land) Basketball-Reference’s playoff game log and playoff summary pages list New York’s 2026 postseason results and advanced team data, providing the game-by-game base for that 10-game sample. The Strickland attributed the historical comparison to Stathead, the Sports Reference database tool. (thestrick.land) ### Which games drove the number? April 30 was the first major spike. NBA.com said the Knicks beat Atlanta in Game 6 by a franchise playoff-record 51-point margin to clinch the first-round series 4-2. May 10 added another outlier. NBA.com said New York’s 144-114 win over Philadelphia completed a 4-0 sweep and gave the Knicks their seventh double-digit win of the playoffs. (basketball-reference.com) The same NBA.com report said the Knicks’ offense through three quarters was tracking as the most efficient single-game performance, across regular season or playoffs, in 30 years before garbage time reduced the final efficiency mark. (nba.com) The Strickland said those two road closeouts — by 51 and 30 points — made New York the fourth team in NBA history to record multiple series-clinching wins by at least 30 points in the same postseason. ### Who has been in front of it? OG Anunoby was a central figure in the first-round series. (nba.com) The Strickland reported that Anunoby averaged 21.5 points and 8.7 rebounds against Atlanta and that the Knicks posted a plus-20.2 net rating with him on the floor in that matchup. John Schuhmann of NBA.com pointed to New York’s shot-making and repeated double-digit margins in the Philadelphia series. (thestrick.land) His May 10 takeaways said the Knicks “sure know how to close out a playoff series” after the 30-point win in Game 4. ### What does the bracket show now? NBA.com’s 2026 playoff bracket shows New York already through to the Eastern Conference finals. (thestrick.land) The same bracket page lists the Pistons and Cavaliers tied 3-3 in the other East semifinal. An NBA playoff series page for Pistons-Cavaliers lists Game 7 for May 17. The bracket page shows the Knicks will meet that winner in the conference finals. (nba.com) ### What should readers watch next? May 17 is the next fixed date on New York’s path. NBA.com’s schedule page says postseason dates are updated as series are decided, and the bracket page will determine whether the Knicks open the East finals against Detroit or Cleveland. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) (api-hub-uat.nba.com)