The New York Knicks emerged as the consensus favorite to advance from the Eastern Conference semifinals and finals in the 2026 playoffs due to their elite two-way depth, led by Jalen Brunson’s playoff scoring and playmaking alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. After a 53-29 regular season that placed them third in the East, the Knicks posted dominant recent form, including a long winning streak and sweeps of the 76ers and then the Cavaliers 4-0 in the conference finals. Cleveland, despite strong contributions from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, faced tougher series against higher seeds like the Pistons and showed less consistent road results. Trader pricing reflected the Knicks’ superior roster construction, home/away splits, and head-to-head edge heading into the matchup.