RJ Hamster
SI:AM | The Knicks Just Keep Rolling
DAN GARTLAND
Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I’m sorry, but I don’t care one bit about a combined no-hitter. A true no-hitter is an impressive display of individual dominance. A combined no-hitter is just a boring display of offensive ineptitude.
In today’s SI:AM:
⚾ The secret to the Rays’ success
I don’t recognize these Knicks
David Richard/Imagn Images
The Knicks are headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 30 years.
It seemed almost inevitable after their stunning Game 1 comeback over the Cavaliers, but it’s still impossible to believe that the Knicks of all teams will not only be playing for a championship, but are also entering the Finals looking like a total juggernaut.
Game 4 in Cleveland on Monday nightfollowed a familiar script. Just as they had in previous close-out games against the Hawksand 76ers, the Knicks beat the brakes off the Cavs, 130–93. New York became the first team to score at least 130 points four times in a single postseason since the Suns in 1989.
It’s the first Finals appearance for the Knicks since 1999, when they lost to the Spurs in five games. They haven’t won a championship since 1973, six years before the introduction of the three-point line. CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI
The best of Sports Illustrated
- Following a sweep by the Knicks, Chris Mannix recommends that the Cavs pick up the phone and ask LeBron James to return home.
- In his latest takeaways, Albert Breer provides the details behind the extension Matthew Stafford signed with the Rams. He also explains why the Giants are gaining momentum and why the Chiefs can’t count on wide receiver Rashee Rice anymore.
- With OTAs in full swing, Matt Verderame takes a look at the NFL veterans who could either be traded or cut.
- Michael Rosenberg argues that our absurdly impatient culture has created an absurdly impatient league, especially when it comes to two young NFL quarterbacks.
- Stephanie Apstein writes that the Tampa Bay Rays, who have the best record in the American League, are bringing small ball back.
- As hitters have been baffled by more types of pitches that cover more ground at similar velocities, Tom Verducci dives into how pitchers have taken advantage early on in the ABS era.
- With spring ball in the rearview mirror and college football rosters mostly finalized, Zach Koons projects the starting quarterback for each SEC team.
- After Gaël Monfils played his final match at Roland Garros, Jon Wertheim pays tribute to the show the Frenchman gave tennis fans during his 22-year career.
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👀 The top five …
… things I saw yesterday:
5. Colton Cowser’s walk-off homer for the Orioles in the 13th inning. (Cowser also scored the tying run in the 12th with an impressive slide.) It was the second straight day that Cowser hit a walk-off homer. He had a three-run shot in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday.
4. An outstanding defensive play by Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña in the third inning of what ended up being a combined no-hitter.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns’s putback slam to cap a 20–0 Knicks run.
2. Andrei Svechnikov’s accurate wrist shot to win it in overtime for the Hurricanes. Svechnikov’s defense got the play started, and the Canes now lead the Canadiens 2–1 in the series.
1. Jacob Misiorowski’s eight pitches in the first inning at 103 mph. The Brewers pitcher is the only starter in the majors this season to throw a pitch that fast. He now has 22 pitches this season at 103 mph or faster. Everybody else in the majors has four (three by Mason Miller, one by Edgardo Henriquez).
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