Knicks created this Cavs monster and now they have to deal with it

CLEVELAND – The Knicks helped create the powerhouse that’s now a top threat to dash their goals.  Nearly two years after getting punked by New York in the opening round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers have emerged as the most positively surprising upstart with the NBA’s best record heading into Friday night’s showdown against the Knicks. And while the Cavaliers have changed in certain areas – most notably at coach with Kenny Atkinson and at the trade deadline with DeAndre Hunter – the residual impact of the 2023 gentleman’s sweep remains.  “It definitely humbled us,” Darius Garland said when asked by The Post at All-Star weekend.“But it was definitely a learning experience and you’re seeing the product of that right now.

It definitely helped us a lot.”Prior to Friday night, the Knicks and Cavs hadn’t met since October – a matchup won by Cleveland that wasn’t understood, at the time, as a significant measuring stick.The latest head-to-head arrived with more juice. “It’s going to be a great matchup,” Garland said.

“Of course, everyone is thinking about the playoff series that we had with them.But we’re two totally different teams.

The Rocket (the Cavs home arena) is going to be rockin’.”The Knicks are definitely a different team.Not counting Mitchell Robinson, who hasn’t played since April, the only holdovers from the 2023 playoffs are Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Miles McBride (who only had 12 combined minutes in that series). But the Cavaliers are mostly different in style and aptitude – not personnel.

They entered Friday with the NBA’s top-rated offense, a product of several factors but importantly a greater understanding between Garland and Donovan Mitchell.As their backcourt pairing wasn’t living up to expectations and following persistent rumors that both desired a relocation, Garland and Mitchell found common ground. “They’ve gotten on the same page from a personal level.There’s a famous talk...