Brunson said it was a really special experience to know that his dad played on the team that reached the finals in 1998-99. The connection that he had with his father, the full circle, all of it was really special, he added. Meanwhile, Brunson’s play continued to stand out against the Cavs. His teammates and coaches weren’t surprised he was able to rise to the occasion. The Knicks coach, Tom Thibodeau, took time to recognize the team’s advance but said they still have more to accomplish. The Knicks played with a kind of defensive edge that has defined some of the best teams in Thibodeau’s career. Even though Julius Randle was out of the game due to injury, the Knicks were able to close out the series. They will now face the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks–Miami Heat series. A Heat-Knicks series would set up an interesting matchup between Thibodeau and Butler, who played for Thibodeau when he was coach of both the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
