New York basketball fans desiring in-depth coverage of the Knicks' playoffs run must turn to the New York Post rather than the New York Times' lackluster Athletic.
While the Athletic all but ignores the Knicks, Post columnist Mike Vaccaro and colleagues report on every big shot, rebound, coaching decision and referee controversy of the hometown team's postseason. The Post even tells who's on celebrity row.
Vaccaro displayed his deep knowledge of New York sports history with Thursday's column on the Knicks' 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers to take a 2-0 lead in the second round of the playoffs.
With vivid writing, Vaccaro captured the fans' despair at Madison Square Garden when star guard Jalen Brunson left the game with a foot injury and their joy when Brunson returned after sitting out the second quarter. Brunson scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half to lead the Knicks' triumph.
Vaccaro noted that Brunson's heroic return came 54 years to the day after injured center Willis Reed thrilled fans by entering a playoffs game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Reed played for just 27 minutes, scoring four points, but inspired the Knicks to win the game and eventually capture the NBA championship.
While the Athletic emphasizes feature stories on teams and players outside of New York, the Post diligently covers the hometown heroes.
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