The Knicks’ path to the top of the East just drastically changed

BOSTON — Conventional wisdom pegged the Celtics as dynastic after they steamrolled the NBA toward a championship last year. 

Their core — specifically Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis — were all in their 20s. They’re all under contract until at least 2026. They represented to Jalen Brunson what the Bulls represented to Patrick Ewing in the 1990s — the unclearable hurdle. 

But it’s a different time and, for several reasons (luxury tax rules, rise in injuries, rules to benefit small-market franchises), NBA dynasties don’t really happen anymore. Everybody thought the Nuggets were destined for a long run after their 2023 championship. They just fired their coach and are one loss away from losing in the second round again. Giannis Antetokounmpo? He won a title and hasn’t come close since. The Warriors were an outlier and about out of gas. Shaquille O’Neal’s Lakers were the last NBA franchise to 3-peat. 

That was 25 years ago.