Rebounds were definitely the Knicks‘ selling point in their series wins against the Cavs.
The Knicks outscored the Cavs by 29 on the offensive glass in five games. They also took another 27 shots throughout the series. In a playoff setting where every possession counts, those extra shots can mean the difference between success and failure.
The Heat finished in the bottom five in offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds per game in the regular season. But they did well to keep the Bucks from grabbing offensive rebounds in the first round.
The Heat lineup of Jimmy Butler, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Kevin Love, and Bam Adebayo – the one they used most often in their upset against the Milwaukee Bucks – presents a different challenge for the Knicks. The Cavs lineup with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley lacked the level of outside shooting that Miami carries. So Knick defenders may be forced to defend the perimeter more than they did against Cleveland.