The New York Knicks traded six first-round picks, another pick swap, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo last summer for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Suffice to say, they did not deal that much for these two guys to combine for zero points in the fourth quarter of a tight playoff loss.

There were some wonderfully high highs thanks to them, thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Both had their share of growing pains, too; neither has had a season without incident. Together they will have an opportunity, beginning with Game 1 against Detroit, to have the final word on the most-discussed Knicks season in a quarter century.

The Knicks earned the No. 3 seed behind an elite, efficient offense. You wouldn't have known that from watching Monday's game.