Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns will face new challenges in East finals

The Eastern Conference finals are next. For Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns, that means a new level of pressure and a different kind of test.

He has seen a little bit of everything so far. Smaller defenders tried to crowd him in the first round. The second brought a banged-up Joel Embiid and a steady veteran in Andre Drummond. Neither scenario quite mirrors what is coming.

If the Knicks get the Cavaliers, it becomes a length and timing issue. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen protect the rim as well as anyone still playing. They contest everything, close space quickly, and have already bothered Towns once this season. Cleveland forced him into tough looks and a few rushed decisions.

If it is the Pistons, the tone shifts. Jalen Duren brings power. Detroit leans into physical play, rebounds hard, and turns the paint into a fight. That group gave New York trouble with its size and willingness to bang.

Still, this version of Towns looks different.

The Knicks have adjusted. They are running more offense through him, letting him operate from the elbows and make decisions. That has opened the floor and freed up Jalen Brunson and the rest of the guards.

Towns is no longer waiting his turn. He is initiating, reading, and dictating.

That evolution may be the key. Whether it is Cleveland’s length or Detroit’s muscle, Towns appears more prepared for what comes next.