CHICAGO -- Although they were deemed a playoff team heading into the 2024-25 NBA regular season, nobody outside New York really viewed the Knicks as legit title contenders.

They're kind of like a good boyfriend. Tall, dark and handsome, but not exactly altar material.

Which is why their pre-season odds to win the championship this year was a longshot plus 725. .

But something weird happened on the way to the dance.

The Cavaliers from Cleveland turned out to be "frauds" as the keyboard warriors love to label them after getting ambushed by the Pacers in the second round.

The Bucks, meanwhile, couldn't survive a diminished Dame Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo suddenly looked like a Greek relic instead of a Greek Freak.

With Joel Embid broken yet again, the Philadelphia 76ers didn't even get an invite to the play-in tournament.

So a door opened in the Eastern Conference and the damn Knicks burst right through it with a flair and panache that had reinvigorated the franchise since Tom Thiboeau took over the coaching helm in 2020.

But this is not just about pure luck. Beating the upstart Detroit Pistons and then conquering the defending champions Boston Celtics required more than just having the stars aligned.

The Knicks are a rugged defensive team that wears down the opposition. Built in the image and likeness of the drill sergeant-like Thibodeau, the Knicks are thriving in the playoffs because of their resiliency and stout fighting heart.

And they have the talent to match that patented blue collar effort.

Jalen Brunson is the leader of the band with a 28.8 point, 7.7-assist average in these playoffs. Karl Anthony-Towns is Robin at 19.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per while OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges pool together 31.2 points an outing.

There's also Josh Hart and a supporting cast that includes Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride.

PHOTO: New York Knicks Facebook

With Thibodeau barking orders, Brunson turning in clutch baskets and the rest of the Knicks doing Knicks things, New York is four games away from a place in the 2025 NBA Finals.

If you told me last October that the last two teams standing in the East in mid May are the Pacers and the Knicks I'd probably think you were crazy.

And yet here we are. Broadway versus Hoosier state. Tyrese Halliburton, aka Playoff Hali, versus the indomitable Brunson. Thibs versus Ric Carlisle, who led the Mavs to the Promised Land in 2011.

The Pacers, who are equally loaded with dogs and talents, will be a tough obstacle for the Knicks, whose size gives them a slight advantage to prevail in a long, drawn-out best-of-seven series.

One of the best things in life, they say, are unexpected blessings.

Knicks versus Pacers to win the East. Can't get any better than this.