Last season, the Knicks were the Mets. Now, they are the Yankees. Last season, the Knicks made the city fall for them in a way that hadn’t been seen in nearly a quarter-century, ensuring the season wouldn’t be remembered for a second-round playoff loss to the Pacers.

Nothing about it would be easy. The Dodgers had the best record in the majors at 98-64. The Yankees were third at 94-68. In the only time they met this season, the Dodgers won the series, 2-1, and outscored the Yankees 17-10.

All throughout the National League Championship Series, as Los Angeles Dodgers hitters took pitch after pitch outside the strike zone and jammed up the diamond with base runner after base runner, the resolve of the New York Mets tried to withstand the barrage to keep their season alive.