Jarrett Allen Reflects on Viral 'Lights Were Brighter Than Expected' Comment Before Cavs-Knicks ECF

Three years after his infamous comment about the lights being brighter in the playoffs following the Cleveland Cavaliers' first-round loss to the New York Knicks, Jarrett Allen looked back on it as the two teams prepare to meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday prior to Game 1 from Madison Square Garden, Allen explained his comment "is what it is" and he has grown as a player in the time since he originally said it.

In the aftermath of that 2023 playoff series, Allen infamously said the "lights were brighter than expected" in an attempt to explain his struggles against the Knicks.

The 2022-23 season for the Cavs was the first year of this renaissance for the Cavs organization. They had acquired Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz during the offseason coming off a surprise 44-win campaign the previous year.

Cleveland went 51-31 to earn the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Mitchell finished sixth in MVP voting. Evan Mobley made the All-Defensive team in his second season. Allen led the team in win shares.

It seemed like things were set up for the Cavs to have their best postseason run in a season without LeBron James since the early-90s.

Instead, the Knicks picked them apart in five games. Mitchell Robinson, who was primarily matched up with Allen on the inside, looked like an unstoppable force. He had 29 offensive rebounds in the series, including 11 in the decisive Game 5.

Allen's scoring average dipped from 14.3 points per game in the regular season to 9.4 against the Knicks.

With more experience and an even bigger stage awaiting in the Eastern Conference Finals, Allen has a chance to redeem himself from the most viral moment of his career.

It won't be easy, especially given that the Cavs have had to play back-to-back seven game series through the first two rounds of the playoffs and the Knicks have been off since finishing off a sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers on May 10.

But what came before won't matter at all if the Cavaliers can start the series with an upset of the Knicks in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.