Knicks Morning News (2023.04.22)

The doomed New York Knicks defended their home court and took a 2-1 lead.

If you take a step back and watch the last two games from a distance, you can probably agree that we’ve lost our 80’s and 90’s habits and we’re not accustomed anymore to the ups and downs of close playoffs series, where every game is different and everything can happen.
This time the key was a great defense (the Cavs’ 79 points are their lowest outcome of the season) paired with a well distributed offense after an awful start.

THOUGHTS:

– If you did hear the pundits after Game-2 this series was running at full speed to a gentleman’s sweep for the Cavs. Now we’re up 2-1 and it doesn’t mean anything, it’s the playoffs, where after a win it’s always “next game!” (until the couch or the Trophy)…
The Cavs will come out as in Game-2 e we need to be ready this time… Keep the pedal to the metal.
And anyway we’re DOOMED 😉

– Knicks’ defense tonight really really good.
Opposing teams can have a hot shooting night, but if you keep this kind of defensive intensity good things tend to happen.

– The Cavs didn’t play well, but did we play well in Game-2? They can’t score but their defense is very good. They did look a bit “scared” by the atmosphere and the weight of the game now the shock is over, so they’ll be more dangerous next game.

– 3 games and there isn’t a player on both teams that had 3 “very good” games in the series. Some of them are 0-3. It’s time for Randle to have one.

– I’m worried for Grimes’ shoulder. He’s not playing well but I want to keep our depth intact. You can never know who will be hot in a playoffs game, more candidates, more chances.

– Both teams shot blanks at the line (NY 61.1% CLE 58.8%).
It was a blowout so this time it didn’t matter but remember, we won Game-1, the only close game so far, because we hit FTs at an higher than usual 86.4% and they didn’t. It can happen again.

1° QRT
In a loud Garden a brutal offensive display for both teams, with a lot of energy and physicality but even more confusion.
RJ showed encouraging signs (10 points, 2-3 2FG, 2-3 3FG), Julius didn’t (2 points, 0-2 2FG, 0-3 3FG, 1 TO). Score tied 17-17.

2° QRT
Offenses sputtered until midway through the quarter, when Brunson lead the Knicks on a 13-3 run in 3:20 that expanded the lead to 11. The Cavs’ reaction wasn’t strong, they closed the gap to 8, but in the last 30 seconds IQ first hit a three and then assisted RJ for a dunk to expand the Knicks’ lead to 13 at the break (45-32).

3° QRT
LeVert (11 pts) and Mitchell (8 pts) tried to mend the tear, but the Cavs never got closer than 9.
Randle had 5 points in less than a minute (his only offensive outburst of the night), Brunson and RJ were steady (8 and 5 respectively) and the Knicks scored the last 8 points (kickstarted by a J-Hart bomb) and closed with a 17 points lead (72-55).

4° QRT
Everyone expected a Cavs comeback, or at least a last charge, but it never came and they never threatened. New York managed the situation well and showed glimpses of good basketball while the crowd went crazy and the lead ballooned to 27. Thibs surprised the world and send in D-Rose and Jeffries for the last 4 minutes, another evidence that the game was over. Final score 99-79.

STATS OF THE GAME:

Turnovers – NY 14 CLE 21
Steals – NY 14 CLE 7

But

Points Off Turnovers – CLE 28 NY 8. What??!!??

They scored every time we did lose the ball and we didn’t?

Numbers are funny sometimes 🙂
Anyway great defense.

PLAYS OF THE GAME:

2nd 3:43 Jalen Brunson makes dunk (CLE 27 NY 38)

Gave the Knicks the first double digit lead and probably broke the Cavs’ spirit (useless information: Brunson had 2 dunks in the regular season).

3rd 2:03 Josh Hart makes 25-foot three point jumper (RJ Barrett assists CLE 55 NY 67)

The Cavs had cut the deficit to 9, J-Hart’s three stemmed their effort and sparked the 8-0 run that basically closed the game.

GRADES:

Brunson A
Numbers don’t look great (21 points, only 1 FTs, 6:3 AST/TO, 2 STLs) but his best shooting night so far (he’s 2-16 from 3 in the series after tonight 0-4) and the points came when needed, first to expand the lead and then to quell the Cavs’ ambitions. I appreciated that he didn’t force things and did focus on involving the teammates.
And his footwork, oh his footwork…

Randle C
The worst shooting night of his already bad series (3-15 for the game, 18-55 so far), But he was engaged on defense and we don’t really know how much his ankle’s bothering him, so he get a parzial pass.
The lenght of the Cavs’ defense give him issues, but we need All-Star Randle as soon as we can.

Barrett A
Game MVP, or at least highest “above expectations” (Brian’s the real MVP).
Solid all around game (19-8-3) with efficient shooting (5-6 2FG, 3-6 3FG) and a controlled composure. He was burned a couple of times on defense during LeVert’s little explosion but was competent for most of the plays.
If there was a way to guarantee this level of performance I would be satisfied, but after 4 years we know him too well…
I predicted 2 good games for him in the series, he gave me the first, I’m waiting the other.

Grimes C-
He was having a terrible offensive series and tonight he bricked almost everything, but I hope his injury isn’t too seious. We need his defense against the Cavs’ backcourt.

Robinson B+
He can basically only dunk, he’s a target because people know he’s a 48% FT shooter, but he set the tone on defense with his blocks and quick hands and his 5 OReb were huge.
There will be time to talk about his glaring (lack of) offensive prowess, right now let’s say that he and I-Hart are keeping tight against the fabled Cavs’ Twin Towers.

Hart A-
Does your ankle feel better Josh? He rebounded after a game he shouldn’t have played and yestarday he was again the ultimate glue guy (13-6-1, 2-3 2FG, 2-2 3FG, 2 STL). Sometimes playing at fast forward is risky (4 TOs) but he does so many things you forgive him…

Quickley B+
I really hope that the inbound-step on the line turnover was the nadir of his well below-average series.
Yesterday it worked as a wake up call and after that he did play better. Still a little more hesitant than usual on offense, his defense was very important, and would be so for the rest of the series especially after Grimes’ injury.

Hartenstein B+
The clumsy part of two different pairs (The Odd Couple with Mitch and the Hart Foundation) had another nice game sprinkled with some very good defensive plays and a couple of thundering dunks.

Toppin B+
Sit down please.
Okay, now I can write it: Obi Toppin had 4 steals in a playoffs game. If you haven’t passed out, he had 3 rebounds too. And a block. An assist. A meaningful three pointer. Two highlights-reel dunks (one of them an “and-1”).
He’s yield so far has been a pleasant surprise.

McBride, Rose, Jeffries NA
Only Rose took shots (respect!) but it’s nice to see you guys, please say hi to Evan, thanks

Thibs A
Playoffs win, overcoming Randle’s night and Glue’s injury.
This time we were prepared, not sharp at the start but prepared for the fight. Keep it up.