Late-game offense shouldn’t be an issue for the group using the frontrunner for the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the 12 months award. But the lack to generate high quality offense — notably beneath strain — in opposition to potential playoff opponents has grow to be a troubling sample for a group hoping to play its greatest basketball on the finish of the common season because it ramps up for a playoff run.
The Knicks struggled to constantly deal with the ball and discover good photographs late in Tuesday’s 119-117 additional time loss to the Boston Celtics. Turnovers and points discovering high quality photographs in opposition to the Detroit Pistons — who the Knicks are set to see within the first spherical of the East’s No. 3 vs. No. 6 playoff collection — have been obvious in a 115-106 loss on the Little Caesar’s Enviornment on Thursday.
As a caveat, the Knicks sat three of their greatest gamers, both in precaution within the first leg of a back-to-back, or a possible present of gamesmanship in opposition to the group they’ll have to beat 4 occasions to advance to the second spherical of the playoffs. OG Anunoby (thumb), Josh Hart (knee) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) all sat in opposition to the Pistons, with the East’s No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers looming again at Madison Sq. Backyard on Friday.
Robinson’s absence, particularly, prevented the Pistons from getting a take a look at the Knicks with their defensive anchor again on the ground. Since he returned to the lineup after lacking 10 months recovering from ankle surgical procedure, the Knicks have grow to be one of many NBA’s top-ten defenses.
And with out Anunoby, the Knicks have been left with simply Mikal Bridges and assist to protect Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham, who — as anticipated — torched New York for 36 factors and seven assists on 16-of-24 taking pictures from the sphere.
Anticipate head coach Tom Thibodeau to make use of Anunoby in tandem with Bridges to gradual Detroit’s franchise cornerstone down.
So the Pistons received the food regimen Knicks on Thursday, and after New York constructed an early double-digit lead, Detroit did what it did greatest: up the physicality.
With heart Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, plus three wings with nice positional measurement (Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, and Tim Hardaway Jr.), the Pistons used their greatest benefit — measurement, energy and brute drive — to show the sport of their favor.
But it was nonetheless a detailed recreation down the stretch, tied at 99 with simply over six minutes left within the fourth quarter courtesy of back-to-back threes plus a cost drawn by Landry Shamet (9 factors, 2-of-3 taking pictures from downtown).
That’s the place late-game offense — and poise beneath strain — comes into play.
The Knicks uncharacteristically turned ball over 14 occasions, together with seven from All-Star heart Karl-Anthony Cities. City, who was dominant in a 34-point efficiency in opposition to the Celtics, struggled with the mixed physicality proven from Duren and Stewart. Duren completed with 18 factors and 13 rebounds and made all 9 of his photographs, together with an alley-oop to cap the sport.
“I think J.B. has done a terrific job; I thought he did a terrific job in Cleveland,” Thibodeau mentioned forward of tipoff of Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “I think they have a lot of young players, and they’ve gotten better, and that usually happens with experience. And I think they added really good veterans that have complimented their young players really well. So, they’ve been consistent from the start of the season throughout, and they’re strong on both sides of the ball.”
Jalen Brunson additionally turned the ball over 3 times and shot simply 5-of-15 from the sphere for 15 factors. Cities completed with a team-high 25 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
This received’t be the identical lineup the Pistons see within the playoffs ought to they meet the Knicks within the first spherical. Anunoby, Hart and Robinson are central items to the Knicks’ model of play. However Detroit now owns a 3-1 report in opposition to New York coming into the playoffs.
That counts for one thing, as a result of a Knicks group coming off back-to-back second-round playoff exits can’t afford to slide within the first spherical.
The Knicks struggled to constantly deal with the ball and discover good photographs late in Tuesday’s 119-117 additional time loss to the Boston Celtics. Turnovers and points discovering high quality photographs in opposition to the Detroit Pistons — who the Knicks are set to see within the first spherical of the East’s No. 3 vs. No. 6 playoff collection — have been obvious in a 115-106 loss on the Little Caesar’s Enviornment on Thursday.
As a caveat, the Knicks sat three of their greatest gamers, both in precaution within the first leg of a back-to-back, or a possible present of gamesmanship in opposition to the group they’ll have to beat 4 occasions to advance to the second spherical of the playoffs. OG Anunoby (thumb), Josh Hart (knee) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) all sat in opposition to the Pistons, with the East’s No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers looming again at Madison Sq. Backyard on Friday.
Robinson’s absence, particularly, prevented the Pistons from getting a take a look at the Knicks with their defensive anchor again on the ground. Since he returned to the lineup after lacking 10 months recovering from ankle surgical procedure, the Knicks have grow to be one of many NBA’s top-ten defenses.
And with out Anunoby, the Knicks have been left with simply Mikal Bridges and assist to protect Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham, who — as anticipated — torched New York for 36 factors and seven assists on 16-of-24 taking pictures from the sphere.
Anticipate head coach Tom Thibodeau to make use of Anunoby in tandem with Bridges to gradual Detroit’s franchise cornerstone down.
So the Pistons received the food regimen Knicks on Thursday, and after New York constructed an early double-digit lead, Detroit did what it did greatest: up the physicality.
With heart Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, plus three wings with nice positional measurement (Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, and Tim Hardaway Jr.), the Pistons used their greatest benefit — measurement, energy and brute drive — to show the sport of their favor.
But it was nonetheless a detailed recreation down the stretch, tied at 99 with simply over six minutes left within the fourth quarter courtesy of back-to-back threes plus a cost drawn by Landry Shamet (9 factors, 2-of-3 taking pictures from downtown).
That’s the place late-game offense — and poise beneath strain — comes into play.
The Knicks uncharacteristically turned bal over 14 occasions, together with seven from All-Star heart Karl-Anthony Cities. Cities, who was dominant in a 34-point efficiency in opposition to the Celtics, struggled with the mixed physicality proven from Duren and Stewart. Duren completed with 18 factors and 13 rebounds and made all 9 of his photographs, together with an alley-oop to cap the sport.
“I think J.B. has done a terrific job; I thought he did a terrific job in Cleveland,” Thibodeau mentioned forward of tipoff of Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “I think they have a lot of young players, and they’ve gotten better, and that usually happens with experience. And I think they added really good veterans that have complimented their young players really well. So, they’ve been consistent from the start of the season throughout, and they’re strong on both sides of the ball.”
Jalen Brunson additionally turned the ball over 3 times and shot simply 5-of-15 from the sphere for 15 factors. Cities completed with a team-high 25 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
This received’t be the identical lineup the Pistons see within the playoffs ought to they meet the Knicks within the first spherical. Anunoby, Hart and Robinson are central items to the Knicks’ model of play. However Detroit now owns a 3-1 report in opposition to New York coming into the playoffs.
That counts for one thing as a result of a Knicks group coming off back-to-back second-round playoff exits can’t afford to slide within the first spherical.
