Tom Thibodeau is all the time fast to spotlight a famous person’s supporting forged.
Forward of the Knicks’ first-round sequence in opposition to the Detroit Pistons, he didn’t simply point out Cade Cunningham. He made certain to highlight bruising large man Jalen Duren, veteran scorer Tobias Harris, artful playmaker Dennis Schroder, and ground spacers Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. Every identify got here with a objective: you don’t win playoff video games getting ready for one man.
He views the Celtics the identical approach. Boston’s identification begins with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — but it surely’s constructed on depth, spacing, and weapons at each place.
“I think if you overlook guys like [Jrue] Holiday and [Derrick] White you’re making a big mistake,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Those guys are all dangerous. [Kristaps] Porzinigis is a terrific player. You’re dealing with five-out spacing. You look at what [Payton] Pritchard and [Sam] Houser have given them off the bench. [Luke] Kornet has been a big factor for them as well.”
However whereas matchups and rotations matter, generally a sequence swings on one particular person project. That was the case in Spherical 1, when the Knicks moved OG Anunoby onto Cunningham after utilizing Mikal Bridges as the first defender in 4 regular-season matchups in opposition to the Pistons.
The shift modified the dynamic of the first-round sequence. The identical adjustment has the potential to offer the Knicks a puncher’s probability as underdogs of their second-round sequence in opposition to the reigning champion Celtics.
Cunningham, who torched the Knicks within the common season for over 30 factors per sport on 50% capturing from each the sphere and three-point vary, struggled underneath Anunoby’s blanket protection within the playoffs. He shot simply 42.6% from the sphere and 17.9% from three throughout six video games within the the primary spherical.
“I don’t know: I guess just having more time to prepare,” Anunoby mentioned in Detroit after the close-out win. “Lock in more, try to make it as difficult as I can. He’s a great player. Just try to make it as difficult as possible.”
Now comes an excellent greater take a look at: a playoff sequence in opposition to the NBA’s reigning Finals MVP, a participant who’s had his approach with the orange and blue this season, and whose crew adopted swimsuit.
The Celtics swept the Knicks through the common season. In these 4 video games, the Knicks caught with Bridges on Tatum, who responded by averaging 33.5 factors — tied for his most in opposition to any opponent. He shot 53.5% from the sphere and 47.8% from deep throughout the sequence, punishing New York from each degree of the ground.
In Spherical 2, that duty is anticipated to shift to Anunoby. The influence could possibly be series-defining. As a result of Anunoby is the Knicks’ greatest probability at retaining Tatum from his trademark offensive barrages within the sequence. If he could make life tough — as he did for Cunningham — New York can hold round and provides themselves a shot.
If not, a Celtics crew that already lives behind the arc will solely develop extra harmful with their No. 1 choice discovering rhythm.
“Cade Cunningham’s a hell of a player, being real. Respect to him and what he’s done, the year he’s had,” mentioned Karl-Anthony Cities. “OG has always stepped up to the challenge of guarding the best player on the other team. OG’s special. It’s another chance to go out here and be against the best.”
In fact, Tatum’s too expert for any one-on-one matchup to matter by itself. It takes all 5 gamers speaking and rotating to gradual a star that polished. However the level of assault nonetheless issues — and Anunoby’s potential to anchor that matchup could possibly be the distinction between survival and collapse.
“I always have confidence [in OG] no matter who he is guarding,” mentioned Jalen Brunson. “He brings that mindset every game. And so I have confidence regardless of whatever he is doing.”
For this reason the Knicks paid Anunoby $212 million. Why they mortgaged 5 first-round picks to land Bridges. For matchups like this.
Anunoby gave the Knicks a defensive benefit they didn’t totally leverage through the common season. Now, within the playoffs, he’ll step into the function he was paid to fill — entrance and middle, guarding Boston’s franchise participant.
If he succeeds, the sequence will get attention-grabbing. If not, the Celtics will do what the Pistons couldn’t: make the Knicks pay for each hole, each misstep, each breath of daylight they go away on the perimeter.
Boston’s offense begins with Tatum, but it surely may finish with Anunoby forcing the star Celtics scorer out of rhythm. It’s the matchup that may outline the sequence — that might both lengthen New York’s playoff run or ship the Knicks dwelling early.
