2: Stagnant offense
The Knicks shot 29-of-79 (36.7%) from the field and 7-of-29 (24.1%) from three. It was actually painful to watch. No one could get going. Not even Jalen Brunson, who shot 5-of-17 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep.
According to Second Spectrum, after not blitzing Jalen Brunson at all in Game 1, the Cavs did it nine times in Game 2; the Knicks scored just five points on those plays. Beyond creating some turnovers, it forced other Knicks to dribble and pass ... which didn't work out so hot. pic.twitter.com/eR9zmLynM7
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) April 19, 2023
Cleveland got Brunson out of it early. The Cavaliers were trapping the pick-and-roll, which completely threw Brunson for a loop. Rather than work the ball around, the Knicks were more concerned with going 1-on-1 and looking for their own shot, which was impossible with the Cavaliers’ suffocating defense. Darius Garland had already reached a career-high 26 points at the half, but his intensity on the defensive end was just as stifling.
Thibodeau isn’t heralded as an offensive-minded coach, but the Knicks are going to have to take a different approach in Game 3 in order to have a shot to win. It isn’t normal to have more turnovers than assists, but that’s what happened in Game 2. Speaking of turnovers…