The Knicks are enjoying some well-deserved downtime, resting in their own beds and spending time with family after achieving a second consecutive sweep.
Yet, they remain focused as they gear up for their first game on the road during the NBA Finals.
“I think just being on the road and in a challenging environment can be beneficial,” Mikal Bridges noted after practice on Thursday. “You get a sense of what to expect… Going into this series, we’re aware that we need to step up.”
In their last outing, the Knicks struggled in the third quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It had been nine days since they beat the 76ers, and they hit just 4-of-23 from beyond the arc, ending up trailing by 22 points. Jalen Brunson’s standout performance was highlighted amid a shaky start, as key players only managed 7-of-19 shooting and went 0-for-5 from three-point territory, leading to a significant upset.
This time around, the Knicks won’t have the crowd support to lean on. They are entering the series as underdogs, facing one of the toughest defensive teams in recent memory.
“In contrast to our previous situation, we feel a bit stuck mentally and physically,” Brunson commented. “Focusing on that in the next few days is crucial.”
Interestingly, this marks Knicks coach Mike Brown’s seventh trip to the NBA Finals, and it’s the third time he’s done so after a substantial break.
Back in 2017, he took over for Steve Kerr, leading the Warriors to a strong finish in the Western Conference Finals before they eventually secured the championship. After dominating the Conference Finals in 2019, the Warriors lost their first game on the road against Toronto and ended up losing that series.
“It’s challenging to cultivate a fierce competitive atmosphere for Game 1,” Brown said. “We need to keep looking for ways to maintain that competitive edge… The key is recognizing that when we faced something similar last time, we started slow, and we can’t let that happen again. Our team has a lot of experience, is resilient, and has adapted well to challenges.”
“Most importantly, we need to remember our struggles in Game 1 of the last series and realize that this time, things won’t go the same way.”
