SAN ANTONIO — The unborn child will know its name.
With just two more victories, the Knicks could break a long championship drought, claiming their first title in over half a century—53 years, to be exact.
If they succeed, names like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges will resonate through time, much like the echoes of Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Dave Debusschere, Bill Bradley, and Earl Monroe do for those too young to have witnessed the Knicks during their golden era.
It’s interesting how every championship team often gets reduced to just a handful of iconic players.
Even the legendary 1927 Yankees are remembered mainly for Ruth and Gehrig. But, of course, you probably already understand that.
The Knicks can’t possibly maintain a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals without the impact of their second unit—those players whose names likely won’t ever be part of the team’s legends, like Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, and Miles McBride.
“Big contributions from a lot of guys. That’s why I love having a team, because any night can be a special night for anybody,” Knicks coach Mike Brown remarked after a nail-biting 105-104 win in Game 2. “Our players don’t care. They sacrificed for each other, and we found a way to get the win.”
The bench’s impact was evident in Game 1 in San Antonio, contributing 28 points, alongside four assists from McBride and 10 rebounds from Alvarado and Robinson.
In Game 2, however, things took a turn; Brunson went 7-for-25, Hart went scoreless, and Towns only managed four points in the second half. Thus, Brown needed to rethink his strategy.
For over five critical minutes, specifically from 3:19 in the third quarter to 10:15 in the fourth, Brown shifted his focus, utilizing a lineup including Shamet, Robinson, Alvarado, McBride, and Bridges while keeping Brunson and Towns on the court.
During that stretch, the Knicks extended their lead from four to twelve points, eventually stabilizing at 87-78 with Brunson and Towns back in the mix.
Shamet, who has been incredibly efficient from three-point range in the postseason, finished with 13 points in back-to-back games.
Robinson contributed with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal in 14 minutes, playing a crucial role in stifling potential game-winner Victor Wembanyama during the series.
Alvarado and McBride, both ranking high on the Knicks’ on-court ratings during the NBA Finals, combined for seven points, four assists, and four offensive rebounds.
In the previous year’s playoffs, Tom Thibodeau had most starters playing over 35 minutes a game, relying on two reserves, Robinson and McBride, for at least ten minutes each. This year, though, only Brunson is averaging more than 34 minutes in playoffs, as Brown has adopted a nine-man rotation for pivotal moments, placing his trust in lesser-known names.
“That’s important,” Shamet noted about bench contributions. “We need everyone.”
