Struggles for the Knicks Against the Spurs

It’s pretty clear what’s going on.

The Spurs seem intent on being physical with Jalen Brunson, really pushing him around after his standout fourth-quarter performance that helped the Knicks secure a Game 1 win. While they haven’t been called for any flagrant fouls, there have been moments where you could argue they’ve crossed a line.

A prime example occurred when Victor Wembanyama slammed Brunson’s head into the ground during the first quarter of the Knicks’ 115-111 defeat to the Spurs on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Brunson reacted by jabbing Wembanyama, but no foul was called. Odd, right?

In the first half, both Stephon Castle and Carter Bryant targeted Brunson, pushing him around under the guise of going for rebounds. Those instances were called common fouls, but again, they didn’t get upgraded to flagrant fouls.

At the end of Game 2, a confrontation arose when De’Aaron Fox shoved Brunson in the face, sparking a small altercation.

Jose Alvarado weighed in on Wembanyama’s actions, expressing, “I don’t think that was basketball. That’s something they’ll have to look into. But he got away with one shot. That’s going to be the last one.”

While it’s good to see Alvarado in high spirits, it’s not surprising for someone like him, a fiery backup from Brooklyn, to speak his mind.

Still, considering Alvarado’s height—around six feet—it’s probably not the best idea for him to engage Wembanyama, who stands at seven feet four inches tall.

Instead of picking fights, the Knicks would be better off helping Brunson channel his physicality more effectively.

Throughout the series so far, Brunson has struggled, shooting just 37.0 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, with an alarming number of turnovers. The Spurs have effectively contained him, which isn’t what other teams have been able to do this postseason.

The Spurs have been pressuring Brunson all over the court, which has forced the Knicks to work from behind the intended pace. It becomes difficult for Brunson to shake off defenders, and when he receives the ball, they crowd him, hoping to draw a foul.

The consequences of this relentless pressure became evident in Monday’s game, causing issues within the Knicks’ offensive flow that hadn’t been present since the early playoff rounds.

After the game, Brown remarked, “We just wanted to stand there and watch one guy dribble. And when the ball was passed, the player receiving it didn’t make quick judgments.”

Brunson’s usage rate was quite high during the game, much more than he typically sees this postseason, as he frequently held the ball for more than six seconds. His attempts far outnumbered those of his teammates.

It felt like Brunson was trying to force his offensive game rather than allowing it to come more naturally. It’s somewhat unusual for him to react as he did to Wembanyama’s physicality.

Compounding the situation was the lack of offensive support from his teammates. Players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges showed promise earlier in the series but failed to contribute effectively when it mattered.

The Spurs took advantage of Brunson’s struggles, doubling him on the ball without allowing other Knicks players to find an opportunity.

Moreover, poor decision-making and lack of movement from Brunson’s teammates allowed defenders to recover too easily. Their screens weren’t disruptive enough to deter defenders from marking Brunson closely.

Brunson acknowledged, “There’s a way to do what we’ve been doing throughout the playoffs. Those are just game plan disciplines. I don’t think the discipline we had in that situation was enough.”

The Knicks had displayed a dynamic offensive flow during their 13-game winning streak, showing what strong ball movement, spacing, and swift decision-making could achieve.

Yet, on Monday, they seemed to stray from that.

Brown concluded, “We have to play true to our concept or play based on our strengths. It was about pace, spacing, and making quick decisions. Many times, last night, those decisions just weren’t made quickly enough.”

An unfortunate turn for the team after such a strong run.