The Knicks have asserted that Miles McBride’s Game 1 impact is above the box score.
He failed to score in 15 minutes off the bench during a 123-112 victory with the Pistons at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, but he found a way to contribute in other regions.
He added four assists, rebounds and steals, bringing the elements to the Knicks, the key to the younger Pistons team.
“I really felt that the speed of the game was important to us,” coach Tom Thibodeau said after Sunday practice. “We were able to play it when we had two point guards on the floor together, and when we got on the defense and played fast, it has an advantage.”
Of McBride’s 15-minute action, eight people also came to court, according to NBA.com tracking statistics.
Part of that was spurred by Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart in early foul trouble, but Thibodeau could continue to use his two-point guard lineup if the piston starts hurting the Knicks during the transition.
The Pistons have the 11th highest pace in the regular season (100.27 possessions per 48 minutes) and averaged 18.5 fast breakpoints per game.
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Conversely, the Knicks were 26th in pace (owned at 97.64 per 48 minutes) and 14th in transition scoring (15.7 fast breakpoints per game).
It could be a clear head-to-head weakness for the Knicks in the series, but it was pretty even in Game 1. The Pistons had 22 high-speed breakpoints, while the Knicks were 19.
McBride is and continues to exist for filling that gap.
“things [McBride] What you can do on either side of the ball is great,” Jalen Brunson said Sunday. I think the chemistry we have been in the last few years definitely helped. If it’s him or someone else, when we’re there we feel we need to have great chemistry.
