Fans and the media alike sang OG Anunoby’s praises after Game 1.
However, Anunoby’s version of the Knicks won court in a 100-94 Game 2 loss on Monday, doesn’t seem assertive enough that his team needs him to succeed.
Anunoby scored 10 points on 10-10 from the field and 10-10 from Deep on the night when Jalen Brunson’s supporting cast failed in the attack.
Anunoby also had five rebounds, two assists and two steels in 42 minutes.
Anunoby’s defense is the most important thing.
However, as seen in Game 1, his attacks could be the maker of the difference.
Anunoby said his way of thinking will not change from Game 1 to 2.
He may have had eight less shots than his Knicks win on Saturday, but that was because of “how the game went.”
“No matter what, I’m always trying to be aggressive,” Anunoby said.
Anunoby was one of the players who tried to slow down piston star Cade Cunningham, who made his tough playoff debut on Saturday.
In Game 1, Anunoby & Co. It seemed to have done everything right.
They made it as difficult as possible for Cunningham to score.
As soon as the 2021 No. 1 general pick held the ball in his hand, there was pressure.
Overall, the Knicks managed to get it against Cunningham in the series opener.
However, after scoring 21 points on 21 shots on Saturday, Cunningham went on his path to finishing with 33 points and 12 rebounds for most of Monday night.
“They were running things to get me out of his body,” Anunoby said of what the Pistons were doing on Monday to help Cunningham settle into his game. “We set up the screen and get off him and do something like that. They made some adjustments. We’ll do the adjustments ourselves.”
The Knicks lost to the Pistons on April 21st. Jason Sheness of the NY Post
Certainly, even the best players rest the night.
But the Knicks aren’t as scared of title contenders as they’d hoped when they made a big offseason move – they need more from anunoby than what he showed on Monday night, especially on offense.
The Pistons won Monday’s game by reaching the free throw line 15 times the Knicks.
However, Detroit overtook New York 48-34.
“Sometimes we were a little bit away,” Josh Hart said. “We have to give them credits, they hit the glasses hard, but we were able to get those rebounds, especially all of our possessions to get off in the important playoffs.
