According to New York sports radio legend Mike Franchia, the Knicks’ problem didn’t start with a Game 2 defeat to the Pistons.
The former WFAN great criticized coach Tom Thibodeau’s offensive scheme.
“The four stagnant guys watching one guy play basketball aren’t offensive. I don’t care what your name is,” the franchise told the Bet Rivers podcast after Monday’s game. “And Branson is not Michael Jordan.”
Branson recorded a third of the team’s 81 shots from the floor in a 100-94 home loss on Monday, scoring 37 points in 44 minutes with 27 shootings.
He made a 9-11 attempt from the foul line.
Mikal Bridges added 19 points, with three other starters each scoring 10, while the bench provided 8 points in just four minutes with Game 1 hero Cameron Payne.
“If this offense just bouncing basketball off Branson for 15 seconds, then if he becomes a double team, he will flip the pass to someone and hope they will hit a long three.
“How many times is Branson on the ground? 32? That’s not an attractive basketball. It’s all about Branson. Why do other teams think he’s floping? I think he’s on the ground the whole game. That’s half the Knicks offense.”
The franchise adds that it doesn’t matter for the Knicks to pass the piston because “if the four guys are standing looking at Branson, you’re never going to beat a good team.”
The winner of the Knicks-Pistons series will face Victor from Celtics Magic. Defending champion Boston easily won Game 1 of the series in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Follow the reports from the Knicks’ post in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Sign up for Sports+ Subscribers: Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage, join experts and participate in insider texts about the series.
The Sports Pope will prefer the Knicks to eat a ball in the town of Karl Anthony, especially as the Pistons lack Isaiah Stewart on Monday.
Towns only scored 10 points in Game 2 They didn’t try a shot in the fourth quarter.
“Why are Tib there and coach that game and don’t get the ball to town in a low box at some point,” the franchise asked. “The Towns scored eight points in the first quarter. He scored 10 points in the game.”
Thibodeau and the town shift responsibility elsewhere due to poor performance and losses, and Thibodeau is aiming for the judge for a big inconsistency on the free throw
Detroit received 34 free-throw attempts compared to the Knicks’ 19.
“Obviously, the big contradiction of the free throw. It’s huge. I have to look at it, are you okay?” Thibodeau said after the match. “So… I don’t know how you talk about the direct line drive and the guys are fouled and it’s not called? [Cade] Cunningham’s driving and marginal contact, he’s reaching the line. Then Jaren [Brunson] It deserves to reach the line, it’s really very easy. ”
Meanwhile, the town lifted the lack of executions.
“We’re just doing what we’re talking about and trying to get the game to do that,” Towns said of his lack of involvement. “We thought we got some great shots, some great looks. You live with those great shots and great looks, especially when you fight back against the game.”
The Knicks head to Detroit for Game 3 on Thursday. They try to get more people involved in the piston, which currently owns home court advantage.
“This is not a crime,” the franchia said. “You can’t play this way. There are a lot of mistakes in this game offensively. First, if you move the ball and push the ball on this team, the Knicks are better.
