Mike Brown might need to reconsider his approach.
While he’s relied on this strategy throughout the season, it has backfired on the Knicks in both games of the series.
Brown opts to have Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns sit out at the beginning of the second and fourth quarters instead of having them staggered. The alternative lineup, featuring Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Mitchell Robinson, struggled during Monday night’s 107-106 loss to the Hawks at Madison Square Garden.
“We’ve used that lineup quite a bit toward the end of the season,” Brown remarked. “It performed decently. We didn’t play well tonight and turned the ball over too much during that stretch. Yet, when the starters returned, we had opportunities and led by 8-10 points.” He noted that Atlanta quickly countered. “So, it’s not fair to blame a specific lineup for the loss.”
With the Knicks ahead by nine points as the second quarter began, the Hawks launched a 13-3 run during that quarter while Brunson and Towns were on the bench. The Knicks’ bench, particularly Shamet, faltered. Brown even switched Shamet out for Jose Alvarado, who had been thought to be out of the playoff rotation. Thanks to the starters, the Knicks managed to regain a seven-point lead by halftime.
In the fourth quarter, Alvarado was on the court instead of Shamet, along with McBride and Clarkson. They kicked off the quarter with a 12-point advantage. When Brunson and Towns stepped onto the court with 7:56 remaining, the Knicks were still nine points up.
Then things took a turn for the worse, as the starters struggled to perform.
“I think any player in this locker room can step up at any time,” Towns remarked about sitting at the same time as Brunson. “What’s clear is that we weren’t off the court when we let the lead slip away.”
Draft picks are now finalized.
The Knicks will hold the 24th pick in this year’s draft, following a draw conducted by the NBA that resolved a tie among six teams with identical records.
The Knicks (53-29) came out ahead in the tiebreaker against the Lakers.
OG Anunoby finished 10th in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. Earlier this month, he stated he believed he deserved the award. However, this ranking could still lead to an All-Defensive team selection, a recognition he has previously achieved.
