After the New York Knicks’ Game 3 win in Indiana, the streets of New York are back to rioting. The team and the fans understood they would not have been able to come back down 3-0, and that Game 3 was likely a must-win game.
It was a Karl-Anthony Towns fourth quarter eruption, willing them back into the game, securing his team the victory 106-100. He scored 20 of his 24 in the fourth quarter alone.
In the first two games, the Indiana Pacers displayed how their team truly succeeds. They force turnovers, they play fast, and they are super aggressive.
For the Knicks to overcome this 2-1 lead, Head Coach Tom Thibodeau will have to pull some tricks from his sleeve. In Game 3, we saw Jalen Brunson on the bench quite a bit in the fourth quarter. Whether this was because he had five fouls or because he is a defensive liability is unknown.
Surprisingly, Delon Wright and Landry Shamet gave the Knicks increased run and made a great impact. The Knicks, these playoffs, have been strict to a 7-man-rotation, but with their backs against the wall played two wildcards, and it paid off.
So far this series, New York has allowed Indiana to get out in transition and take quick shots, which is the way they want to play. In game 3, however, the Knicks were locked in on their half-court defense and transition defense, controlling the Pacers to just 5-of-23 from beyond the arc.
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Their quick rotations and fast closeouts forced Indiana to put the ball on the floor rather than settle into open jumpers.
Thibodeau’s decision to start Mitchell Robinson over Josh Hart seemingly worked, but Hart still played 34 minutes, the third most on the team. He also hauled in 10 rebounds, including a couple of big ones down the stretch.
For the Knicks to keep up their success, they need to slow down Indiana’s fast style of play, because attempting to match it has not worked. Giving themselves more of a defensive identity and extended rotation is the guideline to fresher legs and a chance to advance to the NBA finals.
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