Knicks Choke Away Game 1

Being a fan means dealing with despondency...

Final Score: Knicks 132 - Pacers 138
Series: 1-0

There'll be plenty of folks crushing the Knicks today. And deservedly so. Credit to the Pacers for continuing to fight and making numerous tough shots down the stretch, but New York had every opportunity to slam the door shut and failed to do so. And I'll spend plenty of time in this newsletter detailing the many ways the Knicks spit the bit.

But first, let me start by zooming out and pointing out that it was just one game. The series isn't over.

If we've learned anything about this Knicks bunch under Brunson, it's that they play their best when their back is against the wall. Their ability to bounce back after brutal losses is a hallmark of the team. (Since The Captain arrived, NY is 10-3 in the 13 games they've played following a playoff loss.)

Last night was a gut punch of epic proportions, but we all knew going in that advancing to the NBA Finals, let alone winning a chip, would never be easy.

If someone had asked Knicks fans last month (or last year) if they would be willing to sign up for beating Boston but being down 0-1 in the ECF, everyone would have put pen to paper.

Of course, that doesn't make each fan's pain this morning any less palpable right now. Or the heartache any less pronounced. I know plenty of fans woke up still sick to their stomach. It's certainly apropos that this is the coldest, dreariest, rainiest May day in New York in a long time.

Yet, if you step back for a moment, there is something beautiful about investing so much of oneself in a team that the outcome of a contest engenders genuine emotions. There is something special that comes from placing your faith in something larger than yourself.

After witnessing the horror that took place last night inside MSG, plenty of New Yorkers were asking themselves, "Why do I put up with this?!" But it's part of the pact fans make.

The incredible comeback victories over the hated Celtics wouldn't be nearly as sweet if you didn't know what it felt like to be on the other end of a crushing defeat.

And it's important to remember that for the better part of two decades, Knicks fans had no reason to pour their heart and soul into this franchise. When your favorite team is 20 games below .500 year after year, there is no chance of having your heart ripped out of your chest by a buzzer-beater because late-season games are meaningless. On the flip side, there is no chance of experiencing the euphoria of that Game 6 beatdown of Boston. It's a two-way street.

For older Knicks fans who came of age with the '90s Knicks, those seasons always ended in some form of unforgettable torment/torture. But those folks survived (with tougher skin than most), many of whom went on to help raise a new generation of fans.

During the darkest days of the pre-Leon Rose/Jalen Brunson era, many prayed for the opportunity to care once more. Like a young adult recovering from their first lost love, they were ready to get hurt again.

Being a fan means dealing with despondency, but there are also moments of boundless joy that can't be described. Maybe all that angst and disappointment will mean that much more if the Knicks ever scale the summit and reach the mountaintop.

Maybe?

Okay, for fans who are not ready to process the trauma and relive last night's collapse, I get it. You can log off now. For those who are prepared to move forward, let's delve into the post-mortem.

It will be forgotten, but the Knicks played well over most of the first 45 minutes of Game 1. Indiana got off to a hot start, but the Knicks kept pace by putting up plenty of points. KAT, Brunson and Bridges each scored 8+ points in the first quarter. The Captain scored nine more in the second, as New York took a seven-point lead into halftime. The 69 points the Knicks scored in the first half tied a franchise postseason record.

It looked like the Knicks were in trouble when Brunson picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter, but his teammates picked up the slack. Towns knocked down jumpers and bullied buckets in the paint. OG Anunoby was making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Mitchell Robinson was protecting the paint and cleaning the glass. Deuce McBride was flying all over the court.

When KAT drilled a three-pointer with 6:30 on the clock to give New York a monstrous 17-point cushion, the Garden nearly exploded. The Pacers chipped away at the lead, but when Brunson hit a step-back 3PT of his own with 2:50 left, New York was up 119-105.

This is significant because, heading into last night, NBA teams leading by 14+ points with less than 3 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a playoff game had won 994 games in a row.

994-0.

Then, last night happened.

Tyrese Haliburton hit a trey, as did Aaron Nesmith. Yet, Brunson made a layup at the one-minute mark to push the lead back to nine.

But Nesmith then hit two more three-pointers on back-to-back possessions.

Gulp.

Still, the Knicks were up five with the ball. JB found OG under the rim, but Anunoby fumbled the pass. The refs initially whistled Pascal Siakam for a foul, but Indiana challenged the call, and it was overturned.

Inexplicably, New York let Nesmith get loose for another triple try.

Two-point game. Double Gulp.

The Pacers fouled KAT, who made one of two free throws. New York fouled immediately on the inbound, and Nesmith made both. Then OG, like Towns, split his FTs.

On the final possession of regulation, Haliburton hit the shot that sent shockwaves through an entire fanbase.

It clanged off the back rim and rocketed toward the Garden's rafters, seemingly hanging in the air for a full minute. When it finally returned to earth, it swished through the net.

Players (including Haliburton himself), coaches and viewers alike assumed it was a game-winning three-pointer. However, Haliburton's toe was on the line. And we were headed to overtime.

To their credit, the Knicks got up from that haymaker and the subsequent standing-eight count to take a four-point lead in the extra session. However, the Pacers would not be denied. Andrew Nembhard scored five straight points. Brunson hit four free throws and sunk a floater late, but a Nembhard layup gave Indiana a one-point lead, and an incredible dunk by Obi Toppin with 15 seconds remaining was the game's final bucket. Both KAT and JB missed potential game-tying treys on the game's final possession.

If we are handing out blame, there is PLENTY to go around.

First and foremost, the Knicks' allowing the Pacers to step into several open three-pointers in the final three minutes was inexcusable. Down double-digits that late in the game, Indiana's only hope was to fire away from long range. Yet, NY defenders either dropped or switched poorly, time and again.

Nesmith got insanely hot, but the Kicks gave him enough space to catch fire. Remarkably, he drained six three-pointers in the final five minutes of regulation. Before last night, no player in NBA history had ever made more than five three-pointers in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. Nesmith made six, on six attempts, in the final five minutes of Game 1.

New York committed more than twice as many turnovers (15) as Indiana (7). In the series preview, we discussed how important it was to take care of the basketball vs. the Pacers because they live off turning those TOs into points on the other end.

Brunson, by himself, committed seven turnovers last night. That can happen from the Captain.

The free throws New York missed late in the contest were incredibly costly. The Knicks missed 12 FTs on the evening, including three in crunch time.

As for Thibs, the lineup issues continue to be a problem. The Knicks' Starting 5 were on the floor together for 25 minutes and 50 seconds last night and gave up 77 points.

Yes, 77 points in less than 26 minutes.

A Defensive Rating of 167.4 and a Net Rating of -47.8 is … not great.

In addition, coaches have to learn to save their challenges until the 4th quarter unless they are 1,000% sure they'll win the first one. Even then, it's probably best to keep it in your pocket so you have two challenges to use in potential game-deciding situations.

Thibs lost his challenge on a questionable offensive foul call on Brunson early in the third quarter, which was not overturned.

Rick Carlisle challenged a foul call on Pascal Siakam with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, which the Pacers won. Carlisle also challenged an out-of-bounds play off Brunson with 20 seconds left in a one-possession game in overtime.

Indiana may not win that game without winning those two challenges.

Other Takeaways and Knicks Notes:

🏀 Brunson finished with a game-high 43 points (15-of-25 FGs, 12-of-14 FTs), one rebound and five assists. It was JB's eighth career 40-point playoff game as a Knick, setting a new franchise record (breaking the tie he held with Bernard King).

Still, Brunson would be the first to tell you he needs to play better and limit the turnovers.

One of the biggest reasons for Knicks fans to remain optimistic heading into Game 2 is the team leader being so even-keeled. It's incredibly valuable.

"In the playoffs, when you win, it's the best thing ever. When you lose, it's the worst thing ever," Brunson stated in his standard monotone delivery last night. "Stay level-headed. Make sure we have each other's backs."

Brunson's level of disappointment/excitement during his postgame presser Wednesday night was nearly the same following New York's incredible Game 6 blowout of the Celtics last week. He keeps his eyes on the prize, which is imperative for players this deep into the playoffs.

🏀 Karl-Anthony Towns was effective and efficient in Game 1, racking up 35 points (11-of-17 FGs, 9-of-11 FTs), 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and four three-pointers. He was the only NY starter to post a positive plus/minus.

Per the Statitudes Substack, "Brunson and Towns are the first duo in New York Knicks history to each score at least 35 points in the same playoff game. Leaguewide, they are the first teammates to achieve the feat in an Eastern Conference Finals game (it's happened three times in the Western Conference Finals)."

🏀 Miles McBride continued his strong play, finishing with nine points, two boards, an assist and one (incredible) block. Deuce was a team-high +12 in 25 minutes.

Mitchell Robinson was solid off the bench as well. He grabbed eight boards with one steal and a swat. Mitch Rob's impact, especially on the defensive end, is unmistakable whenever he checks in.

These two reserves have earned additional minutes. As noted above, Thibs should rely less on the First 5 together and sprinkle in more Deuce and Mitch.

The Knicks' seven most effective two-man lineups this postseason include either Robinson or McBride, yet none have played more than 180 minutes together.

Of the four teams still left in the playoffs, the Knicks’ starting lineup has, by far, the worst Net Rating. Yet, they have played, by far, the most minutes together.

🏀 Of course, Haliburton deserves plenty of props for his performance, leading the Pacers with 31 points (12-of-23 FGs), four rebounds and 11 assists.

However, regarding his histrionics, it is certainly worth noting that Reggie Miller made his (original) infamous choke gesture in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.

Imagine how despondent the Knicks were (and how hopeless their fans were) after New York fumbled away a lead at home in that game, falling down 3-2 in the series, as Reggie mercilessly poured salt in the wound.

Well, John Starks balled out in Game 6 at Indy two nights later to force a Game 7. And Patrick took them home in the winner-take-all showdown at MSG.

We'll check back to see if Mr. Haliburton has any regrets in a couple of weeks.

🏀 Next Up:
The Knicks host the Pacers in Game 2 on Friday night (8:00)

You don't need me to tell you how important this contest is.

If New York wins on Friday and then splits the next two games in Indiana, they'll head back home tied at 2-2 with home-court advantage.

Buckle up.