Knicks' key to winning Game 4 vs. Spurs? Get back to their ball-movement roots
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson looks on against San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams
They sure know how to spoil a party, right? The Knicks took the floor at Madison Square Garden on Monday night for the first NBA Finals game played in New York City since 1999 and in one of the most anticipated moments in franchise history came out flat, falling behind and spending most of the night chasing the San Antonio Spurs. On Wednesday night, they have a chance to grab control of the series again, even if they can’t actually celebrate a title yet. But to get back on track after 13 consecutive wins, it will take some work.
Move that ball
The Knicks, in a fit of desperation, found the versatility in their offensive schemes that Mike Brown had been chasing all season — arriving in the panic of a 2-1 series deficit in the opening round of the playoffs. And it lasted for 45 days until Monday when suddenly the ball movement that had filled highlight reels stalled and the team fell into a one-man show — or two — as Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby attempted to carry the offense down the stretch.
“We just didn’t execute well,” Brown said. “I’ve got to help them a little bit better on the fly by putting them in better positions with stuff that they’re comfortable with. But then we have to play what our concepts, or play to what our strengths, are.
“It’s been pace, it’s been space, it’s been getting the ball reversed, it’s been touching the paint, and more importantly, it’s been making quick decisions. There were a lot of times where the decisions weren’t made quick last night. One guy caught, held, held, held, held, held. Now the defense settles in. Now you’re in trouble.
“Making quick decisions while doing all those other things can help us out a lot, on top of me trying to help make sure that these guys are organized a little bit better.”
Focused physicality
The Knicks nearly won Game 3, which might seem like little consolation since they nearly lost the first two games in San Antonio before pulling them out with late-game heroics. But there were still flaws on the defensive end. The Knicks could point to the struggles to stay in front of Victor Wembanyama, who found his way behind the defense repeatedly early in the game. But what they focused on was the lack of focus and physicality. That shouldn’t happen in the NBA Finals and it shouldn’t happen at home, but it did.
The Knicks insist that punching first is what they intend to do in Game 4 — and if Wembanyama opts to try to shove Brunson like he did in Game 3, they will take matters into their own hands.
Wake the echoes
The Knicks never gave the home crowd a chance to get into the game, a raucous early sound silenced as the Knicks fell behind 7-0 and were down double-digits just minutes into the first quarter. There will be no appearance by the president this time, no distractions to blame. The Knicks need to reclaim home court — and hold home-court advantage.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
