LivingLegend wrote:DLeethal wrote:I’m not satisfied until we win game 6. Anything can happen in game 7 but winning game 6 erases the crappy losses from early in the series. That’s why I’m nitpicking how we closed out a 20 pt lead. We gave up like a 10-0 run at some point. Again these things will turn a win into a loss next game. I’ll celebrate an ugly win in game 6 and 7 but not here. Clean up the turnovers and hit the kill shots.
Me either but than we'll definitely need to win 7 or we'll all be bitching.
To me game 6 comes down to great defensive effort and we aren't going to be able to generate that without heavy / deep bench minutes.
Thibs has got to trust Shamet/Wright/Mitch even more - they are defending as well as anyone on team right now and pressuring the ball.
Yea but it’s a different level of disappointment. They will have scrapped their way back and lost a tight series by a hair. It would erase the stink of the first 2 games IMO and would go down with pride. Losing in 5 would have been embarrassing and losing in 6 after falling down 3-1 is still a beat down that we’ve experienced before like MIA and 2013 Indy.
Brunson was more locked in defensively. Fewer lapses. Just did his job better
With KAT and Brunson on the floor our defensive rating for the game was in the 70s which is outstanding. So much for the two of them being impossible to play togethwr. However i do think the increased focus on staggering them helps and the fact that we gave Indy multiple looks matters.
I also want to mention that we didn't let Indy shoot off the first action or early on in the clock. If Ben Sheppard or Jarace Walker is taking a late shot clock 3, thats something you have to live with and like better than the Pacers playing fast and walking into 3s early. The Pacers were hitting pretty well and it kept them in it for a bit, but in the end the big guns didn't burt us. Again that slows the Pacers down a ton and helps us run better offense when we are not running around in the blender.
They cannot guard Towns ans Brunson. They just cant. They have to double and press, but when we get either guy on one its a bucket.
No idea how to post it but there is a great 2 WAY DEMON clip of the plays Shamet made tonight.
It's even better than I thought - GREAT ENERGY.
We can take care of the ball better. We can shoot better from 3.
If we can defend like this the other tbings will come into place and we can bring this back to MSG.
Haliburton will come out aggressive with the deep 3s and pushing pace back at home. He was weird today, but we did n't let him start in space and that matters.
DLeethal wrote:LivingLegend wrote:DLeethal wrote:I’m not satisfied until we win game 6. Anything can happen in game 7 but winning game 6 erases the crappy losses from early in the series. That’s why I’m nitpicking how we closed out a 20 pt lead. We gave up like a 10-0 run at some point. Again these things will turn a win into a loss next game. I’ll celebrate an ugly win in game 6 and 7 but not here. Clean up the turnovers and hit the kill shots.
Me either but than we'll definitely need to win 7 or we'll all be bitching.
To me game 6 comes down to great defensive effort and we aren't going to be able to generate that without heavy / deep bench minutes.
Thibs has got to trust Shamet/Wright/Mitch even more - they are defending as well as anyone on team right now and pressuring the ball.
Yea but it’s a different level of disappointment. They will have scrapped their way back and lost a tight series by a hair. It would erase the stink of the first 2 games IMO and would go down with pride. Losing in 5 would have been embarrassing and losing in 6 after falling down 3-1 is still a beat down that we’ve experienced before like MIA and 2013 Indy.
Yep - game 6 would be STUNNING and definitely leave a better taste over summer.
Wow we even welcomed back Dudley
When Mitch owned the whole game
Please Mikal and Josh, when Brunson gives you thr pocket pass off the double, attack the rim. Dont pass to the cotner where the Pacers are rotating. Just attack the rim please. You both can finish.
Brunson now 30 ppg and 7 apg on 46/37/85 splits in the playoffs. And is it just me or is he still capable of having an even bigger game?
VDesai wrote:Brunson now 30 ppg and 7 apg on 46/37/85 splits in the playoffs. And is it just me or is he still capable of having an even bigger game?
I like that I think his first 4 buckets of the game came on off ball screen/action where we got Nesmith off him just a bit.
He looked fresh tonight and when that happens 40 point game is in view.
Thibs just has to use his bench - he can’t get in the I’m playing him 48 minutes mindsets to get this game. Play everybody - use pressure and keep Jalen & Kat fresh & attacking as early as possible but without rushing.
VDesai wrote:Wow we even welcomed back Dudley
Probably as a thanks for helping Mitch with FTs.
VDesai wrote:Please Mikal and Josh, when Brunson gives you thr pocket pass off the double, attack the rim. Dont pass to the cotner where the Pacers are rotating. Just attack the rim please. You both can finish.
In 21/22 with Phx in playoffs Mikal shot 2.3 FTs per game; with Nets in 22/23 in playoffs Mikal shot 5.8 FTs per game.
With us on higher minutes he’s shooting 0.9 FTs per game and his FT% is down significantly.
It’s not like he’s not getting the opportunity to attack he’s just allergic to contact.
LivingLegend wrote:VDesai wrote:Please Mikal and Josh, when Brunson gives you thr pocket pass off the double, attack the rim. Dont pass to the cotner where the Pacers are rotating. Just attack the rim please. You both can finish.
In 21/22 with Phx in playoffs Mikal shot 2.3 FTs per game; with Nets in 22/23 in playoffs Mikal shot 5.8 FTs per game.
With us on higher minutes he’s shooting 0.9 FTs per game and his FT% is down significantly.
It’s not like he’s not getting the opportunity to attack he’s just allergic to contact.
His ISO is different from Brunson or KAT ISO. If we ran some plays for him , like curls and such, backdoor..you know, then he would have more FT attempts.
VDesai wrote:Brunson was more locked in defensively. Fewer lapses. Just did his job better With KAT and Brunson on the floor our defensive rating for the game was in the 70s which is outstanding. So much for the two of them being impossible to play togethwr. However i do think the increased focus on staggering them helps and the fact that we gave Indy multiple looks matters.
I also want to mention that we didn't let Indy shoot off the first action or early on in the clock. If Ben Sheppard or Jarace Walker is taking a late shot clock 3, thats something you have to live with and like better than the Pacers playing fast and walking into 3s early. The Pacers were hitting pretty well and it kept them in it for a bit, but in the end the big guns didn't burt us. Again that slows the Pacers down a ton and helps us run better offense when we are not running around in the blender.
They cannot guard Towns ans Brunson. They just cant. They have to double and press, but when we get either guy on one its a bucket.
I would say if we want to simplify the defensive strategy down to one thing, it’s forcing the Pacers to shoot late in the shot clock. Their shooting % plummets when they have to shoot late in the clock. That means you’re doing everything right with regards to pressure and rotations. And that means pace is in our favor.
What a great game! Was out to dinner with friends and missed first half. Second was awesome!
They made a run and we swatted them back.
Kat won't change over night but as bad as he as last night with "silly fouls", he kept it shit together and finished strong.
If he can incrementally improve just on foul per game that will matter.
Meanwhile, he is fucking up Indy on offenses!!!
Indy looked tired last night.
One game at at time. There is hope. Knicks need to change the narrative. They took the fist step.
At the very least they showed up and kept their turf. That says something. I know its a damn shame about game one but it happened. They at least turned onto "Respectable Street with series 3-2."
You see the scene out on 7th ave? Some Knick fans are manic.
Damn, I did not recognize Chris Dudley but I will always have a special place in my Knick fan heart for him. He was often overmatched but he gave it his all.
with Shamet and WRight we have enough bodies to throw at Hali to pressure him constantly, like they do with Brunson.
Not a huge KAT fan but he has come up big this series, silly fouls and all. Keep going at Turner.
Mikal, OG, Shamet, Deuce, Wright... all of those guys should be in Hali's every time he even brings it up court.
martin wrote:MaTT4281 wrote:VDesai wrote:Robinson was a master class in the third. One of the great defensive stretches of the season.
Oh that’s fantastic
Remember some forgetting about the Mitch impact.
Now we just need him to get a foul shot coach and post those videos in the off season.
Him face guarding Turner was epic.
DLeethal wrote:The biggest change I saw was Mikal pressing full court and actually bumping Haliburton and getting a little physical. I think overall we swarmed well and made him see bodies
All our guys need to start doing that.
Indy has been riding Brunson all series.
OG's gotta play within himself, these drives where he is constantly getting stripped at the rim are Randle-esque.
And Hart's gotta be more careful with the ball.
TO's almost killed us this game and gave IND a sliver of hope.
