No Knicks are listed on the team’s injury report this morning ahead of Saturday’s pivotal Game 6 in Indiana, tweets James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. That’s certainly a good sign for the Knicks, as one of their best players was considered a game-time decision on Thursday.
Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns was initially questionable to suit up for Game 5 due to a left knee issue, but he wound up playing 36 minutes and recording 24 points and 13 rebounds in New York’s victory.
Here are a few more notes on the Knicks:
- Wing Josh Hart had a bounce-back performance on Thursday after being disappointed with his effort in Game 4, writes Barbara Barker of Newsday (subscriber link). Hart fouled out in Game 4 and only dished out one assist while committing five turnovers. “I was really embarrassed about what I was doing, how I looked and the lack of intensity, lack of passion and lack of competitiveness,” Hart said of how he felt after watching the Game 4 loss that gave the Pacers a 3-1 lead. “I was embarrassed, honestly. Not even the turnovers. But giving up back cuts, not communicating. I’m the guy who’s supposed to play with a high competitive nature, a high motor. Those were things I wasn’t doing. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror, let alone look at these guys.” The Knicks will need Hart to continue playing like he did in Game 5 in order to stave off elimination again tonight, Barker adds.
- Although Game 5 was the Knicks’ first decisive victory of the Eastern Conference Finals, they still committed 15 turnovers, which has been an ongoing issue in the series, per Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Eliminating some of those miscues will be important in Game 6. “It’s not just [Towns, who had four turnovers],” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “The big thing is keeping it simple. The first open man, hit him. Oftentimes, the intent is good, but we’re trying to thread the needle and we can’t do that.”
- Steve Popper of Newsday (subscription required) lists three keys for the Knicks ahead of Game 6, with the first — and most important — being finding a way to slow down Tyrese Haliburton again. After recording 32 points (on 11-of-23 shooting), 15 assists and 12 rebounds in Game 4, New York limited Haliburton to eight points (on 2-of-7 shooting), six assists and two rebounds in the Game 5 victory.
Now that the knicks won the pressure is on the pacers more than on the knicks. They must win on their home floor or going back to NY gives the Knicks a huge advantage.
Nah, there is tremendous pressure on both teams. But more pressure on the Knicks, if they lose, they are done. If it goes to game 7 then there is equal pressure on both teams. I’m expecting a good hard fought game tonight and while I’m picking the pacers I could see it going either way.
To get ready for both gm6 of the ECF tonight & the FIBA U19 Worlds coming up in a few weeks I gotta go back & show love to Tyrese Haliburton being absolutely dominant on possibly the most talented junior national team ever assembled. Haliburton led the tournament in assists. Still has the same game… link to m.youtube.com
4yrs earlier young Jalen Brunson was even more dominant, winning MVP of the 2015 FIBA U19 Worlds. This guy’s pretty firmly entrenched as a top10 southpaw in basketball history already & a couple more big games in this series could have him in serious consideration to be top5… link to m.youtube.com
Wow, you bring up a great subject to discuss. Top 10 lefties in NBA history.
Four guys immediately come to mind for me. Chris Mullin, Dave Collins, Tiny Archibald, Michael Redd.
I think Redd might not be top 10? Great player but got hurt too early?
Wow without looking it up who else was a great lefty? Derek Coleman? Wow this is going to take a minute. I know I’m probably forgetting someone super obvious.
It’s funny you should ask.., all I can think of is white guys lol. Gail Goodrich? Wow who am I missing?
As soon as I click send I’m sure three guys will pop in my head.
Oh hey, Bob Lanier. Center for my Milwaukee Bucks back in the early 80s. Don Nelson‘s stab at getting a dominant center because that’s what they lacked back then.
A little past his prime, but he was still solid.
Oh, thinking back to my Warriors teams Sarunas Marciulonis and Avery Johnson, but probably not top 10. Chris Gatling, too.
Anyway, this is too tough without looking it up.
Sankara do you have a top 10 lefty list? Off the top of your head without looking it up?
Replying to myself. Just thought of Lionel Hollins.., don’t know if he’s top 10 but then I asked Siri if Lenny Wilkins was left-handed. It kind of rang a bell but I couldn’t remember so I cheated and asked Siri.
He’s a lefty so he’s definitely top 10 maybe top five all lefty NBA all time…
Oh crap huge edit in addition. Bill Russell !! Incredible, I told you I would miss someone obvious. Wow I’m getting old and my memory sucks.
David Robinson, Harden, Goodrich, Russell, Manu, Tiny Archibald, Brunson, Mullin, Lanier, Cowens… that seems like a strong top10 to me
The FIBA U19 tournament is an infinitely more interesting subject to discuss tho
Oh my goodness all the obvious guys Harden, David Robinson, lol I’m a knucklehead. Manu.., and was Havlicek a lefty? Wow that’s why I’m crappy at trivia.
Oops, too late to correct my comment. I was reading Goodrich, but thinking Havlicek. Sorry about that.
But you’re humble, and seeing humility here is _______. <— fill in the blank.
Why no Willis Reed? Has to be top 5.
Artis Gilmore would also have a case for top 10. But Willis has to be there.
Sounds good. I didn’t realize he was left-handed.
Yeah he was. It’s where I first saw him. The vision and smarts. Positional size is a big talent to have. He is still growing his game. Just mouths too much .
So The disadvantage, ……goes to the team with the advantage at home, …..because they fear the disadvantage from being away the next game?
The pressure goes on Pacers to get it done at home. Knicks are playing with house money since they were given up for dead. Pacers do not want to go back to NY failing twice.
Nah, both teams came in knowing they had to win 4 to advance. House money is hyperbole
Knicks play better away from MSG pressure as a team. So I am confident they will show up. Towns and Bridges have to play well. Can’t put it all on Brunson. Thibs has to help his starters by using his bench wisely. Of course it would be great if McBride or anyone gives us scoring off the bench. You will need your starters fresn to close out. Pacers will go ten deep and keep coming all night …..
Its like I said earlier since gm1. Knicks can survive a bad gm by Brunson. Pacers can’t survive a bad game by Haliburton. So Bridges and Hart and perimeter D need ya …… this will go down to last mins. Let’s do This NYK ….
First Q in the books …
Hali 11 mins, 0 pts, 0 reb, 4 ast.
OK …. I take that.
Cancun time NY