Facing a desperate situation after losing the first two games at home, the Knicks may consider lineup changes when the Eastern Conference Finals resume Sunday night, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required). Karl-Anthony Towns played just 28 minutes in Game 2 as the Pacers exposed his defensive deficiencies and backup center Mitchell Robinson delivered a strong performance. Bondy notes that Towns is too valuable to stay on the bench, so coach Tom Thibodeau will have to find a better option.
Bondy proposes two potential alterations to the starting lineup, one of which would replace Josh Hart with Robinson. That provides a twin towers approach just like Minnesota used when it made the conference finals last season with Towns alongside Rudy Gobert. New York would have its best rim protector and pick-and-roll defender on the court at the start of the game, and it provides a better opportunity to take Robinson out late in quarters before Indiana can start fouling him on purpose.
Bondy’s other suggestion is to replace Hart with Miles McBride, who has the team’s best net rating in the series at plus-20.6. Although it would create a small backcourt, McBride is an accomplished defender who can provide help when the Pacers attack Jalen Brunson.
There’s more on the Knicks:
- The team is taking solace in its strong road record as the series shifts to Indiana, according to Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. New York is 5-1 on the road in the playoffs, with three wins at Detroit and two at Boston, and was 24-17 during the regular season away from Madison Square Garden. “The whole year we played well on the road,” Hart said after Game 2. “We’ve played well on the road in the playoffs. That’s a tough place to play. Their crowd comes and shows love and support. But we’re a good road team. That always gives us confidence.”
- Knicks players understand that the 0-2 deficit gives them a chance to do something historic, adds Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Only five NBA teams have ever advanced after losing the first two games of a series at home, and no one has done it in the conference finals.
- Mikal Bridges believes better communication might solve the problems the starting five has been experiencing, per Steve Popper of Newsday. “I think we just have to talk to each other off the jump,” he said. “I think maybe we just play a little too soft in the beginning.”
I still can’t believe the Knicks would go down and have PJ Tucker not get off the bench when he’s a well known defensive stopper. How have they not tried hum on Hali or Nesmith?
Either one would blow right past the old man.
Tucker is 40 years old. He hasn’t been able to stay in front of anybody for 4 years. He’s not on the Knicks roster to play minutes.
Not even a timeout called haha. Horrible basketball
He’s 40 dude – remember what he is not what he was.
It’s all about making adjustments. If what you’re doing hasn’t worked then you try to slow down Hali with someone else. When you have a hawk on the roster, you have to try that imo.
Not when the other guys on the roster are much, much younger and more talented than current Tucker. That’s like saying why not throw me out on the court and hope such a change works out?
The Knicks have a few levers to pull—don’t play Payne, more minutes for Mcbride and Mitch, the twin tower lineups—but Tucker ain’t one of them.
Towns needs to concentrate on his offense. Go for 34 and 15, we won’t care about his D.
Hart and Bridges should concentrate on Haliburton and Nesmith. Achiuwa is who should get more mins next to Towns. He helps his D and can handle Siakam. There is no reason why he can’t play 16-20 mins. Also keeps Hart and Towns fresher.
Thibs doesn’t trust his bench. Really a miracle they are in East Finals. After giving away gm 1. Knicks should of came with the fire TWolves showed last night. Thats the most depressing thing of all. You don’t show up to protect your home. After blowing gm. Just unacceptable.
Knicks play better away from home. Brunson is the only one who has the cojones to play at home. So the ofds say they aren’t coming back from 0-2. Well just win the next game ….. all about gm3…….
no matter what happens. I can’t see Towns on this team. One way stars don’t do well in MSG …. NYK
KAT is a massive road block to success…
Wolves needed a HOF defender at the 5 and KAT at the 4 to make it work…
But the Knicks will only go as far as Thibs will allow them… Until he figures out how to trust a bench, theres only a few bright spots and no titles…
This is a series that I wish the Knicks still had TJ Warren. They could use him now.
I don’t know who made that decision. But it was the wrong one lol.
Knicks have always known who KAT is. His offense is what made the trade. And it worked considering we are in East Finals. Imo they felt Thibs could help him on D. And the NY crowd would demand D from him. So all in all you would have KAT playing better D. The truth is he has for most part during season. But now in playoffs where all teams are better. And you face them in a series. His weaknesses are being exploited. And rightfully so. My issue with him. Is he gives up on plays. And when he is not scoring he gets lost. Those are unacceptable to me and its going to get him traded.
Thibs mistake was not trying things during season to help him. Like Achiuwa next to him. Thibs is his own worst enemy at times. But the man has rebuilt the Knicks. So you have to give him some leeway. I mean they never helped him with the bench, by adding someone. Like not adding TJ for playoffs was a big mistake. It ain’t over till it’s over so it’s all about next game right now.
Thibs doesnt experiment…
You really need an early season Kerr type rotation to figure out different match ups you need with KAT… 11-13 rotation…
These problems have been the red flags for KAT since his draft… D has improved over that time but not enough to be a title winning 5 without 4 plus defenders…
And when he goes missing on offence its not to the aid of his team mates…
“We always look at everything”.
-Thibs
It will be a surprise if he pulls Hart for Mitchell, but it would be a good move. Hart benched for McBride, not so much.
Hart was letting everyone shoot. 6’4 isn’t big enough
Over/Under on the Giannis to the Knicks article after they’re eliminated is 7 seconds.
I think it’s pretty impossible for them to acquire him from a cap standpoint. Not sure how they’d even make that work but it would be extremely complicated.
That won’t stop people from speculating because they want attention, clicks, or just to stir the pot.
Towns can’t handle the pressure…… it’s that simple.
Remember Jimmy was talking about him and Wiggins. And Towns learned from Wiggins how to be a star ????
So its better for him to play away from home. Towns puts up 34 and 15. And nobody will care about his D. You played your way here. So now you man up and win a game. All about this game now.
Achiuwa is the one who needs mins. It’s just dumb to give him DNPs. Giving 16-20 mins a game. Keeps Hart and Towns fresher. Plus he is another body to throw at Siakam. Bridges and Hart main focus on D. Should be Haliburton and Nesmith. Its Yogi time ..