Karl-Anthony Towns was the Knicks‘ second-leading scorer in Game 2 of their first-round series against Atlanta, with 18 points, but he was essentially a non-factor during the fourth quarter of their 107-106 loss, Zach Braziller of the New York Post notes.
Towns attempted just two shots during those 12 minutes as the Knicks squandered a 12-point lead. He scored 25 points and dished out four assists in the Game 1 victory.
“The opportunity just didn’t come around shooting,” he said after Monday’s loss. “But at the end of the day, I trust everybody in this locker room to shoot the ball. The opportunities weren’t available for me in the fourth and it was fine.”
Jalen Brunson dominated the ball during much of that final quarter as New York scored just 15 points and shot 22.7% from the floor.
“We could’ve flowed better, for sure. We could’ve done that,” Towns said. “But at the end of the day, I have to watch the tape. When you’re so into the game, it’s hard to give a great assessment about it.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Jose Alvarado was a bright spot in the loss, according to Braziller. The reserve guard provided three assists, two rebounds and pesky defense in his nine-minute stint. Mitchell Robinson‘s performance was also a positive, in Braziller’s view. The big man notched 13 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block in 18 minutes.
- Lay the blame for the late collapse on coach Mike Brown, Brunson and OG Anunoby, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post opines. Brown mismanaged his timeouts, Brunson got lit up by CJ McCollum and Anunoby committed a crucial turnover and missed two late free throws.
- James Edwards III of The Athletic blames the loss largely on Brown, not only for the timeout issues but for his rotations. Brunson and Towns were both on the bench when the fourth quarter started and Atlanta made its run. Brown stood by that decision. “We’ve played that lineup quite a bit at the end of the season,” Brown said. “That lineup’s been pretty good. We weren’t good tonight and we turned the ball over a few too many times during that period. But we had opportunities where our starters were in, and we were up eight to 10 [points] and Atlanta closed it. So I wouldn’t just say that specific lineup caused it.”
Looks like Mike Brown is exactly who most of us thought he was coming into the season. A shame to see Rose and company with these entirely self-inflicted errors after getting the franchise back to this point. It never fails to amaze how otherwise smart people can make the dumbest and most obvious of mistakes.
KAT showing he’s not a top star in the league yet again…
He always shrinks in the biggest moments… You need more out of your stars in the playoffs over the regular season… you hope you get the same player… What you don’t want is someone who shrinks on the biggest stages…
He got locked up by Kuminga in the 4th and then KAT started camping in the corner.
That is not where he is most effective and the entire basketball world knows it…
KAT had finally settled in in the third quarter scoring 14 points I believe and then was benched until there were under 8 minutes left in the game. Instead of riding the hot hand and putting the game away he was riding the pine and the Hawks got back in the game. Brown has not managed KAT well all season offensively and it hurt in Game 2.
It is hard to understand how a coach with Brown’s experience hasn’t been able to figure out what to do with Towns? It’s not like the guy’s strengths and weaknesses haven’t been on display for the past decade. Why try to reinvent the wheel?
Towns and Bridges have been getting lost all yr. The coach is responsible for this. Cause he can do something about it. But in the end the players can just take over. It’s been two yrs and their issues are still the same. Actually have been even worse this year. Just a bad sign to see this in a playoff game. This coach better wake up and get a grip on this.
DET v CLE
ATL v PHI
OKC v LAL
SAS v DEN
That’s the next round
Coaching matters.
And they gave up 5 first rounders for Bridges. Hilarious. Knicks are always pure entertainment for my basketball soul.
I’m not sure how Brunson is regarded as a defender, but C.J. McCollum made him look pitifully incompetent. Move your feet man. Oh, and pick up your jock strap up off the floor. Add in Towns, “getting lost all year” like Al says. This was just one game and the Knicks will probably prevail, but OH, what a foul smell game 2 was.
Brunson tries hard on defense and he’s got a decent defensive IQ as he draws a lot of charges and plays the passing lanes well but he just doesn’t have the size or lateral speed to keep up.
Yep he lacks that lateral quickness.
Knicks aren’t losing to Hawks. Yet all the top East teams have shown their vulnerabilities.
You look at Knicks this yr and you wonder how they have more wins than last yrs team. When Bridges and Towns both have had worse yrs. Yet both still have big games. Just not the consistency. Consistency this is their second yr here. Safe to say this is who they are.
So it’s up to this coach to make sure we get the best of them in playoffs. If that means sitting them, then let be.
Give more mins to Hart n Clarkson at SG. And more mins to Landry, Mitch, Hukporti, Sochan, Diawara. If you can’t count on Bridges n Towns. Then you find someone you can count on. Thats why you have a bench. Towns should be avg 30 and 12 against this team.
17-27 from the ft line lost the game.
I agree Knicks will be the Hawks. However AL it’s concerning how they play and against Boston or the top West teams they will lose playing like this. They can have the lapses against Cleveland, Detroit and the Hawks. When they get to the NBA finals vs Denver or OKC they can’t play like this.
Also not sold on Detroit this year. I think they’re a year away and want more solid piece away. I honestly wish KD would have went to the Pistons. That would have been a finals team
Yeah you’re tight. As a fan I look at this way. We need 4 Ws to get the series. So don’t give more than 2 bad gms. Not saying they will win. Thise teans also have their bad gms. Imo those three teams don’t fear the Knicks. Like West teams, don’t either. So you have to show up as a team. And especially your coach and top guys. Tgats why its so frustrating.
This is who they are. So you hope they do enough to win series. Next two rds will be telling. I’m hoping Hawks wake them up. .
Sorry Al, after what I watched tonight there’s zero chance you guys win a championship. You’re just not going to win with Kat. Hopefully the Giannis for Kat trade goes through. Should have kept randle
Nobody is thinking chip lol. One series at a time.
First off anyone can clearly see they could of won both gms. This is who they are. I know under Thibs they win one at least probably both. This is all about leadership. Town’s isn’t a leader. He cowers from the spotlight. Doesn’t really know how to handle it. Brunson is a player that can be defended. So he needs help not just scoring. But closing gms out. It’s the same thing always. Towns n Bridges just can’t be relied on. Brunson is solid. But he isn’t SGA. It has to be them three. This coach is another weak minded soul. This three point bs is nonsense to me. Just win the game. Knicks own the paint.
This is what happened last yr with Pacers. They still haven’t learned they need everyone to play to win. I miss Thibs. He understands me lol.
Well, they’re losing the 1st Q right now by 11 pts already
This is why Thibs got fired. He wasn’t a Towns guy. And Dolan can’t fire the player. Towns should be dominating this team.
Brown is a horrible coach. I hope he’s gone after this series and we go get Donovan. He was never the right choice to replace Tibbs.
I can’t imagine why you think Donovan would be better.
I can’t imagine why you think Donovan would be better for the Knicks, considering his Bulls performance.