No Bench Production From Tibb’s Crew
By Andrew Rosario
Miami – All the New York Knicks needed to do was win one game in Miami to even the series and regain home court advantage against the Heat. Losing games 3 and 4 has put them on the brink if being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs to a #8 seed team that took out the #1 seed Milwaukee Bucks.
New York was thoroughly outplayed by Miami, a team that was without guard Tyler Herro and forward Victor Oladipo. In both losses, the Knicks could not get stops when they needed to and could not get timely baskets. The Heat got major bench production where the Knicks bench was no where to be found.
In the game 3 105-86 loss last Saturday afternoon, New York shot 34% from the floor and missed 32 3-point attempts. Guard Jalen Brunson could not duplicate his game 2 production, scoring 20 points. Heat’s guard Jimmy Butler returned after missing game 2 after rolling his ankle. He finished with a game high 28 points. Kyle Lowry continued to be a force off the bench, scoring 14 points.
The Knicks showed life in game 4 and once again were betrayed by their defense and inability to make shots and come out with stops when they needed them. In the 109-101 loss, Brunson had a solid game, leading all scorers with 32 points. RJ Barrett had 24 and Julius Randle chipped in 20 but Butler and Bam Adebayo combined for 50 points. Miami’s bench outscored the Knicks bench 30-10.
The New York Knicks hoped to extend the series when they hosted the Heat Wednesday night. All of the they generated after taking out the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round has quickly disappeared after the last two games. Winning game 5 puts them back in Miami for game 6. At that points anything can happen. It’s hard to imagine a different outcome from what has happened in Miami. The Heat are not playing like a #8 seed. The Knicks are not playing like a #5 seed.
Said a dejected Brunson after, “they (Miami) are sticking to their game plan. You gotta give them credit.” On the mindset going into game 5 Brunson said, “We’re on the brink of elimination. No matter what you do, no matter what you have to do, you gotta go out and give it your all.”
