Knicks Wrap Up the Season Series Winless Against the Cavaliers
It’s fitting that the Knicks would fail to capitalize on the opportunity to build momentum going into the playoffs after the season they've had against the top teams in the league. New York failed to beat either the Celtics or the Cavaliers the whole season and have shown they lack the grit to defeat these powerhouse organizations. The last three games have proven that by losing three in a row to the Celtics, Pistons, and Cavaliers. In each game, they held a lead for a good amount of playing time. Having officially been matched up against the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs it is time to forget about the regular season challenges and show up against Detroit at the end of this month.
Jalen Brunson Looks Like Himself Again
I’m going to start on a positive note and give Jalen Brunson his flowers for an impressive and efficient performance. There have been some doubts about Brunson’s play ever since he returned from injury, but he showed against the Cavs that he has not lost a step and will be extremely reliable as the number one option in the postseason. We can look forward to forty-plus-point performances and extremely clutch shots that can potentially give the Knicks the edge in the playoffs. Brunson has such a knack for hitting tough fadeaway jumpers in crunch time, and this type of intensity and fearlessness will be a crucial aid in defeating the juggernauts of the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks Need To Defend Better From Beyond The Arc
If one thing was evident towards the end of this contest, the Knicks could not stop the three-ball. Players like Max Strus and Isaac Okoro were killing New York from three all game and hurt them down the stretch. This has been a problem all season and has cost the Knicks a tremendous amount of close games. The defensive strategies implemented are not effective enough and should center more around containing the wing shooters who can kill them from deep at a moment's notice. I believe more attention toward the three-point threats can stop the Knicks from blowing such closely contested games.
