Lakers 113, Knicks 109 (OT): Gut punch(es)
A late injury to Jalen Brunson overshadowed everything else that took place in Crypto Arena
Tom Thibodeau is a 100-pound weight and Jalen Brunson is the New York Knicks’ strongest swimmer.
That’s the story of this season. And it went 4-D in a 113-109 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Brunson, en route to another 35+ point/10+ assist performance, rolled his ankle with 84 seconds left in OT. He hit the free throws before walking off the hardwood and into the locker room. (Ed. note: It looked like a high ankle sprain. In a bad way.)
New York might as well have, too. A tough and-1 layup from OG Anunoby (who missed the free throw) was their only bucket between Brunson’s injury and the final buzzer. Tom Thibodeau’s adjustment to Brunson’s absence? Miles McBride: play point guard.
Deuce got one opportunity in a pick-and-roll with Karl-Anthony Towns that went nowhere fast. He’s not a creator. Neither is Thibs. Luka Dončić and LeBron James were rewarded for their comedic antics in-between plays — a flop here, a ball spike there — with their eighth-straight win. And the Knicks have the vibes of a team who’s lost eight straight. In comparison to the expectation, it’s not entirely incorrect that right now it feels like a losing streak. New York’s last convincing win came over a Memphis Grizzlies team that shot 4-of-31 from behind-the-arc. Not the kind of W you brag about to your friends at the water cooler.
Notes
A slow start turned into a high-paced affair for Anunoby, who’s shaken off all the rust after missing six games in Feburary with a sprained foot. In seven games since he’s averaging 17.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists, including 37% shooting from deep. Last night’s defense on Dončić couldn’t have been better: according to NBA.com’s matchups tracker, Luka shot 2-of-8 last night with Anunoby as his primary defender and 7-of-15 when guarded by anyone else. Tracking stats are more fable than fact. But I’ll be sharing this one around the campfire tonight.
I think Mitchell Robinson looks great, given the circumstances. Last year’s return felt more taxing; his first few games were rough. This time is different. He looks more sure-footed, more in-touch with the rhythm of the game. Perhaps the long wait was actually a part of the plan? I trust Leon Rose until he gives me reason not to. Still waiting.
McBride finished +4 in 21 minutes of a game he shot 0-for-6. And those last two shots came out of place in the aforementioned overtime debacle. I would like to see him start tonight in Brunson’s stead. And I’d like to see him continue starting thereafter. But that’s a longer story than we have time for.
Since the All-Star break, the Knicks are shooting 31% from three on 35.9 attempts – 27th and 25th in the league. Bridges needs to shoot more. Towns needs to shoot more. Hell, Cameron Payne needs to shoot more. If this team is going to win come May/June, it’ll be because they start performing like the top-5 offense we saw to start the year.
Thibodeau is on the hot seat. There’s a contingent of folks who’ve already said it, and today I join them. Matthew Miranda wrote about his legacy if all is said and done after this season, so I’ll spare you the soapbox. But his refusal to play his best players is flat-out nonsensical for a guy who’s constantly reviewing data and film.
New York has played Brunson, McBride, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns for a total of 77 possessions all season. For reference, Precious Achiuwa has played next to Towns for 768 possessions, in a lineup that’s yielded almost exclusively negative results. Regardless of your stance on the starting lineup, no one would consider the aforementioned quintet any lower than a top-3 rotation on this team. McBride (36% 3PT) provides the spacing that Hart (32% 3PT) doesn’t, unlocking the real five-out offense that was advertised before the season. I’m not saying Deuce should start, but this lineup has got to see more time on the floor together. Thanks to this injury to Brunson, it may be too late once they do.
Thibodeau often appears unaware or uncaring of the future assets that were mortgaged in the deals for Bridges and Towns. In centering his entire offense around Brunson, he’s isolated two-thirds of what was supposed to be a Big Three. Any criticism of Bridges and Towns can’t be given the time of day until we’re seeing their skillets maximized on the offensive end. Draw plays up for your best players, man! And play them, too!
As a fanbase, we’ve done a lot of talking. Bridges was worth five first-round picks, Towns can rewrite the narrative from Minnesota and be a playoff riser. Hart won’t interrupt the five-out offense. Brunson and the Knicks are certified contenders. But what was no longer feels like it is. Brunson’s injury has a chance to derail what was left of New York’s trajectory this season, a speeding train headed north towards a second-round exit. It’s time for a gut check, fellas. And it’s probably overdue.