I New York Knicks seem to be the proverbial “team on a mission.” So far their post season has been outstanding despite some physical problems.
The Knicks took a 2-0 lead against the Indiana Pacers by winning both of their first two Conference semifinal games at Madison Square Garden. During Game 2, however, they had to give up for large stretches their leading Jalen Brunson and then also to another key pawn like OG Anunoby who will most likely not be in Indianapolis.
So far, however, the trio by alumni of the university of Villanova. Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo all played for the same college, found themselves in New York and are confirming the good things they showed in the regular season. They have literally taken over the team and are stepping up when possessions count. The three of them, in fact, score 84 percent of the points scored by the entire team in the quarter periods of the eight Playoffs games played so far.
Other incredible statistics include those on the employment of Josh Hart, literally irreplaceable in Tom Thibodeau’s system. Hart has not been off the court for as many as ten consecutive quarters; he played the entire first two games with the Pacers and the second half of Game 6 with the Sixers. So far he has been on the court for 374 minutes of the 389 played by New York in the postseason. In the last five games he has an average of 48.2 minutes played. Yes, you read that right: there was an overtime that led him to play more on average than he usually lasts in an NBA game. He has played 48 minutes in four matches, the last to do so was Jimmy Butler in 2013. That year, however, the Heat won the title; NY is “just” in the second round. Numbers even destined to increase, given Anunoby’s likely forfeit.
To Jalen Brunson’s crazy playoffs we devoted a separate article.
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