DETROIT – A reasonable count of the best six players in this series would include five knicks. They entered with the advantage of talents on the pistons, with two stars of stars and an offense which was placed in the top 5 of the NBA.
But every night turned into a fight before match 6 on Thursday. The victories were as difficult as defeats.
They had ahead of the pistons by a combined point by leading the series, 3-2.
Their attack was stuck in the mud, with too many acts of Houdini by Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
The goods rarely felt smooth.
The good news, according to Josh Hart, is that the Knicks worked in optimal Well-Boulow, which means that they should theoretically have a much higher speed.
Given how the Pistons series took place before Thursday, they would need much better to compete in the next round against the Celtics.
“Not at all (we played our best basketball). Not even close,” said Hart. “I think we had thrusts where we played very well, then we had thrusts where we played terrible-that is to say this third quarter (in match 5).
“So we have to make sure that we find means to keep a good flow and a good rhythm throughout the game. It plays faster, it makes them make decisions, and when you make teams make decisions, you put them in a position to make mistakes. (Towns), but also Mikal and Og (Anunoby), go there and hoop.
Hart harp always to accelerate the pace and this certainly suits his forces in transition.
But Knicks should have advantages in other regions given their staff, Brunson, cities and bridges are all able to create for themselves in the half zone.
Instead, the Knicks entered Thursday by pulling only 44% in the series – well below their 48% in the regular season. The most alarming, they were on average only 20.7 assists compared to their 27.5 assists in the regular season.
The movement of the ball has stopped.
“I think the offensive I think we – me – had trouble offensively,” said Brunson. “I feel like I am raising the ball, I have the ball most of the time, so it starts with me. So, to be better offensively in a team, I have to make decisions better and make sure I put my teammates in the best position to succeed. So it starts with me. “
Is it a product of playing or simply a natural consequence of the defensive intensity withdrawing in the playoffs?
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“I think a mixture of the two,” said Brunson. “Basketball in playoffs, we play the same (team) for the moment, it’s the sixth time. I’m almost sure they know us and we know them.
“We are now in a position where we just have to go out and win it. It is not going to be given to us, they will not put anything back. We have to go there and play as best we can, regardless of what is going on. It will never be easy.; We just have to go there and go get.”
Of course, the other upper seeds of the Eastern Conference were all easier. The Knicks were the only ones not to spend the first round after five games.
The Celtics will have rested before facing the winner of the Knicks-Pistons series.
This is a consequence of New York that does not show its best.
“I don’t think none of us thought that this series was going to be a cake,” said Hart. “It’s a big team (the pistons) there with a very good coach and coach staff. We respect them. So we must make sure that we focus on this. The other teams can rest, it’s cool for them, you know. We must make sure that we take care of what we can take care of and control. ”
