Get the ball to Jalen Brunson and get out of the way.
Sometimes it was by design. Most of the time it was out of necessity. But that was ultimately the Knicks’ offensive approach against the Philadelphia 76ers — and it worked. After a rough Game 1, the All-Star guard wound up averaging 35.5 points across six games and carried his team to a first-round series victory. But how sustainable would that strategy be in the Eastern Conference semifinals, matched up against a deep Indiana Pacers squad that can pour it on in a hurry, from all angles, for 48 minutes a night?
The Knicks entered Game 1 on Monday knowing that, at some point in this series, they would need more offensive production out of Brunson’s supporting cast. The Pacers averaged 113.0 points across six games against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, pouring in at least 120 points on four separate occasions. The Knicks scored more than 113 points just twice against Philadelphia.
The matchups were different and the 76ers had boasted a better defense than the Bucks this postseason. But on paper, it appeared the Knicks would struggle to keep up with the high-scoring Pacers. But we play the games for a reason. Brunson did not carry the scoring load alone in the Knicks’ Game 1 defeat of Indiana, as the team eclipsed 120 points for the first time since April 9 against the Chicago Bulls.
Brunson, continuing his torrid offensive pace, finished with 43 points on 14-for-26 shooting. And, for just the second time this postseason, the Knicks had three players score at least 20 points between Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo (25) and Josh Hart (24). The Knicks entered the night ranked 11th among playoff squads in team field goal percentage at 44.1. They shot a blistering 53.7% against the Pacers and their starters outscored Indiana’s, 118-71.
For the most part, Brunson’s supporting cast answered the call.
But depth is what makes the Pacers so dangerous and the Knicks remain mindful of that as the series continues. Indiana has gone nine, sometimes 10 deep in these playoffs. Keeping pace with the scoring of Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner was not the Knicks’ biggest issue in Game 1. It was reserves such as T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, Isaiah Jackson and Ben Sheppard that almost got them beat.
Indiana’s bench outscored the Knicks’ reserves, 46-3. Although Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hart combined for 92 points, the Knicks won by only four points, and the Pacers will undoubtedly continue to exploit New York’s lack of bench scoring. The Knicks got incredible secondary scoring out of their starters in Game 1, but now the pressure is on guys like Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson to provide some offensive juice off the bench.
“We know [Brunson] is going to score his points shooting the ball 25, 30 times per game. We know he’s going to get to his shots,” Turner said. “But I think it’s more so about limiting their other role players. Someone like Josh Hart came in and had a great game tonight and really juiced them up. DiVincenzo hit some big shots at the end. So, it’s one of those things where at times you have to tip your hat to Brunson and then try to do the job with the other guys.”
This may not be a problem the Knicks can fix this postseason. Julius Randle is out, which forces Hart into the starting lineup. Bojan Bogdanovic is out for the rest of the postseason as well. Unless Tom Thibodeau finds minutes for a scorer like Alec Burks, McBride is really the only offensive-minded reserve the Knicks have left. That is a major problem for New York considering the Pacers have the best scoring bench in the league, and that this projects to be a long series where guys such as Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hart will continue to play heavy minutes. That trio played 44, 44 and 48 minutes in Game 1, respectively.
If those three continue to score like they did in Game 1, while holding the Pacers under 120 points (Indiana is 0-3 this postseason when scoring under 120 points), then it probably will not matter anyway. But is it sustainable? Will the wear and tear of the series eventually limit their offensive production?
“I think it’s maintainable,” DiVincenzo said. “Come in tomorrow, watch film, take care of your body and be ready to go the next day. This time of the year, it’s less about the wear and tear on your body and more about preparing for the next game mentality, watching film, adjusting that way, walking through plays rather than running through your stuff. So, minutes aren’t a factor right now, as long as we keep getting wins. Everybody knows the next game will be better, whether it’s guys coming off the bench, whether it’s the starting unit. So, the minutes can fluctuate throughout the series. I don’t think we’re worried about the minutes.”
