Be Kind Rewind: Knicks-Spurs Game One

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Leaving Frost Bank Center following the Knicks 1-0 lead against San Antonio. Two big takeaways can be seen from both sides of the floor. New York by the end of the game, unlike San Antonio knew their late gameplan-Brunson, Brunson, Brunson. Near the end of the game San Antonio didn’t have the go-to play or gameplan to rely on to keep up with the Knicks.

After each game, Kruse Line will provide the awards and takeaways, and slight overreactions that could define another great series of basketball.

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Biggest Mistake: Once again, the Kornet Minutes

Some can argue this can’t be a mistake giving Wemby needed rest, but looking back on the game that was when the Knicks rallied back from down 13. While I think Luke Kornet is a really good backup big, compared to someone who can change the floor like Wembanyama teams feel like how they play normally.

All playoffs it has become clear in the non-Wemby minutes, teams tend to run their usual offense without the added Wemby effect on the floor. The only solution that could fix this issue is subbing Wembanyama out at the same time as Brunson, leading to a more conventional offense.

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Adjustment to Watch: More Harper, Less Fox

Throughout the NBA Finals usually one player from every team's rotation over time will slowly be taken out or become limited in his minutes. Either through health, opposing teams attacking the players’ weaknesses, Fox feels close to being the casualty of this.

While in the end of game scenarios, they will keep Fox in the game to run their only sure-thing offense-pick and roll with Wemby. Outside of that, San Antonio should rely on Dylan Harper more throughout the game. For San Antonio, Harper was the saving grace of this game. His sub-in early in the first lead to a 20-3 run ending the first quarter, and in total was just the best player in the game. If San Antonio wants to win, they need to give Harper the floor more than Fox.

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Biggest Takeaway: Knick Bring a Title to New York With KAT Playing Like This

Early in the game after days discussing the possibility of OG or KAT guarding Wembanyama, coach Mike Brown decided to put KAT on him, and was one of the biggest reasons for their win. His defense on Wembanyama was some of his best I’ve ever seen from Towns. His lack of fouls combined with staying to the ground on pump fakes and drives made Wemby have the worst two hours of his life. If KAT plays this way on both sides of the floor with his playmaking and rebounding he also brought, this feels like New York’s chance.

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Swing Factor: OG Anunoby’s Threes

After being tied going into the fourth quarter, OG Anunoby lit the spark that felt like the beginning of the Knicks eventual closing out of the game. Early into the fourth, Anunoby hit two momentum shifting threes that put the Knicks up five early into the fourth. That play while added on with Fox’s foul on Bridges late and Brunson’s layup to seal the game were other possibilities. However, Anunoby’s felt like the match that started all the events following it.

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Player of the Game: Jalen Brunson

After leaving during the first quarter with a knee injury, Brunson had one hell of a game. From heckled fans yelling obscenities to an ankle injury later in the game, Brunson had all the reason to struggle. Yet was the player that pushed the Knicks over the top.

After struggling for the first three quarters outside of spot minutes, Brunson came alive in the fourth quarter. It was clear the Knicks and Brunson, unlike the Spurs, had an idea how they would end the game.