Be Kind Rewind: Knicks-Spurs Game Two

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This is not the Knicks. Over decades we’ve seen this same game unfold. The Knicks come back with a big lead late, the opposing team makes a run, wins it, and the buzzer sounds. This Knicks team, like many before it, had all the qualities to add to this pattern. However, through nothing groundbreaking, found a way to win it. Going back to MSG, we are looking at not only the best Knicks team all century, but maybe the best Knicks team ever?  

Biggest Mistake: Jalen Brunson’s Missed Layup 

Unlike Game One, Brunson was the reason they almost lost Game Two. No matter his shooting that night, his layup attempt late into the fourth would’ve put the Knicks up five in a game that they only won by one. That miss was the symbol for the multiple chances New York had at closing this game out. Over the last five minutes of the game, you saw San Antonio give the Knicks chances to close out this game, and New York would just reciprocate that chance. While a win is a win, if New York wants to quickly close out this series, New York needs more certainty in their late-game offense, similar to Game One.  

Adjustment to Watch: Get Wembanyama Off of Towns 

Wemby and Towns have been interconnected this series so far on both sides of the floor. Throughout the playoffs, San Antonio has made it clear to have Wemby on the weakest offensive threat to let him roam the floor. In this series, however, they seem to leave that idea and put Wemby on Towns. While the reasoning for that matchup can be the lack of size outside of Wemby in the starting five, it still has made it harder for the offense and defense to reach their full apex. With Wemby now guarding who has been the best player in the series so far, it’s left both end of games to feel like Wemby had no energy by the end. 

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Biggest Takeaway: The Spurs Youth Is Showing At The Biggest Moment 

Throughout this playoffs, the Spurs have constantly proved a lesson we have learned from previous champs. To have a chance at the title, you need to get punched down a little. We saw this in the Dallas series against OKC as an example, with the next year winning the title. The problem has been that this seems to finally be showing their youth and inexperience in the biggest games of the entire year. The team has felt exhausted by the time the game ends, and while having runs at the end of games to try and close out, they seem to never have quite enough to truly grab the win. 

Swing Factor: Champagnie’s Three-Point Foul on Anunoby 

Late in the fourth quarter with a tied game, a questionable call comes against Anunoby, leading to a challenge. During the review, we see that Julian Champagnie fouled OG Anunoby on the three, leading to three free throws for OG. While maybe not the icing shots, this gave New York the comfort and ability to rally at the very end without being out of reach.  

Player of the Game: Karl-Anthony Towns

 While Wemby made a case in the second half, his late-game execution tampered an incredible second half. Through the first two games, Towns had flat-out dominated the Spurs. His offense was the catalyst behind their now 13-game winning streak with his playmaking and rebounding, but the story of this series is his defense. While in the second half, Wemby seemed to figure it out a little more, that was somewhat misleading. In the third, two calls went San Antonio’s way, leading to Towns sitting on the bench. Following KAT sitting, Wemby then went on his tear through the third quarter.