JALEN BRUNSON
Of course, Jalen Brunson is a key to winning the series. He’s the New York Knicks Captain, their best player, one of the best clutch performers in the NBA and the face of the franchise. You know what you are getting when Jalen Brunson is healthy and on the court. What you don’t want to see against the Detroit Pistons is Brunson going one-on-five.
The last two springs, due to injuries, Brunson needed to play hero ball for the Knicks to reach the second round. The Knicks are healthy. He has a bonafide all-star in Karl-Anthony Towns as his running mate. He has two wings who have proven in their careers, and most recently during Brunson’s absence, that they can score the basketball.
Brunson needs to stay within himself, get the rest of the starters into the game early, and pick his spots for isolation. Now, if the Knicks are down with 5 minutes to go and no one else has stepped up, Brunson should absolutely put on his cape and win the game.
That’s the way Walt Frazier would do it. The first 43 minutes were mainly “dishing” and then he closed out many a game by “swishing”. Yes, that last sentence sounds a bit corny, but it’s in honor of Clyde’s 80th birthday.
Today’s point guards play a different game than back in the 1970’s, but the ball is still in their hands. Brunson has earned that right. He just must remind himself he doesn’t have to do it alone.
ICYMI Link: “4 Things About the New York Knicks Heading Into the NBA Playoffs”
MITCHELL ROBINSON
Cross your fingers, knock on wood and put something lucky in your pocket. Mitchell Robinson enters the playoffs healthy after missing the first 58 games of the season. The key for him in this series is to just stay on the floor… avoid injury and stay out of foul trouble. If he does that, it changes the perception that the Knicks can’t grind and play physical.
His lack of availability makes it easy to overlook his value. Let’s not forget that in 2022-23, when the Knicks knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games before succumbing to the Miami Heat in 6, Robinson started all 11 games and finished averaging 9.3 rebounds, 6.5 points and 1.5 blocks in 27.1 minutes per game.
MIKAL BRIDGES
Three years ago, Mikal Bridges was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team and finished as runner-up to Marcus Smart in the Defensive Player of the Year award voting. That’s the primary reason (along with his availability, versatility and team-first attitude) the Knicks were willing to go all-in and trade five first round picks to the Brooklyn Nets last summer.
In his first season with the Knicks, Bridges has only shown flashes of that form. The Knicks need him to find it on a more consistent basis during the playoffs.
TOM THIBODEAU
If you think I’m about to tell Tom Thibodeau NOT to shorten his bench, don’t worry, I’m not going to give any additional life to that narrative. Let’s face it, “Thibs is going to be Thibs”. And if you count yourself as one of the many Knicks fans who were not impressed with his second consecutive 50-win season, perhaps you want to refresh your memory of the mediocre records of the 12 coaches that bridged the Jeff Van Gundy and Thibodeau eras.
No, the key for Thibs this series is to trust his eyes. As we know, the playoffs are a different animal. Teams spend an enormous amount of time developing game plans based on detailed scouting reports. There’s a tendency to stick rigidly to a game plan. Thibs must fight this urge and trust what’s he’s seeing on the court. For example, if the Knicks decide to put Bridges on Cade Cunningham, and OG Anunoby does better while Bridges is getting a rest, stick with OG if it’s working and reassess prior to the next game.
PREDICTION
I’ve maintained all season that this starting five, if they are kept together by Leon Rose, would need a full-season, and full-summer to become a cohesive unit on both ends of the court. Considering how the Knicks looked late in the regular season, they clearly are not there yet. Now, that becomes a huge issue in round two assuming the Knicks play the Boston Celtics.
However, it’s only round one. The Pistons have a great young nucleus but they lack the Knicks depth and experience.
Knicks in 5
ICYMI Link “SRNY By The Numbers: Who’s Next for Jersey Retirement in New York Sports”
