Knicks Handle Business, Jokic Embarrases the Alleged Defensive Player of the Year

  Knicks Handle Business, Indiana Goes Home Against the Ropes

 The Tom Thibodeau Knicks were objectively the better team for 48 minutes tonight. The previously unknown yet expected home court advantage at Madison Square Garden in May is proving to be a vital aspect of this series as, once again, Tyrese Haliburton looked under duress for all 94 feet. Jalen Brunson recorded his fifth 40+ point game this postseason with 44 points, yet it was on 35 shot attempts, which begs the age-old question of quality or quantity. I stand on my point that a healthy Jalen Brunson is the best point guard in the Eastern Conference, and I want to buy into this Knicks team fully; however, I have to question the long-term sustainability of Jalen Brunson taking 32+ shots a night. At the end of the day, this is the NBA. A redundant offense quickly transitions to no offense, particularly when considering the defensive caliber of the teams remaining in the postseason. Jalen Brunson taking 30+ shots a night objectively got the Knicks to the position they are in, yet it may be the very reason their season ends. The quality of Tom Thibadeau's coaching is highlighted brightly when you consider how injured the Knicks truly are. Yet, I can't help but hypothesize whether or not this team would be better or worse with Julius Randle back on the floor. One would assume having an all-star level player back for the playoffs would help tremendously however, I am not 100% sold. Jalen Brunson is shooting 45% from the field, which suggests that a portion of Brunson's high-scoring output can be attributed to his high volume of shots, which may be obvious however, 44 points on 35 shots is not a positive variable for long-term postseason success. The Knicks went 21-15 with Julius Randle off the floor the season. Would Julius Randle taking touches out of Brunson's hands have ended the Knicks earlier if Randle was hypothetically healthy? An interesting dilemma for the Knicks front office to explore going into the offseason.

   Isaiah Hartenstein had a career game on the offensive glass, tying Charles Oakley for most offensive rebounds in a playoff game for a Knick. Deuce McBride continues to be a bright spot for the remainder of the Knicks' postseason run as the rookie dropped 17 in his first career playoff start. I want to emphasize again how different of a player Tyrese Haliburton looked when comparing tonight to the previous two games in Indiana. This drastic change can be attributed to the quality of the Knicks' efficiency however, a majority of the credit has to be given to the home-court advantage of a playoff game at the Mecca of basketball. Too bad the Knicks have sucked for so long. Game Six is Friday night in Indiana. Interestingly enough, Indiana has already opened up as a -5.5 point favorite. Knicks money line to secure Knicks in six, please.

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   Nikola Jokic Erases Credibility of Defensive Player of the Year, Nuggets Take Game Five 112-97.

 I have to start by stating my Timberwolves in six games prediction was entirely contigent upon Rudy Gobert playing like the Defensive Player of the Year. Nikola Jokic was awarded his third MVP award prior to tipoff tonight, and this is where we should have known. Nikola Jokic took Rudy Gobert's lunch money for 48 minutes. With Adam Silver sitting courtside, Nikola Jokic looked like me at my local pickup runs, except only one of us waits tables. Jokic's most impressive of the night was his zero turnover line to go with his 13 assists.

 Chris Finch's $200 MIllion defensive player of the year needs to come off the floor in crucial moments if Minnesota plans on getting past Denver. Chris Finch and Micah Nori are well aware at this point of the fact you are unable to stop Jokic. If you are unable to stop Jokic, why not maximize your offensive output in hopes of beating him? If Rudy Gobert is going to let Jokic put up 40 points on 20 shots, with 13 assists and zero turnovers to go along, he needs to come off the floor. Before I bring questions to Rudy's puzzling offensive inabilities, I have to, unfortunately, give credit to his 18 points tonight; however, this line is deceitful. Gobert was perfect from the field tonight, yet a large majority of his points came from easy looks. This is because it is excruciatingly clear that Michael Malone has made the call to almost entirely disregard Rudy Gobert whilst on defense. Every time Anthony Edwards or Karl Anthony Towns touches the ball with Rudy Gobert on the floor, Malone sends the double. All fairness to the difficulty of seeing a double 24/7 for Anthony Edwards however, if we are going to compare a twenty-two-year-old to Michael Jordan, I need to see him be confident going at the double team. Without Michael Conley, Edwards was looking to spark offense by way of pick and rolls, but with Rudy being the screener, Edwards is essentially calling for the double himself. If the narrative is going to be this second coming of MJ, we can't have him at Planet Fitness this offseason complaining about double teams. Where is Devin Booker right now? If Michael Malone is going to send the double 40 feet from the rim, Edwards needs to be decisive and look to get downhill instead of accepting the double team and picking up his dribble. Anthony Edwards was completely eliminated from this game offensively for Rudy Gobert taking up space and his own ability to get out of high press double teams. If Chris Finch and Micah Nori want to open space for their scorers, Rudy Gobert has to come off the floor in order to keep the Nuggets' defense honest. At least for important offensive possessions.

 The San Jose product, Aaron Gordon, continues to be Denver's postseason X-Factor as his playmaking has completely shifted this series' course. Michael Malone has switched to having Gordon bring the ball up and start the offense rather than Jamal Murray, who is currently serving 48 minutes a night being tormented by Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander Walker. The first two games of the series saw an inability for Denver to get any offensive rhythm as the Nuggets were unable to get into their sets to begin with. With Gordon now bringing up the ball, Jamal Murray is free to move off-ball, which opens up a variety of options for both Michael Malone and Nikola Jokic. All be it a minor switch, however it is having massive implications in the scheme of the series. 

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