Brunson Drops 43 Knicks Take Game 1, Minnesota Goes Home Up 2-0

Jalen Brunson Drops 43, Knicks Take Game One 121-117

 If Vegas allowed you to gamble on opinions, I'd have a red-eye booked for tonight that would be at the shit-hole that is Harry Reid International Airport by morning to put every penny I will ever make on the point that Jalen Brunson is the best point guard in the East, dare I even say the league. Whether or not Brunson felt extra motivation playing his former coach, Brunson scored 43 points on 54% from the field. Jalen Brunson is now the first player since Michael Jordan in 1993 to score 40+ points in four consecutive playoff games, with Mike ultimately winning the Finals that year.  Brunson is the fourth player to do so, making new company with Jordan in 1993, Bernard King in 1984, and Jerry West in 1965. Not bad for a guy that was a free agent last year. Eighteen of Brunson's 43 points came in the fourth quarter, yet the most impressive aspect of his game this evening was his ability to draw contact, particularly in the mid-range. Andrew Nembhard had five fouls, Aaron Nesmith had four fouls, TJ McConnell had two, and Ben Sheppard had one with almost every single foul drawn by Brunson alone, the Knicks were in the bonus with seven minutes and change left in the fourth. Regardless of who Rick Carlisle sent, Brunson got a bucket. This was an absolute masterclass only comparable to a composer orchestrating a grand symphony.

 Indiana led this game at the halftime break and ultimately led by nine points coming into the fourth quarter. Indiana played a cohesive game that often had the Knicks looking defensively vulnerable due to Indiana's extreme pace of play. The Knicks came into the playoffs ranked dead last in pace of play, so the story of the Tortoise and the Hare seems fitting, except only the Tortoise hits mid-range turnarounds and double-contested threes. Tommy Thibz is game planning to 'conserve' by keeping the game close until the fourth quarter when his team hits a different gear and closes out games. The Villanova big three of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo combined for 33 of the Knick's 39 fourth-quarter points, with DiVincenzo ultimately hitting the go-ahead three, however, a comment to this point. Josh Hart scored 24 points tonight that came by way of shooting 70% from the field, a rate I am confident is not sustainable. Donte DiVincenzo had 25 but shot 60% from the field and over 50% from three, more probable in terms of consistency than Hart, but still an extremely high rate. Tom Thibadeau’s 'give Brusnon the ball and get out of the way' gameplan works with hyper-efficiency in the fourth quarter; however, the three quarters before the fourth can sometimes be shaky as the offense starts to feel somewhat predictable, stagnant even. As fantastic as Brunson is, the Knicks need a consistent second scorer at a sustainable rate. Spike Lee can in no way sleep comfortably, trusting DiVincenzo and Hart to combine for 50 every night at 64% from the field. The Knicks need an X-Factor every night to get past this Indiana team, especially if they have any chance against Boston.

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Denver Held to 80 points, Minnesota goes home up 2-0

This may have been the greatest defensive performance as a team that I have ever seen. This was an absolute robbery, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker should be the main defendant. Jamal Murray had eight points coming by way of 3/18 from the field and 0/4 from three. Alexander-Walker made Murray work for every inch for all 94 feet, and Murray still had nothing. Jamal Murray should resurrect Dog the Bounty Hunter's career if he plans to see any peace in the backcourt anytime soon. Denver ultimately ended up losing by 26, with Michael Malone sending in the schmucks at the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter. An interesting number I did not hear mentioned on the TNT broadcast was the fact that this was the first Denver home game in which both a player and head coach interrupted play to throw a tantrum. Anthony Edwards hit a low post jumper early in the first quarter that should've sent him to the line, it did not. For a reason not currently apparent to PorchTalk, Michael Malone, a 52-year-old father of two, threw a complete temper tantrum in Mark Davis' face that somehow did not end in an ejection or at least a technical. Joey Crawford is said to have driven threw a wall last night following the no-call. There is a saying that has been said similar to the effect of 'great coaches teach their players how to act both on and off the field'. Michael Malone executed this philosophy to the letter as Jamal Murray would decide to throw a heat pack onto the court, during play out of frustration for not getting calls in his favor, when in reality, he knew he was facing 48 minutes to life. The theme of the four quick games against Phoenix was Minnesota's suffocating defense, with particular emphasis on the backcourt. Devin Booker has lived to tell the tale of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaden McDaniels for 94 feet, and it has apparently fallen on deaf ears as Jamal Murray appears to be next. 

Nikola Jokic looked far from his back-to-back MVP self, as much as Murray, Jokic was behind bars for 48 minutes. The Timberwolves combined for 11 steals and 12 blocks, all without the former Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. Although Minnesota's defensive tenacity is reflected in the box score, a number of Denver's 16 turnovers were unforced and simply sloppy basketball. I can't help but beg the question of possible complacency with this Denver team due to their recent successes. I want to highlight an Aaron Gordon turnover late in the fourth that would decapitate any chance of Denver making a fourth-quarter run as Gordon threw the ball into the second row with a no-look, between-the-legs bounce pass, down 28. Anthony Edwards had 27 points and continued to look like the future face of the league, even hitting the Michael Jordan shoulder shrug after hitting a double-pivot turnaround. The defending Champions need to make serious adjustments before Game 3 on Wednesday; otherwise, someone needs to tell the horses that Jokic is coming home.

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