We’ve really reached a point where the Knicks simply walk on the court, move around a bit, put on a half-baked effort, and beat teams by 20.
New York and the irrational Knicks fanmob head to Ohio for, potentially, the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals… and the unmentionable that would come next.
Here’s what he heard and read off a H(e)arty Game 2 victory.
Mike Brown
On Josh Hart’s performance in Game 2:
“It’s just who Josh is. He’s a gamer. He knew what he had to do in terms of the adjustments he needed to make in order to be effective, not just for himself but for the team, and he was great, really decisive. Not only that, he helped us get out in transition, and we have to play fast. He knows the work that he puts in, and his confidence is not going to waver. He’s going to put pressure on himself to take that next one and make the next one.”
On encouraging Josh Hart to keep shooting:
“We want him to keep shooting it. [If] those feet are set, and Jarrett Allen wants to play in the paint, shoot it. And we’ll figure out the rest of the game after that. But just a hell of a game from Josh.”
On Hart’s impact beyond the box score:
“He does so many little things that don’t show up on the box score. I mean obviously, he shot well tonight, he scored 26 points, he had seven assists, one turnover, but he does so much more.”
On giving Hart extra leash:
“Because he’s so impactful as a connector, I gotta give him probably more leash than anybody else. I gotta let him go be him and get out of his way. And that’s hard sometimes as a coach because you’re looking at X’s and O’s and you want everything to be perfect and you’re looking at the box score and you’re looking at this and with Josh and with Andre, all that s— should be thrown out the window because those dudes are winners.”
On trusting Josh Hart after benching him in Game 1:
“It’s easy for me to say because I have the utmost confidence in the world in him. He’s a gamer. When you have guys who are gamers, they do stuff that people don’t think they can do. And he knows the work he puts in. We know the work he puts in. His confidence is not going to waver. He’s going to put confidence in himself to take the next one and make the next one.”
On comparing Hart to future HOFer Andre Iguodala:
“My time with Andre Iguodala in Golden State helped a lot (understanding players like Hart). They’re different players, but they’re similar players because Andre is edgy, too. Andre is a hell of a player. I mean, he’s a great player. He does so many little things that if you’re not careful, you won’t appreciate them. It’s the same with Josh. He does so many little things that don’t show up in this box score … starting with the versatility that he gives us defensively that you have to — and I mean, me — be careful not to dismiss it. On top of that, because he’s so impactful as a connector, I got to give him more leash than anyone else. I have to let him go be him and get out of his way. That’s hard sometimes as a coach because you’re looking at Xs and Os, you want everything to be perfect, you’re looking at the box score and looking at this … with Josh and with Andre, all that s— should be thrown out of the window because those guys are winners.”
On Jalen Brunson handling double teams as the Cavs adjusted in Game 2:
“As an MVP candidate, Jalen Brunson’s job is to make the game easier for his teammates, and that’s what he did. If you don’t send a second guy at him, he’s got a pretty good chance of scoring. If you send the second guy at him, he’s going to make the game easier for his teammates. They’re sending double-teams at him, and he had 14 assists. He did what he’s supposed to do.”
On Jalen Brunson’s demeanor:
“He’s just about the right stuff. And we’re fortunate to have him.”
On the free-throw disparity in Game 2:
“I don’t know what to do about the free throw line. 22 to 6 in the second half. I gotta go back and watch the film. Maybe we’re fouling… Maybe we were fouling and they weren’t fouling. I don’t know.”
On Mikal Bridges asserting himself offensively:
“He just started to impose his will on the game a little bit more. I also have to make sure I call his number every once in a while and make sure he stays in the flow because he has a tough assignment every game defensively … I have to make sure I continue to involve him offensively to let him know: ‘Hey, we know you can do this for us. So go do it.’“
On how they prepared for Game 2 after the Game 1 comeback:
“We have a veteran group. Any time you’re in the playoffs, you obviously need a little bit of talent, you need a little bit of luck and then you need skill. All those things came to play for us coming back from [22] points down with that little bit of time to go. I think our guys understand that we got away with one and we don’t want to put ourselves in that position again because Cleveland is a great team, they’re well coached and they have great players on that team. They’re not gonna let that opportunity slip through their hands again. We’ve talked about that but not necessarily about the emotional part.”
On Jose Alvarado leading from the bench:
“We actually pointed it out to our group in practice. You watch the film, he’s uplifting the entire team when he’s on the bench. He’s always talking in a positive way. He’s showing our young guys that you can impact the game if you’re present, because Jose’s always present. You’re using your voice and your energy, guys feel that on the floor. Jose’s been phenomenal.”
On the Knicks’ defensive focus during the nine-game winning streak:
“Our defense was pretty good, especially when you have the talent that they have and the All-Stars that they have and the shooting that they have. We just have to keep mixing up what we do. Our guys did a pretty good job of trying to pay attention and lock in on the details on the defensive end.”
Jalen Brunson
On assisting Josh Hart many times in Game 2:
“I’m really not trying to look for him, he just happens to be open. So I give him the ball. I got the utmost confidence in him watching the things he does after practice and with his routine and everything. He works hard. I know he jokes around a lot about his practice habits, but he does work hard.”
On Cleveland’s double-team strategy:
“I mean, they’re presenting two to the ball. I was able to find my teammates. They were knocking shots down. Just trying to create an advantage by putting two on the ball, trusting them to have to make the play.”
On adjusting to different game plans from the Cavs or anyone they face:
“I think it’s an advantage for us, learning how to play differently. There are going to be times where one game plan is going to be different than the next, so being able to adjust and learn on the fly and adjust on the fly, it’s something that we need to continue to get better at. But I think we’ve been doing a great job of it.
“The most important thing is that we’re growing and learning together. No matter what the situation is, whatever the series is or whatever, we’re open to getting better, open to figuring out how to win games, trusting each other. It’s a lot of different things.”
On the Knicks’ growth throughout the playoffs:
“A little bit more experience, and I think the most important thing is we’re growing and learning together. Whatever the situation is, we’re open to learning, getting better, and figuring out how to win games.”
On fueling their transition offense by playing stiff defense:
“We were able to get stops, run and get easy baskets. Our offense, the way we were able to play in transition, is definitely a credit to our defense.”
On playing alongside Mikal Bridges and trusting him in big moments:
“Fantastic. It’s not something I truly am thinking about until you said something, but it’s great to have guys like that that you’ve known for a long time be in those positions with you. We have a lot of fond memories of having big games and doing stuff like that. It was great, we’re all very thankful of everything that happened in that fourth and overtime.”
Josh Hart
On working through early misses in Game 2:
“Those first three [3-pointers that I missed], they felt good, and I was kind of frustrated about it, because, obviously, I’ve been putting in the reps with [assistant coaches Kwadzo Ahelegbe] and Peter Patton. And I was frustrated at first, I was like, ‘Bro, it’s not translating right now.’ And then I knew I just had to keep shooting. And I knew if I did that, I’d be good.”
On not believing in analytics:
“I’m never a huge analytics guy. At a certain point, they’re a lamp post to a drunk person – you can lean on them, but it won’t get you home. At a certain point, you gotta have a good feel for the game.”
On being compared to Andre Iguodala:
“Iggy was a hell of a player, I don’t know if I’m at that level, but I just try and go out there and play my game.”
On Brunson’s trust in his teammates:
“He had a huge offensive game [in the] last game, so we knew they were going to come in with a different game plan. I just think it shows, one, the confidence that he has in us, and the depth of the team that we have. It just shows the character of the team, character of him. It shows we can win games in different ways.”
On the team’s mindset being up 2-0:
“This shows the character we have of the guys in the locker room. We can’t be happy with just being up 2-0. The Cavaliers were just down 2-0 in their last series, and they know it and we know it. We have to go out there, they’ll have a sense of urgency, a sense of desperation, so we can’t just match it but exceed it.”
On serving the team no matter his role:
“I’m here to serve these guys … [to] make sure they’re in the best position to be successful. I put the success of the team over the success of myself any day.”
On refining his shooting after a bad Game 1:
“Improving reps and the consistency of those reps. For me, it’s not like I got to go out there and make 500 3s. If I go out and focus and make 500 3s, the mechanics slip just trying to make shots. So we’re just doing precise fundamentals of my shot and perfecting that. And if I did that, I’ll be in a good position. And that’s what I did.”
On trying to play with more joy and grace:
“One of the things I try to do is play with more joy and more grace. I don’t really celebrate when I score or make a good pass. I kick myself, probably a little bit too much, when I miss shots or make turnovers. I think I started to learn to play the game and give myself more grace and not to try and be perfect. I’m happy with that.”
Mikal Bridges
On never doubting his talents:
“Just trusting me. Corner three, just try and be ready and try to make the shot.”
On Josh Hart staying confident despite Cleveland’s strategy to dare him to beat them:
“Just staying mentally tough. That’s the biggest thing and just keep trusting his game, trusting his work. We’re super confident in him and we’re going to keep finding him.”
On Brunson’s 14-assist night:
“A great message. It just shows that he plays the right way. If you’re not going to send a double team, I think it’s an advantage for him. If you send a double team, he’s going to read and react and find the open guy and play the right way. Ever since I’ve known him, he’s played the right way. … If you’re going to keep helping off, he’s going to make you pay, and that’s what makes him great.”
On Brunson adjusting to double teams:
“It just shows that he plays the right way. If you’re not going to send a double-team, I think it’s an advantage for him. If you send a double-team, he’s going to read and react and find the open guy. Ever since I’ve known him, he plays the right way. Kudos to him, how he works, and his understanding of the game. If you’re going to come [double-team him], he’s going to make you pay and that’s what makes him great.”
On Josh Hart’s mental toughness:
“We’re super confident in him. We’re gonna keep finding him and we know he’s gonna make some shots — but for him, we just know he’s mentally-tough.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On avoiding complacency with a 2-0 series lead:
“We don’t feel any closer than we did last game or any game. It’s back to in our minds a 0-0 We got to win the next game. It’s the most important game of the year and that’s how we treat it.”
On Josh Hart’s frustration after early misses:
“I don’t know if we can say what he was saying to himself out loud.”
On Hart’s selflessness:
“That is a guy you want on your team. He’s so selfless. That makes us selfless.”
On adjusting his own approach in Game 2:
“Just seeing where the game goes. Last game, I felt was a game for us to kind of download a lot of information. Today, I just wanted to be aggressive — like I always say, playmaking, getting looks at the basket. It wasn’t even about scoring, it was about putting pressure on the defense, and I just found myself in good positions.”
Miles McBride
On Brunson’s selflessness:
“He’s about winning. We knew that from the jump. Obviously, he’s one of the best scorers in the league, but the fact that he’s willing to just be selfless and give up the ball when guys are double-teaming him proves that he just wants to win.”
OG Anunoby
On Josh Hart’s shooting confidence:
“He’s a great player. We just want to keep giving him confidence. He doesn’t have it but he has it. He knows, he works on it.”
Mitchell Robinson
On stepping away from social media amid the ECF:
“Last post before I delete this app. I finally have changed my number for many reason [sic] … as I fight through and keep fighting in this playoffs run my focus have to go to another level. This is the start of a new chapter in my life. Love and will miss y’all … Mitch out.”
Kenny Atkinson
On Brunson’s reading of Game 2:
“That’s what great players do, right? They read the game, and the game dictated that. Obviously, we were loaded up more to him, and he found other guys. … Took away some of his scoring options, blitzed him, gave him different looks. He made the right reads, the right plays.”
On making playoff adjustments and still losing miserably:
“You gotta pick your poison; that’s what the playoffs are about. You gotta pick players or (a) player you gotta help off of, so those are the choices you make in the playoffs.”
Donovan Mitchell
On being happy with Cleveland’s Game 2:
“Our process was right tonight. I’m happy because we really didn’t let Game 1 affect our mental (approach). We still came with the right intention, did a lot of positive things. And now we have to go home and handle business.
“So that’s why, for us, for me, I’m not sitting here scrambling trying to figure things out. We make some shots, we’ll be in good shape.”
Jarrett Allen
On the Cavaliers’ belief in their process:
“You’re going to hear it over and over again. We truly believe in that.
“I think getting away from the process, it happens. The other team starts making shots; everybody’s trying to make something successful happen.”
Evan Mobley
On Cleveland’s overall approach:
“It was definitely the right process. There’s definitely a few possessions you want back and a few turnovers and stuff like that, but overall, I feel like we played a pretty good game.”
