Following the final buzzer of their Game 6 series-clinching victory over the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks celebrated on the Little Caesars Arena court. Forward Mikal Bridges then donned a headset for an interview with the famed play-by-play voice, Mike Breen.
Bridges was central to the win, scoring a crucial left-handed putback with 35 seconds remaining to level the score, setting the stage for star teammate Jalen Brunson`s ice-cold game-winning 3-pointer. Bridges, an eight-year veteran wing, was still riding high when Breen inquired about New York`s tendency for late-game drama.
“We`re built for this stuff, man. That`s the whole story. We`re ready for it,” stated the typically reserved Bridges, prompting Breen to issue a reminder that they were live on air.
Despite the on-air slip-up, Bridges` assertion was undeniable. Their comeback from a seven-point gap in the final two and a half minutes capped a dramatic series where the last four contests were all decided by margins of three points or less. This performance established an intriguing conference semifinal against the reigning champion Boston Celtics, a series that, on paper, seemed unlikely to involve significant late-game heroics from New York.
During the regular season, the Celtics dominated the Knicks, winning by margins of 23, 27, and 13 points in their initial three encounters. Even if games did get tight late, Boston boasted the league`s top clutch-time win percentage.
However, the revitalized Knicks have displayed remarkable resilience in crucial late-game situations, as seen in their first-round series against Detroit and now versus Boston. Although the Celtics blew out New York by 22 points in Game 3, they faced considerable difficulty when Games 1 and 2 came down to the wire after multiple 20-point leads evaporated before the TD Garden faithful.
Spearheaded by defensive ace Bridges (who secured the winning stop in both victories) and the NBA`s Clutch Player of the Year, Brunson, New York appears genuinely prepared to handle the intense, grinding moments of the playoffs.
“I think it`s been a big help that we`ve gone through a lot of fire,” backup guard Deuce McBride commented. “We walk through it together, and we come out of it on the other side with a win.”
But how have the Knicks fostered such consistent composure amidst late-game chaos? And, more crucially heading into Game 4 in New York on Monday, will this fearless Knicks squad manage to keep the series close enough for their clutch capabilities to be a factor again?
Some teams shrink under the bright lights; the Knicks, conversely, seem to thrive. New York`s success in close playoff games is no accident; the team possesses unique characteristics and a shared identity that enhances their threat in such scenarios.
Clutch time, defined as the final five minutes with a score difference of five points or less, including overtime, often involves slow-paced possessions and heavy isolation plays. Both aspects align with the Knicks` typical style. New York played at one of the five slowest paces in the league during the regular season, averaging under 98 possessions per 48 minutes. Furthermore, it`s natural for the Knicks to entrust Brunson with the ball in these late-game sequences, given he handled the ball for an NBA-leading 8.6 minutes per game.
It`s also significant that, amidst ongoing discussions about the minutes played by Knicks starters, coach Tom Thibodeau`s primary five-man unit has logged more time together than any other lineup in the NBA this season. This extensive playing time has allowed the group to develop strong chemistry and understand their roles in all game states – leading big, trailing significantly, and, crucially, in clutch situations.
This cohesion ties into Thibodeau`s philosophy: developing “a mental discipline to get through all the things that may happen” over an NBA season. And across the Knicks roster, many players embody this approach, bringing a wealth of intangible qualities to impact games hanging in the balance.
Josh Hart, New York`s ultimate hustle player despite being only 6-foot-4, performs like a magician, leading the NBA with 88 recovered loose balls during the regular season. His exceptional instincts on the offensive boards – where defenders often fail to box him out due to giving him space as a weaker deep shooter – provide the Knicks with invaluable extra possessions.
“People always talk about offensive runs. Well, I think you can go on defensive runs as well. And rebounding runs,” Thibodeau stated. “Josh is a prime example, where he can get four or five rebounds in a row, even if he isn`t making shots.”
The Knicks have been considerably more effective on the offensive glass since Mitchell Robinson returned to the lineup. The center made his season debut on February 28 after ankle surgery.
This postseason, New York is grabbing nearly 39% of its missed shots, a rate that would top the league in both the regular season and playoffs. In contrast, the Knicks` offensive rebounding rate was a mere average 29.9% without him.
Then there are Bridges and OG Anunoby, versatile two-way wings who have significantly impacted several clutch plays this season. Beyond each hitting a game-winner earlier in the campaign (Anunoby in Memphis and Bridges in Portland), their defensive influence has been enormous. Anunoby ranks among the league leaders in deflections, while Bridges leads the NBA with five total stocks (blocks plus steals) in the final 10 seconds of one-possession games. Two of these critical plays sealed Games 1 and 2 for the Knicks in Boston.
“Once we get it to within 10, we always have the belief that we can win,” Thibodeau remarked after the Game 2 victory over the Celtics.
However, this rallying cry highlights an uncomfortable truth for the underdog Knicks.
Perhaps Brunson articulated it best on Saturday after New York`s first loss of the series.
“We can`t consistently play catch-up against a team like this,” he said, acknowledging the Knicks` narrower margin for error compared to the Celtics. “Against any NBA team, really, it`s tough for comebacks to happen. They are a great team, the defending champs. I just don`t think we want to be in a 20-point hole each game. It`s not going to suit us well.”
New York has yet to demonstrate the ability to defeat Boston in anything other than a tightly contested finish. Of their seven meetings this season, Boston has held 20-point advantages in six. Therefore, the Knicks` prospects of winning a series they initially led 2-0 may hinge on whether they can stay competitive enough to steal two more games in clutch time.
This strategy faces numerous obstacles. Apart from the potential issue with Karl-Anthony Towns` left hand sustained in Game 3, Robinson`s excellent rebounding is being hampered by Boston`s intentional fouling strategy. Robinson has missed 16 of his 23 free throws in the series, including two air balls in Game 3. These misses have led Thibodeau to quickly substitute his center, despite Robinson holding a team-best plus-minus of plus-29 for the series, a significant 27 points better than the next closest rotation player.
Furthermore, the Knicks understand their chances diminish greatly when Boston shoots anywhere near 50% from 3-point range, as they did in Game 3 after converting only 25% across the initial two matchups.
Yet, no team has forced a higher opponent turnover rate in clutch situations this postseason than the Knicks. Combine that with another cold shooting performance from Boston, and it creates an opening for New York, which possesses a more balanced shot distribution while still ranking among the league`s best in 3-point percentage for the season.
Amidst all the comparisons between this season`s Knicks and the previous one, the concept of mental toughness might have been overlooked. This team isn`t as consistently strong defensively or quite as physically rugged as the past two iterations, which more closely resembled the franchise`s 1990s teams. (Forward Julius Randle, one of the most physical Knicks from last season, is currently enjoying the best postseason of his career with Minnesota).
However, this team`s belief in its ability to win is arguably stronger than before. The late-game confidence exuded by Brunson, who finished the season with an NBA-leading 52 clutch baskets despite missing a month, appears to be the primary factor. His teammates have reached a point where they simply expect his crucial shots to fall.
“High-pressure situations don`t faze him. Doesn`t matter if he`s struggling or if he`s hooping, you`d never be able to tell,” Bridges said of Brunson the night the southpaw sealed the series against the Pistons with his game-ending 3. “Once he got that separation, I knew it was curtains.”
New York`s faith in Brunson and the surrounding group, all unfazed by late-game drama, has been evident. The central question of this series, however, remains whether the Knicks possess enough energy left to force the champions back into clutch scenarios.
After all, they believe they are built for it.
