Gil's Arena Reacts To The Knicks' UNREAL Comeback
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Spurs lost composure and their edge quickly, especially on the road.
- ❖The Knicks displayed togetherness, mental toughness, and physical toughness, refusing to quit.
- ❖Spurs played 'not to lose' rather than maintaining their aggressive winning approach.
- ❖Halftime allowed the Knicks to regroup while the Spurs let off the gas.
- ❖OG Anunoby was a critical 'X-factor,' hitting timely shots and making big defensive plays like the block on De'Aaron Fox.
- ❖Mike Brown's gutsy coaching move to play Jose Alvarado for 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, despite never playing together, was a game-changer.
- ❖Victor Wembanyama's second-half performance was a 'disaster,' with poor shooting, missed free throws, and zero defensive rebounds or blocks.
- ❖The Knicks won despite their own late-game errors, including a shot clock violation and Josh Hart's critical mistakes.
- ❖Spurs' coach Mitch Johnson failed to calm his young players or implement sets to slow momentum, instead allowing them to continue shooting quick, bad threes.
- ❖Wembanyama's three-point shooting percentage drastically differs between wins (47%) and losses (22%), indicating a reliance on his outside shot.
Insights
1Spurs' Collective Collapse and Coaching Failure
The Spurs' historic 29-point lead was squandered due to a complete loss of composure, poor decision-making by key players, and a lack of strategic adjustments from the coaching staff. Instead of running sets to calm the team and slow the game, they continued to take quick, ill-advised shots that fueled the Knicks' comeback.
The Spurs were up 27 at halftime, but their second-half performance saw a drastic decrease in points, tying for the greatest decrease in playoff history. They shot 3 for 17 from three in the second half after going 14 for 26 in the first. Coach Mitch Johnson did not take initiative to calm his young players or implement sets to cut down momentum.
2Knicks' Unwavering Resilience and Timely Adjustments
Despite being down big, the Knicks never quit, demonstrating exceptional mental and physical toughness. Strategic coaching moves, like inserting Jose Alvarado, and clutch performances from players like OG Anunoby, were crucial in their comeback.
The Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit. OG Anunoby was 7 for 9 from three and 10 for 15 from the field, making timely shots and a critical block on De'Aaron Fox. Coach Mike Brown's 'gutsiest, shrewdest coaching move' was playing Jose Alvarado for 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, who made all three of his shots, including two huge threes, despite never having played with Brunson before.
3Wembanyama's Disastrous Second Half and Defensive Lapses
Victor Wembanyama's performance in the second half was notably poor, characterized by missed free throws, inefficient shooting, and a surprising lack of defensive impact, which contributed significantly to the Spurs' collapse.
Wembanyama shot 3 of 14 in the second half, 2 of 9 in the fourth quarter, and missed three of four free throws in the fourth quarter, including two crucial ones with left. He recorded zero defensive rebounds and zero blocks in the entire second half.
4Critical Late-Game Errors by Spurs Players
Several individual mistakes by Spurs players in the clutch moments directly contributed to their loss, highlighting a lack of experience and composure under pressure.
De'Aaron Fox's 'brain fart' decision to go for a layup instead of dribbling out the clock and forcing a foul. Josh Hart's missed breakaway layup for the lead, a shot clock violation by the Knicks, and Hart's failure to block out Stefon Castle for an offensive rebound and free throws.
Bottom Line
The 'overprotection' of star players like Wembanyama by the league, as perceived by some, can create a psychological expectation for calls that don't materialize in clutch moments, potentially affecting their decision-making.
This perception can lead to frustration and a lack of accountability for star players, hindering their development of true grit and clutch performance under adverse officiating, and impacting team strategy if coaches rely on anticipated calls.
Coaches should train young stars to play through contact and perceived non-calls, focusing on fundamental execution rather than relying on officiating. This builds mental toughness and adaptability for high-pressure playoff scenarios.
The stark difference in Wembanyama's three-point shooting percentage between wins (47%) and losses (22%) suggests an over-reliance on his outside shot, which becomes a liability when contested or off-rhythm.
This indicates a predictable offensive pattern that opposing teams can exploit by forcing him into less efficient long-range attempts, especially when his interior game is stifled by defensive adjustments.
The Spurs need to diversify Wembanyama's offensive role, encouraging more post-ups and drives, particularly when his three-point shot isn't falling. This would make him less predictable and create opportunities for teammates, rather than living and dying by his perimeter shooting.
Key Concepts
Keep Your Foot on the Gas
When leading significantly, a team must maintain aggressive play and intensity to prevent opponents from gaining momentum, rather than playing conservatively or 'not to lose'.
Game of Runs
Basketball is characterized by momentum swings where teams make scoring 'runs.' Successful teams understand this and either sustain their own runs or respond effectively to an opponent's run to prevent a full collapse.
Playing Not to Lose vs. Playing to Win
A team playing 'not to lose' often becomes passive, makes conservative decisions, and allows the opponent to dictate the game, leading to a collapse. A team playing 'to win' maintains aggression, takes calculated risks, and continues to execute their game plan regardless of the score.
Lessons
- Coaches must actively manage game momentum, especially when holding large leads, by implementing deliberate offensive sets to slow the pace and force defensive stops, rather than allowing fast-paced, high-risk play.
- Teams need to cultivate mental toughness and composure in young players, teaching them to make smart, high-percentage plays in clutch situations (e.g., dribbling out the clock for free throws) rather than relying on instinctual, risky hero plays.
- Star players, regardless of age or talent, must be held accountable for defensive effort and decision-making in critical moments, as lapses in these areas can negate offensive contributions and lead to collapses.
How Not to Collapse with a Big Lead: Lessons from the Spurs
Do NOT let off the gas: Maintain the same tenacity and aggression that built the lead; do not switch to a passive, 'not to lose' mentality.
Implement calming sets: When the opponent starts a run, call timeouts to run deliberate, clock-consuming offensive sets that force defensive work and secure high-percentage shots, rather than allowing quick, ill-advised shots.
Demand accountability from stars: Ensure key players make smart, high-IQ plays in crunch time (e.g., dribbling out the clock, boxing out) and maintain defensive intensity, regardless of their offensive struggles.
Make timely adjustments: Be prepared to change personnel or defensive schemes if the initial strategy is no longer effective, as Mike Brown did with Jose Alvarado.
Notable Moments
OG Anunoby's critical block on De'Aaron Fox's late-game layup attempt.
This block prevented the Spurs from taking the lead and was a pivotal defensive play that demonstrated Anunoby's clutch performance and defensive impact.
Jose Alvarado's unexpected insertion into the game and subsequent clutch performance.
This was a gutsy coaching decision that paid off, as Alvarado provided crucial scoring and ball-handling, shifting momentum and relieving pressure on Brunson, proving the value of deep roster contributions and bold adjustments.
Josh Hart's missed breakaway layup for the lead in the final minutes.
This play highlighted the immense pressure of clutch moments and how even dependable players can falter, nearly costing the Knicks the game despite their comeback effort.
Quotes
"They lost all composure, especially when you're on the road like that. The energy's up. You can see how a team could lose their their edge and they lost their edge quickly."
"They played not to lose that game instead of to go win it. You got this team down big. You know, they're going to keep fighting. So, you have to approach it and come with the same kind of tenacity that you did to start the game with."
"The gutsiest, shrewdest coaching move I've ever seen in a finals game was with Jose Alvarado because you just don't do that. You can't do that. to to Nick's point, they they'd never played together one minute of their their NBA lives and you throw him out there for 10 minutes in the fourth quarter and guess what? Did he ever make you look genius?"
"I don't say that the Knicks took this game. You It was given to you because we didn't make you work on defense while we're up 25. We didn't make every possession count."
Q&A
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