After the final whistle and the celebration of the [New York Knicks](/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks) on the court of Little Caesars Arena after winning the sixth game of the series against the [Detroit Pistons](/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons), Mikal Bridges prepared for an interview with the legendary commentator Mike Breen.
Bridges was key with a decisive play in the victory: a rebound with his left hand with 35 seconds left to tie the game, before Jalen Brunson scored a winning three-pointer.
That night, the Knicks overcame a seven-point deficit with two and a half minutes remaining, a dramatic finish to a series where the last four games were decided by three points or less. This set the stage for a conference semifinal against the Boston Celtics.We built for this, man. It’s everything. We built it for this.
Mikal Bridges
During the regular season, the Celtics outscored the Knicks by 23, 27, and 13 points, respectively, in their first three meetings. Despite this, the Knicks have shown an incredible ability to react in key moments, as demonstrated in their series against Detroit and now against Boston. Despite the loss in the third game, the Knicks put the Celtics in a difficult position in games 1 and 2, which were decided in the final minutes.
Led by Bridges and Brunson, the Knicks seem prepared to handle the pressure of the playoffs.
I think it has helped us a lot to have gone through a lot of fire. We went through it together and came out victorious.
Deuce McBride
How did the Knicks cultivate this calm in crucial moments? And, will they be able to maintain this level in the series?
The Knicks seem to thrive under pressure.
The Knicks’ success in close games is not a coincidence. The team has unusual traits that make them more effective in those situations. The Knicks completed fewer than 98 possessions per 48 minutes during the regular season, one of the slowest paces in the league. In addition, they rely on Brunson in the final moments, who averaged 8.6 minutes with the ball per game, the highest in the NBA.
Also, the Knicks’ starting five has played together longer than any other team in the NBA this season, giving them the opportunity to solidify and learn their roles in any scenario.
This all relates to the Thibodeau standard: developing “a mental discipline to overcome all things that may happen” during an NBA season. Several players fit that mold, with a list of intangibles capable of impacting any game.
Josh Hart, the hardest-working player on the Knicks, recovered 88 loose balls during the regular season. His instincts on the offensive glass give the Knicks valuable extra possessions.
People always talk about offensive streaks. Well, I think you can have defensive streaks too. And rebounding streaks.
Tom Thibodeau
The Knicks have been more dominant on the offensive boards with Mitchell Robinson back in the lineup.
The Knicks secure nearly 39% of their missed shots this postseason, a rate that would be the best in the NBA in the regular season and playoffs. In comparison, the Knicks averaged 29.9% offensive rebounds without him.
Then there are Bridges and OG Anunoby, who have made their mark on several crucial plays this season. In addition to scoring game-winning shots, they have been very impactful on defense. Anunoby is among the league leaders in deflections per game, while Bridges has had a total of five steals and blocks in the last 10 seconds of games decided by one point. Two of those plays sealed games 1 and 2 for the Knicks in Boston.
Once we get close to 10 points, we always have the belief that we can win.
Tom Thibodeau
However, Brunson acknowledged that the Knicks have less margin for error than the Celtics.
It’s really hard for comebacks to happen. They are a great team, the defending champions.
Jalen Brunson
The Knicks need to stay competitive to steal two more games in crucial moments. Karl-Anthony Towns’ injury and the Celtics’ strategy against Robinson could hinder their chances.
Despite this, the Knicks have the highest opponent turnover rate in clutch moments so far this postseason. This, coupled with a Boston shooting slump, opens the door for the Knicks.
Brunson’s confidence, who finished the season with 52 baskets in crucial moments, seems to be the main reason. His teammates believe that all his key shots are going to go in.
High-pressure situations do not faze him. It doesn’t matter if he’s struggling or playing well, you would never know.
Mikal Bridges
The key question of the series is whether the Knicks have what it takes to take the champions to the decisive moments.
After all, they feel built for that.
