Knicks’ Biggest Playoff Fear: Lack of Grit!

Knicks’ Grit Questioned in Playoff Dogfight

Stephen A. Smith, a known Knicks fan, is sounding the alarm. His biggest worry for New York in the playoffs isn’t their talent or offensive stats, but a lack of toughness.

He misses the old Tom Thibodeau era, where every game felt like a brutal battle. Smith feels this year’s Knicks haven’t shown that same scrappy, fight-to-the-end attitude.

“I haven’t seen that from the New York Knicks most of this year,” Smith stated. He acknowledges their good offense and defense, and that they have playoff talent.

But he’s talking about that raw, never-say-die spirit. He believes they’ve taken their foot off the gas pedal, especially in close games.

Hawks Targeting Jaylen Brunson

A specific concern for Smith is how the Atlanta Hawks have targeted point guard Jaylen Brunson. “CJ McCollum has targeted Jaylen Brunson,” he revealed. McCollum was 9 of 12 when Brunson was his primary defender, showing a clear strategy to switch and attack him.

Smith noted Brunson’s reaction to a groin shot, which led to McCollum having to defend himself. McCollum, a former player association president, is known as a class act. However, Smith emphasizes that even good players can be targeted in the playoffs.

Atlanta’s Surprising Strength

The analyst is also impressed with the Atlanta Hawks, especially since losing Trae Young. He believes they’ve actually played better without him, relying on players like Dejounte Murray and McCollum.

“These brothers can play. They’re young, they’re athletic, they’re thoroughbreds,” Smith described the Hawks.

He predicted Atlanta would win at least one game in New York. Smith warned the Knicks must win Game 3 to avoid a potential 3-1 deficit. “I don’t think they’re coming back from a 3-1 deficit in Atlanta,” he said, stressing the urgency.

Key Pickups and Missed Opportunities

Smith praised the acquisition of guard “Kill” Alexander-Walker from Minnesota. He remembered seeing Alexander-Walker’s talent in the Western Conference Finals last year. “This brother can play,” Smith recalled thinking, noting his potential to make a difference.

Alexander-Walker averaged 20 points this season and hit a crucial three-pointer recently. Despite this, Smith still feels the Knicks are not showing the consistent intensity needed. He pointed out that Brunson needs to improve his defense, as he’s being actively targeted.

Coaching Decisions Under Scrutiny

The discussion turned to coaching adjustments, particularly concerning the Knicks’ big men. Smith questioned why coach Tom Thibodeau wasn’t using his two bigs together more often. This is especially puzzling when Mitchell Robinson had a strong first half.

Smith also highlighted questionable lineup choices in the fourth quarter. He noted a sequence where five players – Alvarado, Clarkson, Bridges, O’Neale, and Robinson – were on the court together. This lineup had barely played all season, raising eyebrows about Thibodeau’s late-game strategy.

Timeout Troubles and Fourth Quarter Woes

A major point of contention was a late-game timeout situation. Coach Mike Brown used his last timeout with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter. This left him without a timeout to stop the clock and advance the ball on a crucial possession later.

Smith felt this was a major coaching blunder. “You can’t do that,” he stated, emphasizing the need to preserve timeouts in critical moments. He suggested this mistake made it harder for the Knicks to get the ball to Brunson for a potential game-tying shot.

Expectations vs. Reality

Smith believes the public’s expectations for the Knicks are out of sync with the team’s true capabilities. He thinks they are a good team, but not a “great” one like the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“They’re not seriously flawed,” Smith explained, “You expect a drop off defensively, you expect extreme elevation offensively.” He feels the Knicks haven’t consistently delivered on the offensive end when needed.

A Series Going the Distance?

Despite his criticisms, Smith still expects the Knicks to win the series against Atlanta. However, he now predicts it will be a much tougher fight, going six or seven games. “This series is going to go six or seven games,” he declared.

He urged the Knicks to win Game 3. Playing in Atlanta is tough, and he fears a 3-1 deficit would be too much to overcome. The analyst is reserving judgment on the Knicks under coach Mike Brown, unlike the predictable toughness he associated with Thibodeau.

Final Thoughts on Knicks’ Mentality

Smith concluded by reiterating his main concern: the Knicks’ mentality. He feels they have a tendency to let teams like Atlanta, who have nothing to lose, hang around. Having a 12-point lead entering the fourth quarter and not closing it out is unacceptable.

“What the hell happened with that?” he questioned. He also found the celebratory gestures, like blowing kisses after shots, to be premature. The Knicks must find that gritty playoff identity to advance.

Source: Stephen A.'s BIGGEST CONCERN with the Knicks in the playoffs 👀 | First Take (YouTube)