Steve Popper: Knicks ignore 13 straight postseason wins, keep focus on Game 3 vs. Spurs at MSG
The Knicks' Landry Shamet, right, Jose Alvarado, middle, and OG Anunoby react during the fourth quarter against the Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday in San Antonio, TX. Credit: Getty Images/Ronald Cortes
SAN ANTONIO — The Knicks were nearly 2,000 miles from home when they survived the final frantic seconds Friday night at the Frost Bank Center and escaped with a 105-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs that gave them a two-games-to-none lead in the NBA Finals.
When it was over, a few of them pumped fists, but mostly it was handshakes and a quiet determination as they headed through the back corridors of the arena to their locker room.
It was a different story in New York, where the streets overflowed with celebratory fans as they emerged from watch parties or simply walked into the crowds to celebrate as if it were New Year’s Eve.
And it seemed like only a hint of what it will be like Monday night when the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden and attempt to move closer to their first title since 1973.
But the players wanted to hear nothing about that, about history, about their 13 straight postseason wins, about how the Knicks have not lost a game since April 23.
“We’ve got Game 3 at Madison Square Garden,’’ Landry Shamet said, “and that’s what we’re worried about.
“All those games are in the past. As far as we’re concerned, it’s 0-0. Got to go get one win at home and then on to the next one.”
“It’s still 0-0 as far as we’re concerned,’’ Josh Hart said. “Being up 2-0 means really nothing. This team is going to come out on Monday with an unbelievable amount of energy and desperation, and we’ve got to be better.”
It is the mantra the Knicks have spoken since the playoffs began, although it is hard to maintain a straight face as you hear them say it now.
No team in NBA history has ever come back from a two-games-to-none hole in the NBA Finals after losing the first two at home. The Knicks are only the third team to take the first two on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and the 1995 Houston Rockets. Both teams captured the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“Every single day, we chip away and try to be the best that we can be,” Jalen Brunson said. “I think our mindset was 0-0, not being up 1-0. Even with the series it is now, next-game-mindset has to be 0-0 again. It’s just how it has to be. You can’t be comfortable. You can’t be satisfied with anything. Just got to continue to push forward.”
Mikal Bridges, who excelled with 20 points — converting eight straight shots during one stretch — six rebounds and six assists and shot at least 60% (8-for-13), joined Walt Frazier as the only Knicks ever to do that in an NBA Finals game.
Bridges is one of the few Knicks with NBA Finals experience, and he has seen a similar scenario play out. In 2021, he was a starter for a Phoenix Suns squad that went up 2-0 with wins at home before dropping four straight to the Bucks.
“I think being here before, knowing how it’s going to be, yeah, just a lot of experience knowing how much effort you need to give every single moment,” he said. “Same situation, up 2-0, and I’ve got to be able to talk to these guys and just keep level-headed and just keep playing desperate.”
Bully ball
Playing with desperation from the start of the game, San Antonio tried to translate that on the floor into a physical style of play. Carter Bryant came in early and immediately began grabbing and shoving Brunson while they were off the ball. Luke Kornet ran over Brunson at one point. De’Aaron Fox shoved him out of bounds and the teams had to rush to separate the two as they stood nose-to-nose.
But the Knicks weren’t surprised and expect to see more of the same in Game 3.
“Yeah, obviously for me, too much physicality,” Josh Hart said. It was a reflection of the foul trouble he’d endured all night.
“But that’s kind of what you expect from a team obviously in the Finals. They lost Game 1, so you knew they were going to come out with physicality and a sense of urgency and desperation. I feel like we did a pretty good job in that regard, but we can do better.”
“Them being down 1-0 at home, they were going to come out and give us their best punch,” Shamet said. “They did that. Physicality was unbelievable tonight. Incredibly physical basketball game. They do a really good job of that, playing physical.”
Hart was a huge factor in Game 1 with 15 rebounds and four steals, but he was limited to 18 minutes Friday. In the first two games, he shot a combined 1-for-9 for three points.
“Knowing them, there’s going to be another level,” Brunson said. “We have to be prepared and be ready to match it and play for 48 minutes. No matter what goes on in the game, we have to have each other’s back, what’s going on, who is on a run, what’s not, who is up, who is down. Making sure we are playing together for 48 minutes is really important.”
Coaching circles
If you’re admiring the work that Brendan O’Connor has done in building the Knicks’ defense, a unit that certainly entered the season with questions and now is the No. 1-ranked defensive unit in the NBA playoffs, just a note to consider.
A league source told me last season that O’Connor and Jeff Van Gundy had completely turned around the Los Angeles Clippers’ defense. O’Connor’s reward was this job. Van Gundy remained on staff with the Clippers and has been involved in some of the coaching searches. Reports are that Van Gundy was out of the mix in Portland after the first round of interviews.
I’ll just say this: In a long career I’ve covered some amazing coaches from Pat Riley to Tom Thibodeau, and right now, if Mike Brown wins the Knicks’ first title in 53 years. he will be forever revered at Madison Square Garden.
But there is no coach I ever covered who had his teams more prepared than Van Gundy. Some team is going to be very fortunate to land him.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
