The New York Knicks have pushed within a single victory of their first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years after Saturday’s 113-98 Game 3 triumph over the Cavaliers in Cleveland. First-year head coach Mike Brown, hired last offseason to replace Tom Thibodeau, has drawn strong praise from his roster for steering the transition.
“With Mike, he had to learn us and adjust to us, and we had to do the same,” forward Karl-Anthony Towns said postgame. “Now we’re both working seamlessly. He’s getting the best from us and we’re getting the best from him.”
Bench Development Key
Unlike Thibodeau, known for heavy starter workloads, Brown has emphasized depth. Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and José Alvarado have joined Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson to form a reliable second unit throughout the postseason.
“Everybody wants to see each other do well, genuinely,” Shamet noted. “It’s spiritual with this group. Next man up. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Anunoby’s Defensive Recognition
Forward OG Anunoby was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team, an honor teammates consider insufficient. “The versatility that guy brings to this team is off the charts,” Brown said. “I hope the voters get it right next time.”
Ten-Game Roll
New York has won 10 consecutive games, outscoring opponents by an average of 22.5 points. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged the Knicks’ consistency, saying he has been impressed by their ability to avoid postseason letdowns.
Focus on Game 4
Despite citywide enthusiasm, Brown stressed a narrow focus heading into Monday’s Game 4 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “As soon as we start getting ahead of ourselves, that’s when disaster occurs,” he said. “It’s about the next game—and really, the next possession.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
