Are The Knicks Done? 🗽

Jalen Brunson was out of control on Game 5 at the Garden, can he give New York fans one more home game in this historic run? Or, will Jimmy Butler send the Heat to another Eastern Conference Finals? Let's discuss 🏀 (3 min read)

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The 48-Minute Man

It turns out the four-year, $104M contract the Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to over the summer was a bargain. The former Villanova Wildcat put up a LeBron-esque statline with the season on the line Wednesday night, dropping 38 pts to go along with 9 rebs and 7 asts. He also played the entire game 🤯

So what exactly stuck out in the Knicks’ victory? Their shotmaking, specifically their three-point shooting exploited Miami’s zone. In New York’s three series losses to date, they only made 7, 8, and 9 shots from deep — in their Game 2 win they hit 16 threes, and they made 13 triples in their Game 5 W. Safe to say the three ball is the key for New York 🏹

  • Quentin Grimes answered the bell, playing the entire game. The second-year wing made an impact, especially defensively, despite modest stats

  • Erik Spoelstra started hacking-a-Robinson late in the fourth quarter, but Mitch went 4-8 from the charity stripe

  • Free throw shooting plagued the Knicks, shooting 29-40, in what was a two-point game with around 2:30 minutes left to play in the fourth

The scene outside MSG was predictably wild — do not let Knicks fans win Game 6 in Miami, otherwise I can’t imagine what could unfold 😅

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Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

The Zombie Heat

Miami has strung together a handful of postseason runs since the 2019-2020 season. Outside of 2021, the Heat have not been bounced earlier than the Conference Finals, and a missed Jimmy Butler three could’ve sent them back into contention for the Larry O’Brien trophy last year. Look for Butler to receive a similar workload to what Brunson and Grimes put together last game 😤

Outside of Duncan Robinson, the Heat were not able to get things cooking from deep, despite getting great looks. It’s a make or miss league after all, but I would expect some of Miami’s role players to hit more shots at home. This stat literally embodies the Miami Heat culture 👇

I expect Butler to empty the clip tonight, he only took 12 shots in Game 5, so look for the Big Face coffee owner to be more aggressive 💪

  • Spo is going to keep mixing up his defensive schemes to throw the Knicks out of whack — if Robinson plays late-game, he will be forced to hit free throws

  • Additionally, the Heat will continue to switch between man coverage and zone — every Knick not named Brunson will find themselves open at one point or another from distance

Knicks vs. Heat Betting Preview (subject to change)

  • Spread: Heat -5.5

  • Moneyline: Heat -210, Knicks +176

  • O/U: 208.5 Total Points

Trivia Question: Mike Breen, who usually commentates Knicks games, has been noticeably absent from the booth. In what scenario would New York fans hear him calling their team’s playoff games?

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

Everything must end eventually, including dynasties — I think LeBron and AD are able to close out the Warriors at home, even if non-Laker fans may want otherwise. Their role players are due for some shooting regression, and I’m not sure Draymond can replicate his offensive performance from Game 5. Meanwhile, I’m predicting a rock fight in Miami, give me the under on that game 👇

  • Knicks @ Heat Under 208.5: -110

  • Lakers -2.5 vs. Warriors: -108

$100 on this bet would win you $268 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: The Knicks would have to reach the Finals — Breen has typically been one of the voices behind the championship series in the NBA

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