Knicks’ fatal flaw cleared path for Spurs’ Game 3 victory, not the officials

NEW YORK – For the first time since April 23, the New York Knicks were unable to find a way to win a basketball game. The San Antonio Spurs’ 115-111 Game 3 victory proved that, while Mitch Johnson’s group is relatively inexperienced, they had the prerequisite hunger to begin correcting a 2-0 series deficit on the road.

Mike Brown began his postgame address critiquing officials, after the Spurs shot 24 second-half free throws to the Knicks’ eight. The Knicks’ head coach added, though, that they didn’t position themselves to capitalize on the opportunities they did have.

“Offensively, we were about as stagnant as I’ve seen us all year….The turnover situation, the free throw situation, and our attention to detail about keeping them out the paint and taking away the vertical threat. Not good tonight,” Brown told reporters.

Since losing Game 3 of the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, New York had been definitively playing team basketball. Jalen Brunson was setting himself apart as a superstar each time he screened away from the ball, creating a basket for which he would not receive an assist. It was the stylistic opposite of the isolation-heavy style the Knicks had spent years playing on the back of the immense talents of Brunson.

On Monday night, though, the team’s Captain had a game-high five turnovers. Brown felt all of his players had allowed their worst habits to sneak back into the equation, even after more than a month of exorcising them.

The Knicks logged assists on just 18 of their 40 made baskets. But even with 28 dimes on their 39 makes, the Spurs didn’t blow them out. New York made the extra pass or got the pivotal stop just often enough for the game to come down to the wire. Regardless of officiating, they certainly still had a chance to win. They just didn’t find a way.

“We just wanted to stand and watch one guy dribble a ton. And then, when the ball got passed, there were no quick decisions by the guy receiving the basketball. We have actions we can get into that we didn’t do a good job of getting into, first of all, but it’s okay. You’re not going to be able to run plays all the time…but you gotta be smart,” Brown asserted after the loss.

Victor Wembanyama’s defense left Knicks lost in outer space

The coach also spoke to Victor Wembanyama’s defensive impact, with the Knicks’ offensive possessions effectively sorted into two categories by his positioning. Brown says he can help his players in one of those two situations — but the other set of problems are on them to mollify.

“They’re junking the game up by just putting Vic [Wembanyama] in one of the two corners. If they junk the game up, I can call a play. But sometimes, you’re gonna have to just move, and cut, and pass the ball quicker, drag the ball quicker. Because it’s almost a zone that they’re in, to a certain degree. And we didn’t do a good job of attacking it,” Brown explained to reporters.

Asked by ClutchPoints about the Knicks’ stagnant offense after the game, two-way star OG Anunoby said it was the result of a lack of focus.

“We just weren’t on the same page,” the wing admitted postgame of the Knicks’ discord.

New York has a chance to fix that, at home, on Wednesday night. They guaranteed their sweeping habits won’t extend to their Western Conference opponent, but they’ve already substantiated their capabilities in the face of adversity.

Brown’s group will just have to do it again. It’ll start with controlling what they can control and getting back to acting on their winning habits. New York’s coaches and captain have their work cut out for them.

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