τTwo-time NBA champion Kenny Smith perfectly summed up how the New York Knicks were able to go up 2-0 against the Philadelphia 76ers despite their star Jalen Brunson shootingn the first two games.
“It’s the [Knicks] system,”following the Knicks 104-101 comeback win in Game 2 on April 22. Coach [Tom] Thibodeau has put in a great system where guys could flourish regardless of the outcome.”
Smith, a former high school basketball star in New York, likened Thibodeau’s system to another team sport where there are only a handful of superstars.
“You have other guys who can fit in kind of like a football setting,” Smith continued. “When you have a football team, there are certain plays and you just kind of can be able to put certain guys in to make sure it happens if you have quality players. The Knicks have quality players in a great system. They never feel rattled because I feel the system that the Knicks have now is they don’t play that traditional pick and roll and only spot-up guys. It allows people to kind of tap into their superpowers. So it allows you to be comfortable tap into your superpowers even when your best players not playing the best.”
The Knicks have withstood the lengthy absences of three starters — Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby — in the regular season to finish the second-best record in the East.
Hart is the Knicks’ second-leading scorer, averaging 21.5 points behind Brunson’s 23.0 points. He’s also leading both teams in 3-point accuracy (53.3%) and rebounding (14.0) per game.