The New York Knicks and head coach Tom Thibodeau were hoping to come back in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night and even the series at 1-1. What actually happened was not close to that goal.
Instead, the Knicks fell to a 2-0 series deficit after losing to the Pacers by a final score of 114-109.
Heading to Indiana after losing both at Madison Square Garden was not the plan for New York. For Thibodeau and company to come back and win the series, they are going to need to fix quite a few different things.
One issue has been that the Knicks have been unable to stop the Pacers defensively. Led by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana has been shooting a very high percentage and has been getting great open looks through the first two games.
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Another issue has been the difference in depth. The Pacers boast one of the deepest rosters in basketball, while New York has not gotten a ton of production off the bench outside of Mitchell Robinson.
Now, a former NBA star has spoken out with stern criticism for Thibodeau. Isaiah Thomas thinks that coaching has been another issue for the Knicks.
“Thibs getting out coached,” Thomas said. “This happens to his teams every year. They die out because he doesn’t trust his bench.”
Through the first two games of the series, New York’s bench has scored 28 points. Indiana, on the other hand, has received 38 points from its bench.
Rick Carlisle and the Pacers are also an extremely physical team. Without good bench play from their opponents, they find ways to wear down a starting group. The Knicks have to figure out how to get more from their second unit.
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Thibodeau spoke out briefly following the Game 2 loss, sharing what he wants to see from his team moving forward in the series.
“Going into the fourth quarter it’s a tie ballgame. We’ve just got to make better plays, more winning plays,” Thibodeau said.
Pascal Siakam, Indiana’s leading scorer from Game 2 with 39 points, spoke out about his team’s mindset. He knows the series is far from over.
“We have a long way to go and it’s only going to get tougher for us,” Siakam said.
Game 3 of the series will be played on Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET.
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