Knicks most to blame for demoralizing Game 4 loss to Pacers

A great supporting cast is what sets good teams apart from contenders in the NBA Playoffs. The Knicks core has been doing a lot and their heavy usage rate can quite make a team burn out fast. This is clearly what happened in Game 4 against the Pacers. Coach Rick Carlisle made every single one of the Villanova alums work hard on both ends of the floor.

On offense, not one member of the Knicks score more than six field goals. Jalen Brunson only managed to knock down 35.3% of his shots from all three levels of scoring. The star guard also attempted five three-pointed but none of them found the bottom of the net. He may have scored 18 points and dropped five assists but this was clearly not enough to get any sort of offensive flow.

Josh Hart also underperformed. The usual hustle and heart that leads the Knicks to track down most boards was clearly not present in this NBA Playoffs clash. He only managed to grab three rebounds. There also was not much contribution coming out of him on offense. His horrid 16.7% shooting stroke from the field only got the Knicks two points. The Pacers clearly wanted to get him tired. This made Coach Tom Thibodeau make the tough call of just playing him for 24 minutes instead of the usual 45+ minutes that he does.

One member of the Knicks stands out

Shooters are crucial in the modern-day of the NBA Playoffs. They are responsible for removing pressure from ball handlers and bringing defenders to the weak side which allows for easy driving or passing lanes. That role is usually assigned to Donte DiVincenzo. Jalen Brunson and the rest of the Knicks’ shot creation often rely on his success. Whenever this cog in the machine isn’t working, it could mean trouble.

Donte DiVincenzo was only one of two players that Coach Tom Thibodeau played for more than 30 minutes. To say that his impact was underwhelming is an understatement. He notched a field goal percentage which clocked in at 23.1% while only knocking down one out of his six three-pointers. He was able to put out five rebounds and four assists but the momentum was cut due to his two turnovers. In the end, he notched a game-low -40 plus-minus which is a big indicator of what he needs to improve

It is clear as day that the Knicks need to do something different. Will they be able to bounce back?