How Knicks’ Game 5 bounce back vs. Pacers points to Eastern Conference Finals potential

It’s hard to say anything was more important to the Knicks’ Game 5 win than Brunson. But if you had to pick one thing that was just as important, it would be rebounding.

New York established a playoff identity in the first-round against the Philadelphia 76ers, and it was built around physicality and rebounding. Through the first four games against the Pacers, that identity changed. Part of it can be attributed to being without Mitchell Robinson, who led the league in offensive rebounds this season. But the entire game felt different, thanks in part to the pace at which Indiana plays at.

That changed in Game 5. New York got back to its roots, beginning with their rebounding. Specifically, the Knicks dominated the offensive glass. They grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, with Isaiah Hartenstein securing 12 himself (and 17 total rebounds). Those offensive rebounds led to 26 second-chance points.

But New York’s grittiness was about more than just Hartenstein. Donte DiVincenzo was also huge in driving a revitalized approach. He secured three offensive rebounds (and seven total rebounds), with one put back dunk that led to a Madison Square Garden crowd eruption. Josh Hart grabbed 11 rebounds himself, while both Precious Achiuwa and Alec Burks hauled in five boards apiece. It was truly a team effort.

Tom Thibodeau adjusted perfectly

We would be remiss if we overlooked head coach Tom Thibodeau’s adjustments. Right off the bat, the most important move Thibodeau made was to insert Miles McBride into the starting lineup, making for an incredibly small team.

McBride struggled through the first four games of the series, but that ended in Game 5. Objectively, the idea of turning to McBride made sense. He played well as a starter in the regular season, as he averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game over his 14 games in the starting lineup. Not bad for a second-round draft pick on a three-year, $13 million deal. 

And that is exactly the type of performance McBride served up in Game 5. He started out strongly, dropping nine points in the first quarter, and he  ended up finishing the game with 17 points and four assists. He was also a defensive nightmare for Tyrese Haliburton, and his presence allowed the Knicks to better select matchups for Brunson through picks-and-rolls on offense.

But inserting McBride into the starting lineup wasn’t Thibodeau’s only adjustment. He also turned to Alec Burks for big minutes off the bench, and he stepped up tremendously. After receiving seven straight DNPs to begin the playoffs, followed by spot minutes in the past two games, Burks performed in Game 5. He scored 18 points on 6-11 shooting, with many of his buckets providing valuable momentum for New York.

Can McBride and Burks deliver repeat performances in Game 6? We’ll see. But it’s certainly possible given how much attention Brunson will inevitably command.

Despite missing four rotation pieces (and three starters), the Knicks remain ready to fight. Game 6 will shift to Indianapolis, Indiana, where the Knicks are 0-2 in this series. With a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, we’ll see if the Knicks can buck that trend the next time they take the floor.