Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks are in real trouble after falling 2-0 to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the series heading to Gainbridge Fieldhouse at Indianapolis.
The Pacers have out-executed the Knicks on the road behind forward Pascal Siakam‘s offensive performance, including 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting during game 2.
Guard Jalen Brunson lead the Knicks with 36 points and 11 assists, but he missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game in regulation, just as he did during game 1. The former national champion with the Villanova Wildcats have been attacked constantly by Indiana, which has been an effective strategy so far.
Jalen Brunson’s biggest flop yet has NBA fans outraged
Jalen Brunson has been criticized for his flopping during games, with opponents getting tired of the gestures the guard makes if a defender gets physical with him. Flopping has long been a problem in the NBA, casting a shadow on the fairness of the game.
But his latest flop sparked a debate of whether or not players like Brunson should be fined for their antics. During an intense play in game 2, Jalen was being guarded by Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton. To get away from pressure, the Knicks guard decided to pass the ball and Haliburton jumped as he tried to prevent the pass from being successful.
However, Tyrese landed unintentionally on Brunson’s right foot. The New York player showed major discomfort as he fell to the ground after feeling the contact. Fans were not having it, with some saying that Jalen was faking the pain and that he over exaggerated the contact. Either way, now the Knicks and Brunson are under some serious pressure if they can’t win on the road.
Pacers’ offense has come up big in the playoffs
The Indiana Pacers offense has hit a new level in the playoffs and has proven to be the more difficult offense to guard during their series against the New York Knicks. The team’s offensive power is about pace, ball movement and player rotation, so they don’t have to rely in one person to deliver points.
Indiana has alto taken more advantage of transition points, with the Pacers outscoring the Knicks 51-26 during the first two games of the series. That offensive stat is going to add up and will eventually lead you to victory, so New York better start getting more points in transition.
However, the Pacers have played their reserves more than the Knicks, which has played in favor of New York. After all, the Big Apple team had the higher-ranked bench in the regular season and through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals will be played on Sunday at Indianapolis, with the home team looking to take a 3-0 advantage.
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