Before these Eastern Conference finals, Knicks coach Mike Brown suggested that the Cavaliers’ long, athletic big men could make life a bit tougher on Karl-Anthony Towns, who had been enjoying the postseason spoils as the world’s biggest active point guard. Maybe KAT would not be able to stand tall in the pinch post, look over the heavy traffic, and fire water-polo passes through the defense at will.
Towns did dish out four assists in the first half of Game 1, but then only one more Tuesday night during the chaotic closing 29 minutes. In the Knicks’ Game 2 victory Thursday night, Towns finished with only 1 assist in 36 minutes to go along with his 18 points and 13 rebounds. This was the same KAT who was good for 56 assists in New York’s seven-game winning streak against the Atlanta Hawks (in Round 1) and the Philadelphia 76ers (in Round 2).
The adjustment in approach shows a flexibility in Brown and Towns that is necessary this time of year. The coach received so much credit for dramatically altering his star’s role in the middle of a make-or-break first-round playoff series that it wouldn’t have been surprising if he stayed with it for the balance of the postseason, no matter what. KAT was also praised to the hilt for his selflessness and versatility while making like his childhood idol, Magic Johnson. He could have kept passing on first down, second down, and third down.
But the Knicks didn’t think it made as much sense this series to run their operation through their 7-foot center, and so far they’ve been right. They left the dishing to Jalen Brunson in Game 2, and the captain answered with 14 assists.
