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New York Sports fans can be brutal against their team, especially in the post -season.
Mike Francesa, the New York Sports Radio legend, showed another example of it after New York Knicks’ loss to Detroit Pistons in Game 2 in the first round that improves the NBA Playoffs series.
Under his bet Rivers podcast on Monday, Francesa was unloading Knicks, specifically head coach Tom Thibodeau because of the team’s odd violation in his eyes.
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Knick’s guard Jalen Brunson responds during the second round playoff match against Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden in New York, May 19, 2024. (Brad Penner-USA Today Sports)
“The stagnant four guys watching a guy, playing basketball, are not an offense, and I don’t care what your name is,” said Francesa, referring the Point Guard Jalen Brunson, who primarily plays in an isolated lineup where his teammates are placed apart on the floor around him.
“And Brunson is not Michael Jordan.”
Brunson has always been the focal point of Knicks’ violation, but many on social media thought it was out of date in the loss 100-94 in Madison Square Garden.
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He finished with a game-high 37 points over his 44 minutes on the floor and went 12-of-27 shooting. However, he shot one-third of the team’s 81 field goals, and it ultimately wasn’t enough to chop a solid 2-0 lead on the way into Game 3 in Detroit.
“If this offense just wants to be Brunson jumping basketball for 15 seconds, and then, if he is the double team, he will turn a care to someone and hope they hit a long three, or he will find a way to get to the bad line. Dive against a guy and get free shot. Flop to the ground,” Francesa said.
Mikal Bridges had 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and and Anunoby each had 10 points to finish the start five.
New York Knicks Guard Jalen Brunson during the playoff match against the 76s at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, May 2, 2024. (Bill Streicher-USA Today Sports)
One of Brunson’s most important tactics when he has the ball tries to make mistakes because he is a solid free-shooter. He knocked 9-of-11 shots on Monday night.
But Francesa doesn’t like the style of basketball.
“How many times in one night is Brunson on Earth? 32? It’s not appealing basketball. It’s about Brunson. Why do you think the other teams think he’s flops? He’s on earth all the game. That’s half of Knicks’ violation,” he said.
Of course, it’s not a serious situation for New York yet. The series is only two games in a best-of-seven set.
Sports Radio talk show host Mike Francesa at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York, February 18, 2023. (Wendell Cruz-usa Today Sports)
But Francesa cares about a potential future series, perhaps with the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics, who would line up with New York in the second round if they were to win their first round series.
“Four guys will stand around and look at Brunson, you’ll never beat a good team. You’ll never beat Celtics,” Francesa said.
