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Following a big win over the Clippers the Cavs stay home for a two-day rest before hosting the Knicks. The Cavs are 2-0 against the Knicks and have one more game against them after this one which will be in 9 days in New York. The Knicks played the Sixers in the Apple Tuesday night so they will be on the second night of a back-to-back with travel.
The Knicks will be without leading scorer Jalen Brunson, who averages 26.3 points and 7.4 assists for the season. In two games against the Cavs he’s averaging 23.5 points.
The Knicks are 48-27 overall and 8-5 without Brunson. In spite of his scoring they are 4.9 points worse when he is on the floor. The problem with Brunson being out is that the Knicks don’t have much of a bench and play their starters heavy minutes. Bridges and Hart average 38 minutes per game, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns average 37, Brunson averages 35, Miles McBride 25, and Precious Achiuwa 20. Mitch Robinson is finally back and he’s playing 16 minutes.
That being said, Cam Payne (+7.3) and Miles McBride (+5.3) give them quality minutes off the bench along with Robinson (+5.5). The Knicks bench is thin, but the guys they have can play.
Payne and McBride were out with injuries Tuesday so it remains to be seen if they can go against the Cavs. KAT was also out but the Knicks won anyway against a Sixers team missing all its best players. It is unknown if any or all of Payne, McBride, and KAT will be active against the Cavs.
The Knicks are pretty much locked into the 3rd seed, far behind Boston and 4.0 ahead of Indy with 7 games to play. The last time these teams met it was Feb. 21 in Cleveland and the Cavs rolled to a 142-105 win, and that was with the Knicks having all their rotation players except Josh Hart.
With the Cavs being at home with two days off and the Knicks on the second night of a BTB with Brunson out and other players banged up it wouldn’t surprise me if Thibs just sends in the clowns. The starters have played a ton of minutes, the third seed is pretty safe, and the last time they played the Cavs here they lost by 37.
The Knicks are averaging 116.4 points per game, good for 9th in the NBA, but since Brunson went down they’re averaging 111.3. Against the Cavs it’s 104.5. But with Brunson out and Mitch Robinson back their defense has improved, allowing just 107 ppg against a season average of 112.
Offensively the Knicks are old school, ranking 4th in percentage of shots taken at the rim and 27th in percentage of 3’s. In terms of accuracy they’re 17th at the rim and 8th on 3’s, so the numbers say they should shoot more 3’s.
Defensively it’s the opposite. Opponents don’t attack the rim much (23rd) but are 9th in accuracy at the rim (take note Allen and Mobley). Opponents shoot few 3’s (6th lowest percentage) but are the 4th most accurate from deep. Seems like they should take more 3’s against the Knicks. In two games the Cavs are making 42.5% of their 3’s.
With Payne, McBride, and KAT out Tuesday I’m not sure who will be available against the Cavs. Even if they all can play the Cavs should have the upper hand based on being the better team and playing at home with two days off. The Knicks are 12-18 against teams .500 and over.
It was just a rough patch and a little adversity. I feel like it fueled us even more. These next few games we’re going to be even more locked in and be ready for the playoffs. - Evan Mobley after the Cavs lost three in a row
You've got to be playing your best basketball going into the playoffs. You don't just want to wake up when it's time to wake up. - Max Strus
The Knicks will be without leading scorer Jalen Brunson, who averages 26.3 points and 7.4 assists for the season. In two games against the Cavs he’s averaging 23.5 points.
The Knicks are 48-27 overall and 8-5 without Brunson. In spite of his scoring they are 4.9 points worse when he is on the floor. The problem with Brunson being out is that the Knicks don’t have much of a bench and play their starters heavy minutes. Bridges and Hart average 38 minutes per game, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns average 37, Brunson averages 35, Miles McBride 25, and Precious Achiuwa 20. Mitch Robinson is finally back and he’s playing 16 minutes.
That being said, Cam Payne (+7.3) and Miles McBride (+5.3) give them quality minutes off the bench along with Robinson (+5.5). The Knicks bench is thin, but the guys they have can play.
Payne and McBride were out with injuries Tuesday so it remains to be seen if they can go against the Cavs. KAT was also out but the Knicks won anyway against a Sixers team missing all its best players. It is unknown if any or all of Payne, McBride, and KAT will be active against the Cavs.
The Knicks are pretty much locked into the 3rd seed, far behind Boston and 4.0 ahead of Indy with 7 games to play. The last time these teams met it was Feb. 21 in Cleveland and the Cavs rolled to a 142-105 win, and that was with the Knicks having all their rotation players except Josh Hart.
With the Cavs being at home with two days off and the Knicks on the second night of a BTB with Brunson out and other players banged up it wouldn’t surprise me if Thibs just sends in the clowns. The starters have played a ton of minutes, the third seed is pretty safe, and the last time they played the Cavs here they lost by 37.
The Knicks are averaging 116.4 points per game, good for 9th in the NBA, but since Brunson went down they’re averaging 111.3. Against the Cavs it’s 104.5. But with Brunson out and Mitch Robinson back their defense has improved, allowing just 107 ppg against a season average of 112.
Offensively the Knicks are old school, ranking 4th in percentage of shots taken at the rim and 27th in percentage of 3’s. In terms of accuracy they’re 17th at the rim and 8th on 3’s, so the numbers say they should shoot more 3’s.
Defensively it’s the opposite. Opponents don’t attack the rim much (23rd) but are 9th in accuracy at the rim (take note Allen and Mobley). Opponents shoot few 3’s (6th lowest percentage) but are the 4th most accurate from deep. Seems like they should take more 3’s against the Knicks. In two games the Cavs are making 42.5% of their 3’s.
With Payne, McBride, and KAT out Tuesday I’m not sure who will be available against the Cavs. Even if they all can play the Cavs should have the upper hand based on being the better team and playing at home with two days off. The Knicks are 12-18 against teams .500 and over.
It was just a rough patch and a little adversity. I feel like it fueled us even more. These next few games we’re going to be even more locked in and be ready for the playoffs. - Evan Mobley after the Cavs lost three in a row
You've got to be playing your best basketball going into the playoffs. You don't just want to wake up when it's time to wake up. - Max Strus
