The New York Knicks haven’t played since they completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25.
While the Knicks should be well-rested for Game 1 of the NBA Finals versus the San Antonio Spurs on June 3, such a layoff has sparked concerns about how sharp New York will be at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center. On Monday, Knicks guard Landry Shamet suggested he and his teammates are doing all they can to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself this week.
Knicks have stayed “locked in” throughout lengthy break
“All that [Cleveland] stuff’s behind us,” Shamet said, per Colin Stephenson of Newsday. “And the reality is our job at hand right now is making sure our bodies are right; making sure our minds are right; making sure we’re paying attention to details. We’ve been incredibly sharp and locked in, and taking care of [what we can] control was just really all you can do. And then when the ball is tipped up here in a couple of days, it’ll be right back into the swing of things of a series.”
On May 17, the Cavaliers played in a Game 7 of a conference semifinals series. Two nights later, the Knicks found themselves trailing the Cavaliers by 22 points in the fourth quarter of a Game 1 after New York had last played on May 10.
Of course, the Spurs had to win a Game 7 this past Saturday to secure an NBA Finals matchup against the Knicks.
“Our focus is on going on the road and winning Game 1, and that’s been the same,” Shamet added, per Alex Smith of SNY. “This isn’t our first long break that we’ve had. So, it’s more of the same, focusing on the details and game plan and not getting too crazy or outside the box. The reality is we’re here for a reason, and we don’t need to reinvent the wheel entirely. Staying with our principles and focusing on the little things and building up to go try to win Game 1.”
Will being on the road help Knicks with Game 1 focus?
The Knicks rallied from behind against the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals while playing in front of a passionate and loud Madison Square Garden crowd. On Wednesday, the Knicks will be the visitors playing in enemy territory.
“[We need to be] aware that we’re going into an environment where the opposing team is going to generate a lot of energy,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said. “Our crowd is one of the best, if not the best, in the league, and the energy that we get from playing here at Madison Square Garden is unbelievable. There are probably other buildings where, in their players’ minds, they give them that same energy. So, knowing that it’s going to be hostile, we don’t have the energy of the crowd to help us get over the hump. So we have to come out, not coming out jumping on them, but we have to come out with a purpose, not just physically but mentally as well, so that we don’t fall behind big, because the crowd will really feed into that.”
Brown likely will hope that his team can take the San Antonio crowd out of Game 1 by the time the fourth quarter comes around. Such a task may prove to be easier said than done.