The New York Knicks fall to the Miami Heat 92-96 in Game 6. The Knicks had an incredible season, but it ended with pain.
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The New York Knicks season is over after losing to the Miami Heat 92 to 96. The game felt eerily similar to game 5 in reverse. The Knicks started hot, but the Heat regained momentum in the second quarter and staved off New York’s late push at a comeback. But this loss hurts because of so many squandered opportunities.
New York got a superstar performance from one player while everyone else struggled. The team played hard and fought throughout the game. Miami executed slightly better, which made all the difference. Even so, New York had a chance to tie with less than a minute to go, and Jalen Brunson made what felt like his first mistake of the night.
It’s a tough loss after a hard-fought game and series. Let’s give it one last recap to conclude a fantastic season.
The Knicks’ superstar emerges but needs help
Jalen Brunson: 41 PTS (14/22 FG, 5/10 3PT, 8/9 FT), 3 AST, 4 REB, 3 TO in 45 mins
Jalen Brunson is a franchise cornerstone; he solidified that fact with this postseason. Brunson played arguably his best game of the season on the brink of elimination. He showed all the craft and guile we’re used to while knocking down 5 three-pointers along the way. Brunson propelled the Knicks with a huge first quarter and only slowed down when the Heat sent aggressive doubles to force the ball out of his hands.
Even with the Heat doubling Brunson in the backcourt, he found ways to get to the ball and score. Nobody else could make shots consistently, so the weight of the offense rested on his shoulders. He turned in 41 points and more creative passing than his 3 assist tally suggests. Unfortunately, without help, he couldn’t get New York over the hump.
Brunson’s superstar status should be solidified, as he was the best player in consecutive series’ that featured the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo. Brunson averaged 31 points (shot 50 percent from the field), 6.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds against Miami’s vaunted defense. That’s all the more impressive, considering he received around-the-clock treatment for a bad ankle all series. That said, the Knicks franchise player gets a 5 out of 5 for game 6, and the future is bright, thanks to him.
Quentin Grimes: 3 PTS (1/6 FG, 1/6 3PT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 1 TO in 32 mins
Quentin Grimes followed his best game of the postseason with a dud. He missed his shots and failed to get anything off the dribble or in transition. Grimes lived up to his reputation on defense, at least. Nevertheless, the Knicks needed more from their sharpshooter, who shot just 24 percent from three in the postseason.
We don’t know how Grimes’ shoulder injury affected him in the series. He missed two games to conclude the first round, and Tom Thibodeau seemed hesitant to play him for long minutes in the Heat series’s first games. But even hobbled and struggling, Grimes turned in one of the most memorable moments of the playoffs with his steal on Jimmy Butler during the last matchup.
QG strikes me as a player who will take this playoff experience and build from it. He didn’t play well, but his defense never missed a beat which bodes well for his future. I suspect Grimes will comport himself better in future postseasons with a healthy shoulder and better prepared for the intensity. Grimes gets a 1.5 out of 5 for the game, but I can’t wait to see how he returns from the offseason after this.
RJ Barrett: 11 PTS (1/10 FG, 0/3 3PT, 9/10 FT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 3 TO in 32 mins
The Miami Heat determined not to allow RJ Barrett to run roughshod in the lanes. They sent him to the free-throw line 8 times in the first quarter and continued to pressure him all the way to the basket. Barrett made his free throws but virtually nothing else, as he turned in his worst game of the series.
Barrett’s three-ball left him again, making him easy to contain. His lone field goal came on a midrange jumper that made enough appearances this postseason to show promise. As A matter of fact, throughout the playoffs, Barrett flashed potential in some areas we’d been hoping for since the outset of the year. He attacked better going right, knocked down floaters, bullied smaller defenders, and made good reads and passes.
Barrett’s final game was a clunker worth just 1.5 out of, but his playoffs were a success. His playoff averages are similar to his regular season, but that hides the fact that he elevated his performance. Barrett put together eight brilliant performances bookended by three struggle sessions that dragged the averages back to the mean. Still, anyone paying attention could see the 22-year-old’s potential for the future.
Julius Randle: 15 PTS (3/14 FG, 1/7 3PT, 8/9 FT), 3 AST, 11 REB, 2 BLK, 3 TO in 36 mins
Julius Randle struggled again, but I loved the show of heart and effort he provided. I know some fans will focus on lapses in his concentration that led to some missed rotations and poor offensive execution, but I recall a chase-down block and genuine hustle in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Randle’s jumper betrayed him, and that hurt his efficacy more than anything.
Randle fought hard, earning 11 boards and a pair of blocks. But he never found a rhythm, and that became a story for this postseason. The All-NBA player limped into the playoffs, and whether we blame the ankle or something else, he struggled.
This marks two postseasons where Randle has struggled, leaving his career playoff averages at 34 percent from the field and 28 percent from three. A third playoff collapse would be catastrophic for his trade value; he’s already the oldest player in New York’s core.
Randle gets a 2 out of 5 for game 6, and we shouldn’t forget all the signs of growth he’d shown throughout the season. I wouldn’t blame Leon Rose for looking to move the big man, but I’m open to running it back with the dynamic big.
Mitchell Robinson: 2 PTS (0/2 FG, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 11 REB, 1 BLK in 29 mins
Mitchell Robinson looked great on the boards but ineffective everywhere else. He lost a couple of passes out of bounds, though one was a fastball fired by Randle. Mitch never found a way to contain Bam Adebayo, who pulled him away from the hoop and dribbled into pull-up jumpers.
Mitch met his match in this series. But that match wasn’t just Bam; it was the collective effort and boxing out of everyone on the Heat. The Knicks’ poor shooting allowed Miami to sit in zone defenses that mitigated Robinson’s offense. The big man still flashed his dominant presence on the interior, but his weaknesses also shined. As a result, Mitch gets a 2 out of 5 for the night.
I’ll die on the hill that Robinson is a healthy season away from DPoY and All-Defense team votes. He showed as much in a matchup with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Adebayo was a tough matchup, but Mitch 3 double-digit rebounding efforts in 6 games. I’m intrigued by where Mitch goes from here because this was easily the best season of his career.
New York’s second unit provides some help but not enough
Josh Hart: 11 PTS (5/10 FG, 1/4 3PT), 1 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 33 mins
Josh Hart got back on track with a strong effort, scoring and rebounding off the bench. He managed to avoid the foul trouble that sent him to the bench so often in the previous two games, though he still fouled a lot. But staying on the floor allowed Hart to sneak in a few offensive boards and chaotic scores.
Hart’s wife gave birth to twins yesterday (so congratulations to the family), and he still showed up and played his heart out with so much on his mind. The performance is worth a 2.5 out of 5 and reminded fans of the good qualities Hart had brought throughout his stint in NYC.
Hart will likely opt out of his contract, but all signs point to re-signing with the Knicks. He arrived and immediately became a crucial piece of the puzzle. I look forward to his impact across an entire season and hope he works on his three-point shooting. He shot well during the regular season, but we need a more aggressive approach from three to fulfill his value fully.
Obi Toppin: 7 PTS (2/5 FG, 2/5 3PT, 1/2 FT), 1 AST, 3 REB in 12 mins
Obi Toppin made a pair of big threes in the second quarter, then earned free throws in a fourth quarter that felt like no one could score in. Toppin used minimal minutes to provide some quick boosts to the Knicks. He wasn’t great defensively, which may have cut his time short, but I’d have preferred to see more.
Toppin only played 12 minutes but still earned a 2.5 out of 5. When the Knicks looked for offense from role players, he made things happen. He also flashed more moves off the dribble throughout the postseason. There’s more than meets the eye to his game, but he doesn’t get the playing time to show it.
Obi’s future is the most difficult to gauge. He’s a valuable player with upside, but Julius Randle’s presence means he rarely plays more than 15 minutes. He played less than 16 minutes in 7 of 11 playoff games. He scored 18 points (shot 47 percent from the field) and grabbed 8 boards in his lone start. I’m not ready to move on from Obi, but he might be prepared to move on to a more prominent role elsewhere.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 2 PTS (1/2 FG), 1 REB, 1 STL, 4 BLK in 18 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein played a great defensive game. But the Heat continually forced him to step away from the basket or challenge players at the rim. He did well, blocking 4 shots, but that left him out of position for rebounds. The usual stout rebounder grabbed just 1 board in 18 minutes.
I-Hart got outmuscled a few times and failed to make much mark offensively. Thanks to his defense, he winds up with 2 out of 5 for his night. But the playoffs showed Hartenstein’s value as a backup. Any night that Mitch struggled, I-Hart stepped up. His defensive play gave New York 48 minutes of rim protection, whether Mitch played 40 minutes or 15.
Due to his arrival as a free agent, people tend to forget that Hartenstein is just 25. The Knicks have him on a bargain for one more year. So I doubt they’ll move on from him, though I’d be lying if I said the prospect of bringing in a Center with three-point range isn’t intriguing.
Tom Thibodeau has built a good team, despite coming up short in Miami
It’s easy to blame Tom Thibodeau after a matchup with one of the great coaches of all time. But let’s cut Thibs some slack. The Heat brought playoff experience that the Knicks didn’t have. Miami also brought a healthier team into the series. Thibodeau coached one game without Randle, two without Quickley, and every game with Brunson, Hart, and Grimes playing hurt.
Of course, there are things I’d do differently. I felt that Obi Toppin energized the team multiple times, which warranted more opportunities. Thibodeau over-relied on Hart defending Jimmy Butler, which got Hart in foul trouble and stopped Grimes from making his mark. In brief, I think there were ways to make this series more challenging for the Heat.
I don’t see any way Thibodeau doesn’t return with the team. The Knicks play like a Thibodeau team, and their youth has blossomed. He’s earned another season to keep building, and we can revisit other coaches if the team looks stagnant next season.
Closing Thoughts
It’s a bittersweet conclusion to the season. Not only did the Knicks get eliminated, but it came at the hands of Pat the Rat and our rivals in Miami. But despite playoff seeding, the Heat are supposed to be better presently. They’re a much older team that just made it to the conference finals for the third time in 4 years.
The Knicks entered this season as one of the ten youngest teams in the league by average age. The next closest team in the second round was Philadelphia, the 19th youngest. However, the Knicks have more youth, more future picks than any of those other teams, and more flexibility with New York’s expiring contracts. This team overachieved by every measure and is poised to keep growing from within while holding tools to bring new talent in.
I wonder if players around the league saw how New York competed, how the fans embraced their team, and how close this young team was to an even deeper run. It feels like New York could become a destination again. Now we need Leon Rose not to mess this up with any Bargnani-like moves.
This season has been incredibly fun and truly special to share with you all and the KFTV fam. I truly appreciate the community we’ve fostered, and I look forward to rocking with this team and all of you next season.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP’s interview with Legendary Broadcaster, Gus Johnson!
