Knicks' composure, 'connectivity' instilled by Mike Brown crucial to Game 2 survival of Spurs

If you asked a knicks" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Knicks fan to describe the ideal version of how they want to see their team play, they would end up describing this season’s version of the Knicks: a grind-it-out collection of men who are determined to fight it out for 48 minutes and outlast the opposition.

If you asked coach Mike Brown that question, coming off a 105-104 Game 2 win to make it 13 consecutive playoff victories and a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, he’d likely say the same.

“We could have folded a few times,” Brown said in describing his side’s resilience in withstanding seeing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate in a matter of moments before a single free throw proved the difference as the Knicks held Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs scoreless in their final three possessions to seal the win.

“But our guys just kept fighting. They kept fighting. And the one thing I told them that you work on connectivity throughout the course of the year for moments like these.

“And no matter what run they went on, no matter what time of the game, our guys just kept uplifting one another, not just the guys on the floor but the guys on the bench. They just kept uplifting one another throughout the course of San Antonio‘s runs.”

With 6:04 to play in the game, OG Anunoby‘s two-handed slam past Wembanyama put the Knicks up 97-83. The Knicks wouldn’t score for the next three and a half minutes before Anunoby put in three at the free throw line to break a tie.

The message from Brown during the Spurs’ run: “Stay composed.”

Jalen Brunson, who was 2-for-10 from the field in the second half, scored the Knicks’ final five points, including hitting a layup to put them ahead three on a nice in-bound play and a fadeaway to level the score with 39 seconds remaining.

“We do a good job of staying composed in those situations,” Brunson said. “It’s a credit to the character that this team has, not being able to fold in a situation like that is key to winning games like this.

“At this stage of the season, things aren’t gonna be pretty. It’s gonna be ugly. It’s gonna be grind it out. It’s as simple as that. No matter what the situation is, we’re gonna have each other’s back.”

Brown said that connectivity, established during the 53-win regular season and ironed out over three playoff series wins, “paid huge dividends for our group” on Friday night in San Antonio.

“It’s an amazing feeling, as a coach, to know how mentally tough your team is — no matter what the situation is in front of ’em,” Brown said. “To see them continue to fight and fight and fight and fight — no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is on the clock — it’s just a fantastic feeling.

“I’m telling you, man, the NBA is tough. You don’t experience what I’m experiencing with this group a ton, and it is a fricking joy to be around.”