The New York Knicks have a bit of soul searching to do as they prepare to face the 2-0 Indiana Pacers again. What’s crazy about this series is that New York has been in a winning position in both games. The stars for the Knicks have been playing on fire despite the losses.
That makes things interesting for DFS because players shouldn’t shy away from starting a couple Knicks just because they’re losing. Statistically, they’re still playing well despite being down 0-2.
Lock of the Game
Jalen Brunson
New York Knicks
VS
Indiana Pacers
(2-0)
Some people might have expected to be reading Pascal Siakam’s name here after he dropped 39 in Game 2. That was just a single-game performance, though. Looking at the playoffs in its entirety, Jalen Brunson is still proving he can consistently go off for 30+ points a night. In both games in the series, Brunson scored 43 and 36 respectively.
The Pacers also have several players that can ball out. One night it can be Siakam with the strong game, another night it could be Haliburton, then Turner, etc. When it comes to the Knicks, though, Brunson is guaranteed to lead the team in scoring, and everyone else is competing for second place.
Start ‘Em
Pascal Siakam
Indiana Pacers
AT
New York Knicks
(0-2)
Although Siakam has been having a great season, his 39 points in Game 2 were still very surprising. It seemed like Siakam could always get to where he wanted to on the floor, whether he wanted to set up for a three-pointer or get positioning on the low block.
It’s not like the Knicks can double Siakam either because everyone else on the Pacers is a threat to shoot. Therefore, lots of times Siakam is just left on an island to himself, and he has enough moves to take advantage of that defense. Will Siakam have 39 points again? Probably not, but he will have a strong Game 3.
Karl Anthony-Towns
New York Knicks
VS
Indiana Pacers
(2-0)
Anthony-Towns dropped a modest 20 points in Game 2. What was nice about his performance, though, was how he got those points. Of course, he’s been working on the jump shot, but Anthony-Towns was getting into the paint in Game 2. He got plenty of shots finding a good matchup and just shooting the ball from the post.
Getting back to that style of basketball will do wonders for his teammates, because it forces the defense to guard the paint, leaving shooters open on the perimeter (of which the Knicks have plenty). Anthony-Towns can easily match those 20 points with that playstyle, and he’s also been leading the team with rebounds as well.
Sit ‘Em
Aaron Nesmith
Indiana Pacers
AT
New York Knicks
(0-2)
So, Nesmith is actually a reliable shooter once he gets the ball, there’s no debate there. The issue for Nesmith is not how he is playing but how often he is getting the ball. In Game 2 he had a total of seven field goals.
He was efficient with them; he hit two of his three shots from behind the three-point line. If he isn’t getting the ball to shoot a lot, though, there’s a limit on how much he can actually score. Nesmith has the potential to ball out, but the majority of the shots are being taken by Nembhard, Siakam, Turner, etc. So starting Nesmith isn’t the smartest move because he won’t shoot enough to get decent DFS points.
Josh Hart
New York Knicks
VS
Indiana Pacers
(2-0)
Although he did hit a nice layup at the end of Game 2 for the Knicks, Josh Hart only had six points. It’s like he scores that low typically, but in Game 1 he had another dud with eight points. So far, it seems like other players like Mikal Bridges (who dropped 20 in Game 2) are more involved with the offensive attack than Josh Hart is.
The Knicks players have also been consistent with their performances for a while; Brunson usually pops off, Anthony-Towns and Anunoby usually have good games, and the rest of the Knicks just shoot when they can. It’s not a good idea to start Hart unless he becomes a more central part of the offense.
Fade of the Game
Obi Toppin
Indiana Pacers
AT
New York Knicks
(0-2)
There’s not much bad one can say about the Pacers, but their bench contributions have been lacking a bit. That’s not the end of the world (it’s the playoffs, the starters will play most of these games.) Toppin got 19 minutes of playtime in Game 2, though, and he could only drop four points. If anything, that might mean T.J. McConnell as a potential sixth man. Toppin likely won’t have any relevant points for DFS.
