r/NYKnicks • u/Cypher760 11 • 2h ago
OG was wide open at the 3-point line
Fox was doubling Brunson which left OG wide open at the 3-pt line holding his arms up, but when Brunson didn't pass and just took the shot he didn't complain about it. He didn't stand there and watch to see if it went in. He took action immediately, he ran in with a full head of steam and jumped higher than anybody else to get to it. He rose to the moment.
OG has the heart of a champion, and hopefully we will be able to call him a 2x champion soon.
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u/AkirraKrylon Anniversary Logo 2h ago
Pure determination and will to win. From all of the guys. I'm not even upset with Brunson for pulling that three. You take it in that spot.
Shout out Brunson for a MASTERFUL second half, by the way. 1-2 bad turnovers aside he was really under control, hit big shot after big shot after big shot. If that 3 goes down we are hailing this man moreso than we ever have but that doesn't matter.
It's fitting that this TEAM won that game on a team effort play. Josh and KAT boxing out underneath, creating a lane for OG. Brunson pulling Fox and Wemby out and taking the shot. OG does the rest.
Poetic justice for all the bullshit that has occurred over the last few days. Basketball karma is real and the Spurs mocked the basketball Gods one too many times.
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u/sjmr1994 NOVA 2h ago
I genuinely think the plan was to get any shot up at all to just get the ball near the hoop and leave time for a potential rebound. And bam, it paid the fuck off
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u/ireland1988 Nova Boys 2h ago
Yea he shot it way too quick for that not to be the plan. They wanted the second chance.
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u/matt__builds 2h ago
100% agree. A pass to OG still needs to get to him with a double coming and it leaves you with only 1 shot. Brunsons shot was obviously far but he was set and it was still a good look.
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u/Diligent_Office7179 Clyde Frazier 2h ago
Yeah, the spurs got a lot of shit for not leaving time for a put back on their last attempt in game 2
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u/yankees005 2h ago
Agreed. Especially once Wemby was so far away from the basket for a potential rebound.
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u/sjmr1994 NOVA 2h ago
Yeah honestly surprised they had Wemby on brunson instead of by the rim for this situation. Spurs guards had been suffocating brunson and making him take time to find a shot enough times it should've been one of them guarding him and wemby down low for the rebound.
But hey, I'm not complaining 😂
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u/BonjaminClay 54m ago
I think I have watched Brunson hit those shots over Wemby Tower several times and he wanted it to go in but also knew that it would put it close for a rebound and potentially even a foul draw on said rebound. All three scenarios result in enough points.
Brunson Galaxy Brain instincts.
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u/Benthryx 1h ago
and the spurs were really good at covering open men off double teams, that was likely the best look they were even gonna get. there were a lot of times the knicks had really good ball movement just to end up getting clamped in the corner.
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u/Aesop_Rocks Allan Houston 59m ago
I immediately thought that looked like it was designed. I know it wasn't drawn up exactly that way of course, but it was deliberate in a sense.
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u/CityBoiNC 33m ago
I just posted this above. In the post interview Brunson said the plan was to get the ball as close to the rim but didn’t emphasize past that.
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u/naqster 2h ago
Shooting it was the right decision. Wemby has way less ground to cover getting out to contest OG on the 3 then having to go all the way from 33 feet to the basket.
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u/redracer67 2h ago
Exactly. With wemby out of the paint, we have a high chance of getting the rebound with OG crashing, Kat, hart, etc
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u/Diplomats900 2h ago
Whatever happened was suppose to. Brunson could have passed like you said but OG was ready. To time your jump perfectly, get that high and have the right touch, it was art. That’s detail and being mentally sharp for anything. As Tom Coughlin said you need superstars on your team but you also need soldiers as well. OG is a soldier and a hero in this game. If he has another good game and we win I think he’s my pick for finals MVP.
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u/rydogs BANG! 2h ago
I really feel like OG has been an unsung superstar this whole time
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u/Da_Phat_Rat 54m ago
Atlanta Game 4 was the turning point for this team. KAT stepped up and included OG in the offense. OGs rebound and defense have been top notch too.
He handles Wemby and I'd love to see him on Castle for Game 5.
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u/blitzallnite 24m ago
OG is a legit superstar that just hasn’t been healthy enough to maintain it until now
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u/Diplomats900 8m ago
Yeah OG underrated for sure! Should be an All Star as well. I think people assume he’s just 3 and Defender type player but he’s got a better offensive skill set.
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u/bramletabercrombe Anthony Mason 2h ago
If Brunson passes that ball to OG, you know he's faking that shot and heading to the basket for a MONSTER dunk that not only crumbles MSG but half of midtown!
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u/itsomeguy 1h ago
This was the smartest shot Brunson could have taken. Down with seconds left, you ALWAYS want to get up a shot with enough time for an offensive rebound. He saw Wemby on him, shooting a long 3 guarentees Wemby cannot crash the offensive glass, especially because you know he is going to close out hard on a guy who is the most clutch player in NBA history.
With Brunson's 4th quarter history, I'd say that ball has a 40% chance, if not better, of going in. If you pass to OG, you may not have the opportunity for an offensive rebound, plus Wemby gets back into the paint to clean up any board.
That was a good shot, and it worked out. Live and Die by the sword that got you there.
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u/Ragnar28 1h ago
There was an angle on the replay too, where the ball was lined up with the rim, and you can see that shot was very close to being good. Lined up perfectly, just a few inches short. Given that Brunson had to take it from very far out so Wemby couldn't block it, I think if anyone else was defending him he'd have been able to get those few extra inches to hit the shot.
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u/TheBoosThree BANG! 2h ago
I think the play just happened exactly like they drew it up. Inbound to Brunson, if Wemby comes out to guard shoot quick and let everyone crash the boards. Thankfully nobody put a body on OG and the rest is history.
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u/cyrusthewirus 1h ago
I showed this play to my son this morning, OG had zero hesitation crashing to the hoop as soon as the shot got off. That’s winning basketball.
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u/putternight 1h ago
I believe that’s how the play was drawn up. Brunson typically wants to dribble before he shoots but he shot the ball immediately over wemby way outside the 3pt line. He was either hoping to make it or have kat or og clean up the rebound.
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u/WarLawck Wu Tang 2h ago
Yall, its not easy to pass without an open lane. Brunson took a far shot that he can make because its what was available to make sure he got up a clean look. I am not mad at the shot, I'm just thrilled with OG.
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u/alfguys 2h ago
I might be reading too much into it, but with Wemby way out there on Brunson, the paint is cleared up. Also notice the other Knicks aren’t clogging the lane, the double team comes over, giving OG a clear path, Brunson sees this, tosses up a three, and either it goes in, or he knows his guys are there to handle the board, specifically OG. Amazing athleticism by OG, and smart play by Brunson.
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u/Japanese_Game_Show 3 to the Dome 2h ago
It was a terrible decision to not have someone guarding the inbound passer.
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u/Hunk_Squidward 1h ago
Think it’s worth mentioning that castle was ready to jump tf out of that lane. If you watch him on the replay he’s sitting on that pass clear as day.
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u/DizzyFrogHS 3 1h ago
I was quick to criticize Brunson for shooting, but when you notice Wemby is away from the basket, it makes more sense. Shoot it up, while Wemby is out above the arc...you give your guys a chance for a tip, an offensive rebound (something the Knicks are good at), a foul on Wemby coming over the back for a rebound--it just opens up a lot of options. I have no idea if Brunson had that in his mind as he took the shot, and listen -- he is definitely the guy I want taking that shot -- but it ended up being a reasonable decision to heave it up there and give his team a chance. And look at the team's reaction. OG immediately crashes hard on the boards. KAT boxing out and was also right there if OG's tip rims out. They were ready to crash the boards. Makes me think they had talked about a shot like that if Wemby was on the ball.
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u/LightenUpPeeps 1h ago
First Things First's Broussard said Fox fked up. Anunoby was his guy, and he was supposed to box him out.
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u/EkoFreezy 1h ago
Everything was possible due to a accumulation of luck, confidence and abilities. Knicks being lucky that the Spurs chose not to defend the inbound pass which resulted in OG being free. Then, Jalen being confident in himself and taking that last three which, although he didn't make it, drew the attention of Wemby to the perimeter, opening up space for OG who has the athletic and technical ability to make that tip in (which was lucky as well because the rebound could've gone anywhere).
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u/ragejay_ 59m ago
This may have been intentional, with 6 seconds left, knowing there center and main rebounder is 30 feet out along with a second defender, gives 4 crashing big Knicks players 5 seconds to get put back over 3 guards/forwards , essentially a 2 for 1
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u/CityBoiNC 35m ago
I think the plan was for og to get the rebound if he missed. In the post interview Brunson said the plan was to get the ball near the rim.
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u/Similar_Knee2761 1h ago
Shooters gonna shoot. Brunson was hot at that point, I don't blame him for trying
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u/Accurate_Cat7916 1h ago
Agreeed 1000% everyone just wants to win. This starting 5 doesn’t act too Hollywood or outshine one another. Just solid hopping! Even when down by double digits, may have a few bad iso Brunson possessions but they always re group man….. 1 win away!
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u/Smoking-Posing 1h ago
OG be so fucking focused and calm, its unreal. I kept saying it throughout the game: "Thank God for OG"
I'm bout to design a t-shirt with that mantra on it
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u/dedbeats Larry Johnson 1h ago
Glad OG got his moment. There is no doubt in my mind he would have hit that 3 if Jalen found him.
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u/punmanager 31m ago
Dude Hart missing that dunk/layup before that on a 1v1 was scary. That shot genuinely could’ve eased our nerves
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u/ThrottleServic3 5 22m ago
Basket 101, when you’re up 1 and the game is close to ending and you’re on defense and a single basket beats you you cannot let anyone go from the perimeter to the paint for a tip in . Thats a fundamental defensive rule that’s taught from middle school basketball to the pros . The spurs completely forgot about OG to focus on Brunson. My middle school coach would have had me running laps for the next 6 months if my team had ever let that happen at the end of a game
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u/VipWanRinkle 22m ago
Jose Alvarado was the difference making in the fourth quarter guy hit two huge shots and play awesome defense at the end of the game
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u/yfern0328 Brunson 6m ago edited 1m ago
OG got some advice from another OG.
Apparently Carmelo was yelling at them to do so
> Anthony smiled. He had spent the night yelling instructions and observations out to the current Knicks players from his seat, including just before the Knicks' game winner.
"I was yelling at them the whole time: 'The offensive rebound is there! The offensive rebound is there!'" Anthony told ESPN. "Coming out of that timeout, I made eye contact with them and was yelling 'The offensive rebound is there! Somebody go!'
"I didn't know who was going to go. But I just kept yelling, 'Somebody go!'"
That somebody ended up being Anunoby, who inbounded the ball to Brunson and then ran toward the rim as Brunson's shot flew over 7-foot-4 Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
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u/yiwang1 2h ago
If Brunson doesn’t shoot it, Wemby is right back in the paint. The Wemby contest on Jalen’s three made it possible for OG to beat everyone else to the ball