Kenny basically gifted the Knicks the EXACT amount of possessions they needed to win, and started to help off the corners PRECISELY when the Knicks needed two 3s.
The clock management was horrible.
They gave up the soft switch for like 4 straight minutes. An extra 5 seconds of resistance every play removes ~2 to 3 possessions from the game. But they were damn near preswitching Harden ON TO Brunson, allowing them to attack very early creating more possessions in the game.
brunson beats his guy very often no matter who it is. it didn't take blowing that lead to know that harden couldn't stay in front of him. the fact that they gave up that switch so easily every single time is coaching malpractice. if he gets it after another ten seconds of work, that's fine. but they gave it up right away, letting him attack whenever he wanted
Even on offense they were going too early at times, which makes no sense. if you're trying to bleed clock, you have to commit to it.
The Knicks got EXACTLY the right amount of possessions to tie but only because they ALSO decided to finally help off the corners up six with 1:15 left when the Knicks realistically would only get 2 possessions with that amount of time.
Down 6, how is the only way they tie it with that amount of possessions? By two three pointers. Which they gave up because THAT'S when they decided to send help
If they just kept allowing the switch, Brunson could have been funneled into 2pointerd and the Knicks would need 3 possessions to tie which only would have been possible if they also forced a live ball turnover.
At that point they deadass should have left Harden on an island to try to bait Brunson into taking 2s because there wasnt enough time for them to get 3 possessions to tie with 2s