MIAMI– If it looked familiar, it was. The Knicks lost 3 video games that looked nearly precisely like this one last spring. They ‘d play the Heat even for a while. The Heat would pull ahead. The Knicks would attempt to counterpunch. The Heat would broaden the lead. The Knicks would make one last rush on them.
The Heat would withstand. And the Heat would win.
Occurred 3 times in 3 video games here at Kaseya Center last May in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Taken place once again Tuesday night, the last 109-99.
The Knicks appeared like they ‘d be burnt out. They end up connecting the video game, 92-all, with simply under 4 minutes left. They were gassed. They ‘d consumed all their power tablets returning. Didn't have enough to complete the task.
Exact same script, various day.
Rinse. Repeat.
“We combated and played well in the 2nd half,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated when it was over, before going on his nighttime lament about the refs swallowing their whistles so frequently when Jalen Brunson is included. “And we fell short in completion.”
Brief in the end.
Rinse.
Repeat.
Is it a little additional annoying losing to a group that really has the gall to use jerseys that have “HEAT CULTURE” sewed on the front? Sure it is. Is it a lot more frustrating to dribble over the massive “HEAT CULTURE” logo design that's painted at midcourt at Kaseya a hundred times a video game? Naturally it is.
Jalen Brunson argues with referee Natalie Sago throughout the Knicks' 109-99 loss to the Heat. AP
Till the Knicks– or, actually, anybody else– knock the Heat off their sanctimonious pedestal, they've got the right to crow about their culture, to revel in their self-righteousness. Since till tested otherwise, the Heat are a horrible and dyspeptic challenger this time of year. The Knicks discovered that out a year back– as did the Bucks, as did the Celtics.
And the Heat have actually invested much of this year doing what the Heat generally do. They had some injuries. They lost some confusing video games. They looked great and buried in play-in area simply a week earlier, now appear like they've awakened as quickly as they can smell the playoffs. Possibly this is the year all that culture will not suffice.
Somebody's got to show it.
“They're a physical group,” Josh Hart stated. “You constantly understand that coming here.”
And they are likewise peaking at the correct time, which is what is most likely most shocking if you are a Knicks fan. It is simple to determine when the Knicks peaked this season. That was Jan. 27, a Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, the last time the Knicks and the Heat played, and the Knicks throttled them, 125-109, 2 days after squashing the Nuggets by 30.
