Feeding the Hot Hand

Also, Hart has continued to be an effective slasher to the rim. Whether it’s finishing a contested layup or drawing the defense in to pass out to an open perimeter shooter, he constantly puts pressure on the defense and creates open opportunities for himself and his teammates. 

Plus,the fact that Hart has been able to do this while still playing 40 or more minutes a game has kept the Knicks leveled, even when they go through bad offensive stretches. 

In the end, I’m not saying Hart should be attempting 20 or more shots a game but if he continues to shoot this well from the perimeter, maybe Coach Thibodeau should find a way to give him more shot opportunities. Potentially, feeding the ball to Hart’s hot hand can be the key to winning this series.

Taking the Pressure Off

As I stated previously, Jalen Brunson has really struggled to score in the first two games, which has not happened often this season. Especially in consecutive games.

The Sixers length and versatility on the defensive end has bothered Brunson, which has caused him to be very reliant on his free throw shooting to keep the Knicks afloat. This is the reason why Josh Hart should probably take more shots throughout the game. 

Hopefully, Brunson will break through this slump but Hart’s recent offensive production can potentially help Brunson get back into his groove. The Knicks will be in Philadelphia for the next two games of this series so they can use Hart’s hot shooting to set the tone for Brunson and the rest of the team. If Hart can keep this momentum going and prove that he can consistently shoot like this from the perimeter, it really puts the Sixers in a tough situation. We’ll see what happens in Philadelphia these next two games.

Upcoming Playoff Schedule 

Knicks@Sixers 

Game 3 – Thursday 7:30 PM ET on TNT

Game 4- Sunday 1:00 PM ET on ABC