After consecutive terrible starts in Indianapolis, Tom Thibodeau made a lineup change.
And it was a smashing success.
Miles McBride replaced Precious Achiuwa as the Knicks went small in Game 5 and was a catalyst to Tuesday’s 121-91 victory, dropping 17 points while, more importantly, stifling Tyrese Haliburton with his defense.
It wasn’t a shocking lineup adjustment considering Thibodeau used McBride over Achiuwa to begin the second half in Game 4, and there were several reasons for the maneuver.
The offense was anemic in Game 4 and Haliburton went off early.
In Game 5, however, the Knicks’ offense was free-flowing in the first quarter with 38 points, with McBride dropping nine by himself.
Haliburton was held to three points in the opening quarter while being chased around by McBride.
Haliburton finished with just 13.
The adjustment also allowed Achiuwa to become the backup center, replacing Jericho Sims, who looked overwhelmed in that spot in Games 3 and 4.
McBride’s presence as a ball-handler also helped free up Jalen Brunson, who re-emerged as the star Tuesday with 44 points.
McBride was successful as a starter in the regular season, averaging 17.9 points in 14 contests, with the Knicks compiling a 6-8 record.
A “realistic target” for OG Anunoby’s return is the Eastern Conference Finals, according to TNT, meaning the forward will be out of Friday’s Game 6 in Indiana.
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“There’s a likely target for a return that will be possibly the Eastern Conference Finals,” sideline reporter Chris Haynes said before the game’s broadcast.
Anunoby suffered a strained hamstring in Game 2 and hasn’t played since.
According to Thibodeau, Anunoby has started doing “light work” on the court.
He had only been doing pool workouts in the last update Sunday.
“When he’s ready, he’s ready,” Thibodeau said.
Apparently Thibodeau was a heartthrob in college.
At least in his own mind.
“He was built like an Adonis,” Dennis Grube, Thibodeau’s former teammate and roommate at Salem State, told ESPN, “and he looked really good in a tux in my wedding. He knew he looked good; he spent a lot of time looking at himself in the mirror.”
However, the Knicks coach, now 66, never settled down because basketball was his biggest love.
According to the ESPN profile, Thibodeau broke off an engagement two months before the wedding because being married would hinder his basketball career.
