The Knicks regained the home field advantage by winning Game 1 on the Cleveland floor on Saturday. With a very good Jalen Brunsonauthor of 27 points, who repeatedly challenged the Cavaliers’ defense throughout the game.
Before Game 2, isaac okoromain defender on Jalen Brunson, however assured that the leader of the Knicks had a big tendency to exaggerate the contacts in order to cause the faults.
“We feel like we defended well on him in the last game. Above all, you have to keep him away from the free throw line, not falling into his pump-fakes or his simulations. explained Isaac Okoro. “It’s just about being disciplined, talking to the referees, trying to get them to understand some of his shenanigans, not falling into pump-fakes, trying to use my size and my wingspan to try to hinder his shots and passes”.
This season, Jalen Brunson is shooting an average of 5.8 free throws per game, which places him in 27th place in the NBA. But he is 12th in terms of fouls caused per game (5.7), between Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler.
“Throwing your head back, falling to the ground when there is light physical contact, these are little things that help you get fouls and get to the free throw line” adds Isaac Okoro. “In today’s game, a lot of players do it to get to the free throw line. As a defender you have to adapt to that and be smart.”.
Isaac Okoro’s message got through. Enough to put pressure on the referees on the sidelines of Game 2, while the Cavaliers have multiplied the messages intended for officials after Game 1…
| isaac okoro | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | KEY | 67 | 32 | 42.0 | 29.0 | 72.6 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 9.6 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 67 | 30 | 48.0 | 35.0 | 76.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 8.8 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 76 | 22 | 49.4 | 36.3 | 75.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 6.5 |
| Total | 210 | 28 | 45.9 | 33.0 | 74.9 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 8.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
