In the realm of the NBA playoffs, Game 5s are incredibly crucial. In a best-of-seven series, the fifth game is considered the deciding factor of who wins the matchup. Especially when a series is tied at 2-2—the team winning that game goes on to advance to the next round by 84.1 percent. Home court advantage gives the team a slight edge but it’s never a guarantee.
Such is the case for the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. The Knicks led the series 3-1 until the Jayson Tatum-less Celtics rallied with gritty defense and three-point shooting to win Game 5. The TD Garden roared with applause and relief, while the Knicks stood in disbelief over their collapse. This is one that does not fall on the coach but firmly on the shoulders of the star point guard—Jalen Brunson.
The tension surrounding Brunson has been do-or-die. He has been carrying the load throughout the entire playoffs on the offensive end. The 6-foot-1 All-Star is short—causing physically demanding guards such as Jrue Holiday and Derrick White to take advantage. However, Brunson finished Game 5 with 22 points, six assists, and one rebound. Regardless of the stats —Coach Thibodeau’s emphasis on heavy minutes may have affected Brunson, who shot 7-for-17 from the field and 1-for-4 from the three-point line. If that performance wasn’t concerning enough—the man also fouled out.
New York obviously wants their homegrown team to win—and the expectation of Brunson to step up is a common viewpoint among all knickerbocker natives. Game 6 is the one where all eyes need to be on the point guard. He can’t afford to let Madison Square Garden rage quit from a potential loss.
It’s do-or-die for the blue and orange team. If they lose tonight, then all the five boroughs will not let that heartbreak slide. The tone needs to be set from the start—and it comes down to Jalen Brunson’s playmaking and performance. If this is not marked on the Spike Lee checklist then a chilling nightmare becomes a reality—Celtics in 7.
