New York Knicks Game vs Bucks Was GENUINELY ABSURD...

New York Knicks Game vs Bucks Was GENUINELY ABSURD…

The Knicks just won a crazy one. The Knicks played like a team possessed tonight. And the numbers back it all up in ridiculous detail. Let’s start with the full team profile because this wasn’t just one or two guys going off. It was total efficiency across the board. They shot 38 for 84 from the field, which might not seem like a flamethrower night until you factor in 14 made threes. That gives them an effective field goal percentage of 41%. On the surface, that might look low, but once you bring in the 28 made free throws out of 33 attempts, the true shooting percentage jumps to around 61%. That’s elite in any game, but even more so in a knockout environment. The real story is in the possession value. 118 points on 84 field goal attempts, 33 free throw attempts, and only 12 turnovers gives you 1.32 points per scoring attempt. That’s not just efficient, that’s surgical. That’s a team converting almost every chance into something meaningful. That level of conversion wins playoff style games. And then you look at the rebounding. They hauled in 44 boards in total, split into 30 defensive rebounds and 14 offensive rebounds. That gives them an offensive rebound rate of 32% of their total boards. Nearly 1/3 of their rebounds were second chance opportunities. That means they were relentless on the glass, constantly creating extra possession. Now mix in the playmaking. 25 assists on 38 made field goals equals an assist percentage of 65%. So, not only were they converting, they were doing it through ball movement, not isolation. This wasn’t hero ball, this was team offense with the right pass at the right time and the right guy finishing the job. Turnovers, just 12 total. That’s a turnover on only 13% of all plays that ended in a shot, free throws, or a turnover. That’s disciplined, tight playoff level ball security. Milwaukee didn’t get freebies, but this was not some slow, boring slugfest. This was driven by high efficiency scoring at every level. Jaylen Brunson was absurd. 37 points on 21 shots gives him a rate of 1.76 points per shot. Add in four made threes on six attempts, nine for 10 from the line, and you’ve got one of the most efficient high volume scoring performances on the floor. He also chipped in five assists and three steals. That’s four total defensive events, a positive plus minus of 10. and very few mistakes. He played like the guy who knew it was a must-win and made it happen. And while Brunson led the scoring, Josh Hart did everything else. 19 points on 12 shots gives him a 1.58 scoring efficiency, which is elite in its own right. But the real stunner, 15 rebounds, 13 were defensive. That means almost 87% of his boards were on the defensive end, cleaning up misses, and denying second chances. Add in seven assists, three steals, and only three turnovers, and he was everywhere. He led the starters with a plus minus of 15 and served as the primary defender on Giannis for most of the night. He wasn’t just active, he was essential, and it keeps going. Miles McBride exploded off the page with 19 points on just eight shots. That’s a staggering 2.37 points per shot. He knocked down five of seven threes, went four for four at the line, and didn’t turn the ball over once. He was a flamethrower and a stabilizer allin-one. Add in his plus minus of 14 and you’ve got the highest efficiency scorer on the roster tonight. Bridges did his job too with 14 points on 12 attempts. That’s 1.16 points per shot. Not elite, but solid. Two made threes out of five tries gave him 40% from deep. And he didn’t turn the ball over once. Two steals and a block made him an important piece on both ends. His plus minus was plus three. and he brought value in every minute. CarlAnthony Towns didn’t dominate the scoreboard, but gave a balanced performance. Nine points on eight shots equals 1.12 points per shot. He added 10 rebounds with three on the offensive glass, which means 30% of his boards were second chances. Four assists against two turnovers and one block round out a steady performance. His zero impact and plus minus isn’t negative. It just means he kept things balanced. Mitchell Robinson continued his role as the team’s bruiser inside. Six points on three attempts equals two points per shot, the best ratio among the bigs. Seven rebounds, split between three offensive and four defensive, kept pressure on both ends of the floor. He added two steals and an assist with two turnovers. His plus minus was minus4, but the eye test said his presence helped stabilize the paint, even if the box score impact was muted. Jordan Clarkson had a rough night in terms of efficiency. Six points on 13 shots. That’s only 0.46 46 points per shot. By far the lowest of any Nick. 0 for five from three. Really hurt the spacing. But here’s the twist. He still had a plus N impact. That means even though he couldn’t hit water from a boat, the team still outscored Milwaukee with him on the court. That could be a lineup thing or a spacing ripple, but it’s there. Tyler Kolk had a quiet but clean outing. Five points on five shots is exactly one point per shot right down the middle. One for three from three is 33%. So nothing special, but he had one assist, zero turnovers, and a plus minus, a plus two. Not flashy, but mistake free. Even the bench rotation brought value. Gerson Yabuselli had three points on two shots, giving him 1.5 points per shot, one for two from deep equals 50%. He added one rebound, one assist, and one turnover. His plus minus was minus4, but he wasn’t in long enough to tilt anything too far. So when you stack it all together, the Knicks hit every important metric. Efficiency check. Brunson, McBride, and Hart all went over 1.5 points per shot. Rebounding, Hart had 15. Towns had 10. Robinson had seven. And the team totaled 44. Ball movement, 25 assists on 38 makes. Ball security, only 12 turnovers. Defensive events, multiple players had blocks and steals. Hart had three steals. Brunson had four total events. Bridges had three, Robinson had two. They were contesting everything. The three-point shooting was topheavy. McBride at 71%, Brunson at 67, Bridges solid at 40. Hart and Clarkson dragged it down a bit, combining for zero, makes on nine tries, but the volume shooters hit their marks and that made the difference. Free throws were another separator. The team went 28 for 33. That’s over 85%. Brunson went 9 for 10. McBride went 4 for4. They punished fouls and didn’t leave points at the strike. The Knicks were better tonight in every high leverage category, points per shot, points per possession, rebounding percentage, assist ratio, turnover rate, and all of that happened in a game with stakes. This wasn’t a sleepy Tuesday night game in January. This was win or go home. The Knicks needed it, and they got it. The defense held up when it mattered. Giannis did his damage because he always does, but the Knicks made him work. Hart took the challenge and didn’t let up. Steals came in bunches. Rebounds were sealed off. Milwaukee got one shot per trip more often than not. That’s winning basketball. They’ve now won three straight. They’re 12 and six overall. And more importantly, they’re moving on to the NBA Cup quarterfinals for the third time in 3 years. No other team has done that. That is consistency. That is identity. And tonight, it came from efficient offense, suffocating defense, and a rotation that trusted its pieces. No one got there alone. Brunson brought the firepower. Hart brought the glue. McBride brought the knockout punt. And the rest filled in every gap. They didn’t need a miracle. They just needed what they already had. And tonight, they used it all. But first, I want to talk about this. When Brunson and McBride share the court, the scoring efficiency goes through the roof. Brunson’s been torching defenders with 28.6 points per game. And that alone already puts him ahead of more than 98% of players in the league. That’s not just good. that’s consistently dominant. His field goal attempts sit at 21.3 per game. And yet, he keeps that scoring efficiency high with a true shooting percentage of 59.9%. That means he’s getting 1.2 points every time he finishes a scoring attempt. That level of efficiency is extremely rare at that usage rate. Now, pair that with his effective field goal percentage of 54.7% and you’ve got a player who’s producing 1.1 points every time he shoots the ball. Add in 7.5 made two-pointers and 2.8 made threes per game and you’re looking at a scoring engine that’s constantly putting pressure on the defense. But here’s where things start to get really interesting. McBride comes in and compliments Brunson with a different kind of rhythm. He’s putting up 10.6 points per game, which beats out more than 65% of players. That might not sound like a huge number next to Brunson, but when you account for McBride’s usage, the impact starts to show. He only takes 9.2 two shots per game. And from those he’s getting 1.1 points per field goal attempt, same as Brunson. That’s with an identical effective field goal percentage of 54.7%. No drop off. He’s also sitting at a true shooting percentage of 55.6%. Not far behind. Brunson’s nearly 60. He’s making 1.5 twopoint field goals and 2.4 three-pointers every night. What that tells you is that he’s dangerous from deep and makes defenses stretch out, which opens even more space for Brunson to operate. That dynamic changes the whole geometry of the floor when they’re together. The scoring pressure stays high from both guards, and the defense has to pick which one to worry about. But here’s the best part. The efficiency doesn’t tank when they play together. In fact, it holds up across all the scoring metrics. Both guards average the same number of points per field goal attempt at 1.1. And when McBride’s on the floor alongside Brunson, the pace doesn’t slow down and the shot selection doesn’t suffer. Instead, it stays sharp and deliberate. McBride gets to the line less often than Brunson, averaging 0.9 free throw attempts per game compared to Brunson’s 6.2. But even that plays a role because Brunson’s drawing contact and attacking the paint, defense is collapsed, and McBride gets to fire away from the perimeter with minimal interference. This tag team approach works because they’re not duplicating roles. They’re creating parallel scoring threats. Brunson’s pressure on the rim and mid-range forces defenders into constant motion. Then McBride steps into clean threes or drives off the chaos. The stats back it all up. Brunson is getting more points per scoring attempt than more than 63% of the league while McBride is still ahead of more than 41%. That combination means there’s rarely a dead possession when they’re sharing the ball. and their usage balance makes this even more sustainable. Brunson is doing this on 21.3 attempts per game, which is a heavy load, while McBride is delivering clean scoring on just 9.2 shots. When one’s cold, the other can pick it up, and when they’re both on, the defense doesn’t have a chance to recover between possessions. There’s no let up. Brunson has become nearly automatic on certain nights. And it’s not just volume. He’s producing more points than more than half the league from beyond the ark and inside the paint. Meanwhile, McBride’s efficiency on lower volume makes him the perfect secondary weapon. He doesn’t force shots. He lets the game come to him and still finishes with numbers that most starting guards would take in a second. And it’s all in the numbers. Brunson’s scoring efficiency is top tier and McBride fits right in with him. Their effective field goal percentages being exactly the same isn’t some accident. It’s the product of two players who know how to find the best possible looks and take them consistently. Neither is relying on luck or volume to pad their stats. You can see how balanced it all is just by the scoring per attempt. 1.2 for Brunson, 1.1 for McBride. That’s not common for back courts that feature a high usage guard like Brunson. Usually, one guy dominate and the other fades. Here they maintain a steady rhythm that keeps defenses under pressure from both sides. The fact that McBride is beating more than 65% of players in scoring per game while playing off a star guard like Brunson is one of the biggest indicators that their system works. He’s not just surviving in Brunson’s shadow, he’s thriving. And with Brunson scoring more than 98% of players, the top end production is already elite. Together, they hit every scoring metric you want to see. Points per game, effective field goal, true shooting, points per attempt. Nothing falls off. And it’s that kind of statistical balance that makes this backcourt one of the most productive scoring duos when they’re on the floor at the same time. No filler, no wasted possessions, just efficient, highlevel scoring on both ends of the shot spectrum. When the numbers are this tight and this repeatable, it’s not just a good run. It’s a real formula. But then let’s talk about Josh Hart. Josh Hart’s season has been a ridiculous mix of control, efficiency, and production in areas that most players barely touch. Let’s start right at the top. He’s scoring 10.4 points per game, and that’s already ahead of more than 64% of players in the league. So, we’re not talking about someone who’s barely showing up on offense. He’s delivering steady points, and he’s doing it without dominating the ball or chucking up shots. He’s taking 8.2 field goal attempts per game. And from that, he’s scoring 1.1 points per shot. That’s his effective field goal rate at 56.9%, which puts him ahead of more than 66% of the league. So, it’s not just that he’s scoring, it’s that he’s doing it with elite efficiency for his role. Most wings in his position are either overextending or invisible. But Hart is sitting right in that perfect space where he’s always producing without needing the ball in his hands constantly. And then you get to the true shooting percentage, 59.6%. That’s matching the best volume scorers in the league. And Hart’s doing it with only 1.5 free throw attempts per game. Think about that for a second. He’s not patting his scoring with trips to the line. He’s just straight up converting field goals. 2.7 made twos, 1.3 made threes, all on high percentage looks. He’s averaging 1.2 points per scoring attempt. And that’s the real goal. That number alone puts him ahead of more than 62% of players when it comes to shot efficiency. Now, the moment you shift from his scoring to his impact on the court, the numbers keep stacking up. His offensive rating is 120.6. That means when he’s on the court, the team is scoring at a very high clip. His defensive rating is 118.3. That might not scream elite, but it’s part of the full picture. His net rating, which balances both sides, is plus 2.3. That tells you his minutes are helping the team pull ahead. That’s the definition of value. And it’s not just in the rating box. His percentage of games with a positive plus minus is 62.5%. So most of the time when he’s on the floor, the scoreboard ends up in his team’s favor. That’s not luck, that’s presence. He also holds a ball handling rating higher than 90% of players. Yes, 90%. That’s top 10 percentile stuff. That’s not about flashy crossovers or highlight dribbles. That’s about decision-m, pace control, and never losing rhythm in the offense. Hart is averaging 4.8 assists per game. That alone should turn heads. And then you pair it with a turnover number of only 1.9 per game and it starts to feel unfair. He’s assisting 12.4 points per game through his passing. And it’s not happening in isolation plays. It’s part of the flow. He’s assisting more than 83% of players in the league when you compare assist percentage. That’s 23.62% of his teammates field goals while he’s on the floor that are coming directly from him. That’s elite secondary playmate. and turnover percentage 18.13%. That’s lower than 83% of players who handle the ball at that rate. He’s doing more with less risk than the vast majority of his peers. Most guys either give up the ball to avoid mistakes or force plays to try to create something. Hart lives in that rare in between space where he’s consistently driving the offense without hurting it. The rebounding numbers are even more absurd. 7.1 rebounds per game. That’s more than 87% of all players. And this isn’t just padding stats off of long rebounds or end of quarter freebies. He’s grabbing 5.4 defensive boards and 1.7 offensive boards per game. That means he’s in the mix every possession. His offensive rebound percentage is 5.91% which beats more than 70% of the league. So he’s not just grabbing the easy one. He’s finding ways to create extra possession. And on defense, his defensive rebound percentage is 20.05%. That’s higher than 88% of players. He’s basically cleaning up a fifth of all available defensive boards when he’s out there. That’s wild for someone who’s not a big. It shows how dialed in he is, how willing he is to fight for positioning, and how often he’s one step ahead on the glass. The rest of the defense stats round out the picture. 1.1 steals per game and 0.3 blocks might not blow anyone away, but they do show activity. And when you layer that onto the team defensive efficiency of 118.3 while he’s on the floor, you start to see a player who’s constantly part of successful possessions. He ranks above 70% of the league in mixed team defense rate. That takes into account both individual stops and how often he’s part of team sequences that end in misses. Hart’s always involved in the play. Usage rate tells another part of the story. At 16.3%, Hart’s not monopolizing the offense, but he’s still touching the ball in meaningful ways. He’s taking actions every possession that lead to results. And the possession load he carries is calculated. He’s taking 8.2 shots, 1.5 free throws, making 4.8 assists, and just under two turnovers. That’s how you stay involved without overstepping. The math on that usage shows balance, not hesitation. He’s playing in a zone that very few role players ever reach. He’s scoring better than 64% of players. He’s more efficient than more than 66%. He’s assisting more than 83% and rebounding better than 87%. That kind of all-around production doesn’t just fill stat sheets, it changes games. And his advanced metrics back that up. Offensive rating above 120. Positive net rating, high on court impact. That’s the profile of a player who knows how to win possessions. And it’s not just that he’s getting these numbers in isolation. They’re working together. His rebounds turn into transition assists. His defensive boards start fast breaks. His low turnover count means his assist rate actually matters. The reason his net rating is positive is because he’s making plays that extend possessions and prevent the opponent from gaining momentum. His floor game is a mix of details, and those details lead to buckets. He’s consistently better than his matchup at most things. If you put him next to a traditional scoring wing, Hart gives you more defense and more rebounding. If you compare him to a traditional point guard, he’s got a better turnover rate and still puts up strong assist number. If you match him with a catch and shoot threat, he brings more decision-m and more on ball movement. There’s almost no category where he isn’t above average and in some he’s elite. And the biggest thing about his season, nothing is inflated. He’s not riding hot shooting streaks or exploiting weak lineups. His field goal attempts per game are low, but his point production is steady. His assist numbers are high, but his turnovers stay low. His rebounding is off the charts for his position, and it’s consistent across every zone of the floor. He shows up in every type of game, and it shows in that plus minus number. 62.5% of the games he plays end with the team having a positive margin. That means more often than not, his minutes are winning minutes. It’s not about how loud he is on the floor. It’s about how often good things happen when he’s involved. Even the onoff numbers tell you he’s doing the work that doesn’t always show up in highlight. His team is slightly worse when he’s off the court by 3.6 points. That doesn’t sound massive, but over a full game, over a full season, those margins stack up. That’s the kind of subtle constant edge that separates impact players from empty calorie stat guy. Hart’s playing meaningful basketball in every possession. The passes are clean. The rebounds are aggressive and the shots are efficient. His ability to stay above average in usage, scoring, rebounding, and playmaking, all while protecting the ball is rare. Add in elite rebounding, high defensive impact, and reliable scoring, and you’ve got a player who’s doing everything his team needs. There’s no wasted movement in his game. Every touch matters. Every possession count. But then, let’s talk about this. Mitchell Robinson has been a one-man wrecking crew on the glass this season. And the numbers lay it out so clearly it’s almost funny. He’s pulling down 7.9 rebounds per game. And that puts him ahead of more than 99% of all players in the league. Not just centers, all players. That is elite top end almost unfair level production when it comes to rebounding. And the way he splits those boards makes it even more impactful. He’s grabbing 4.4 offensive rebounds and 3.5 defensive rebounds every night. 4.4 offensive boards is not normal. That’s not average. That’s complete domination of the offensive glass. And here’s where things get kind of wild. His offensive rebound percentage is sitting at 23.53%. That number alone puts him above 99% of players in the league. It’s hard to even put that into context. That means nearly one out of every four missed job shots by his team while he’s on the court ends up back in his hands. That’s not rebounding. That’s possession theft. That’s erasing mistakes and turning broken plays into new opportunities. Think about what that means during a game. Every time a teammate misses a shot, Robinson is right there making sure the other team doesn’t get to breathe. He’s not waiting under the rim hoping the ball comes to him. He’s attacking the glass, reading the arc, fighting off box outs, and turning effort into advantage. And it’s working almost a quarter of the time. That’s an absurd success rate for offensive boards. On the defensive end, he’s pulling in 3.5 boards per game. His defensive rebound percentage is 20.35%. Which puts him ahead of more than 89% of players in the league. That is major production for someone who’s sharing the court with other high motor rebounders. He’s not getting all the easy ones. He’s going into traffic, clearing space, and ending possession. And that’s important because defensive rebounding isn’t just about grabbing the ball. It’s about finishing the stop. Getting the rebound ends the opponent’s chance at scoring on that possession. So when Robinson hauls in those boards, the defense can reset and the offense can get going the other way. That 20.35% is a signal that he’s a closer on the defense. When he’s out there, missed shots get secured, possessions get sealed. His total rebounding numbers are made even more impressive when you consider how little he’s actually using the offense. His usage rate is 8.7%. That’s lower than more than 95% of players. That means he’s not getting plays cold for him. He’s not touching the ball to create shots. His whole presence in the offense comes from 2.6 field goal attempts, 0.9 free throws, 0.9 assists, and just 0.7 turnovers per game. He’s only ending a play about once every four or five possessions. So, what’s he doing with all that time? He’s crashing the glass like it owes him money. Robinson doesn’t need to be a scoring threat to control the game. That rebounding percentage says it all. He is maximizing every chance he gets. Every minute he’s on the floor, he’s cleaning up the messes, resetting possessions, and making life miserable for opponents. And he’s doing it without demanding the ball or taking up offensive space. That’s rare. Most players who rebound at this level either dominate the offense or play tons of minutes in a very specific role. Robinson is just efficient with his time and violent with his rebounds. Then you zoom out and look at his team defense numbers. His mixed team defense rating is higher than 58% a player. That means he’s part of a system that limits opposing scoring better than average. And he’s doing it while playing his role without overextending. His team’s defensive efficiency while he’s on the court is 118.4. That’s a number that needs context because it’s more about matchups and rotations, but even then, Robinson is consistently part of the solution on that end. He’s also averaging 1.1 blocks per game. that’s not league leading, but it’s solid rim protection. Combine that with 0.7 steals, and you’ve got a center who contributes across multiple defensive areas. He’s not just swatting shots. He’s rotating. He’s digging in on passing lanes, and he’s showing up in plays that other bigs avoid. But it all comes back to the boards. The way he reads the ball off the rim is probably one of the most consistent skills in his game. Some players have athleticism, some players have size. Robinson combines both with instinct. He sees where the shot is going, positions his body early, and uses his frame to carve out space that smaller or slower defenders can’t deal with. That’s how you get to 4.4 offensive rebounds per game. You have to want it more, and you have to be smarter than your matchup. That rebounding splits also tell a story. Most bigs in the league either lean hard into defensive rebounding and skip out on the offensive end, or vice versa. Robinson doesn’t pick a side. He’s everywhere. nearly eight boards a game with more offensive than defensive. That’s almost unheard of. He’s pushing the limits of what a low usage center can offer without scoring. And if you’re only looking at rebounds per game, you’re missing the best part. The percentages show how complete his rebounding dominance is. 23.5% offensive rebound rate, that’s an actual game-changing weapon. Because even if Robinson doesn’t score, he’s giving his teammates extra shots. He’s getting into the paint after miss and giving the offense new life. That doesn’t just help with scoring. It frustrates defenses, draws fouls, and disrupts opponent rotations. And then on D, that 20% plus defensive rebound rate, that’s about being the finisher. He doesn’t just protect the rim, he ends possessions. If a team gets one shot and Robinson gets the rebound, the defense won. If he’s doing that consistently, then the opponent’s field goal percentage means less because he’s making sure they don’t get second chances. What makes it even more absurd is how effective he is without dominating touches. His offense is practically invisible by design. He’s not calling for the ball. He’s not backing down defenders or isolating at the elbow. He’s just quietly eating rebounds both sides of the court all game long. That’s the kind of player every team wants and almost nobody gets. And it’s not streaky. There’s no volatility in his numbers. He’s not putting up big rebounding nights once a week and disappearing in the others. His averages are a result of steady, relentless work every game. It’s consistent pressure on the glass. And teams feel that. They feel it when they try to box him out. They feel it when they get one stop and then see him pull the board and reset the possession. That’s a mental drain on defenders. Also, his rebounds are coming in traffic. These aren’t free rebounds off of long jumpers. These are battles in the paint. Big body collisions, elbows, shves, and Robinson’s winning them. That’s what the percentages show. He’s beating guys to the spot even when everyone knows what he’s trying to do. You can scout him. You can game plan for him and he’ll still get four offensive rebounds a night. That’s the power of effort. You cannot coach it into guys and you cannot always find it in the box score. But with Robinson, it is sitting there plain as day in those rebounding metrics. He’s ahead of nearly everyone in offensive rebound percent. That’s not luck. That’s strategy. That’s knowing where the ball will be before it gets there. and it’s staying with the play long enough to make something happen. The value of that can’t be overstated. Every offensive rebound he gets is a possession the other team thought they earned and he takes it away. That’s not just rebounding, that’s theft. And he’s doing it four times a game. Defensive rebounding might look quieter, but it’s just as essential. He’s beating nearly 90% of the league on that side, too. And he’s doing it without massive usage or big minutes or focal point status. that makes it even more efficient. You don’t get many players who lead the league in a key category without touching the ball much. Robinson is doing exactly that with his work on the glass. And because he’s not using up possessions on offense, he’s able to conserve energy and channel all of it into rebounding. And it shows you can’t fake 23% offensive rebound. You can’t stumble into 7.9 boards a game with low usage. That’s all effort, positioning, and understanding the game flow. And it works every night. The numbers are real. The impact is real. And for all the things that go unnoticed on a box score, Mitchell Robinson’s rebounding is not one of them. It is loud, constant, and exhausting for opponents. And it does not stop.

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