New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has pushed Jalen Branson’s allegations of floping aside.
The Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks series at the Eastern Conference has proven to be a thrilling contest for NBA fans.
Despite securing a clutch victory in Game 1 of the series, the Knicks had no answer to the pistons in Game 2 of the series.
As a result, they head to Detroit with everything tied up 1-1. Jalen Brunson could remain the focus of the Knicks’ offensive edge on the floor as the star guard finished game two with 37 points to his name.
Branson led the Knicks in scoring, but many NBA fans were critical of his performance as the Knicks stars are allegedly inclined to make extra effort to get a foul call.
At a post-game meeting, head coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about it, but the Knicks leader, who is a side job, crushed the story.
“Obviously, the big contradiction of the free throw. Huge… I don’t understand that on the direct lane drive on one side (on) the guys are fouling and not being called,” Coach Tibbs said.
He added: “I don’t really make crap how they call the game as long as they’re consistent on both sides. If Cunningham’s driving and he’s on the line, Jalen deserves to get to the line. That’s really easy.”
In the context of Game 2, Branson finished the night with a 9-11 show from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Pistons’ Cade Cunningham was 10/10 from the FT line.
As coach Tibbs pointed out, the hosts have not been consistent in the series so far. Yes, calling a marginal contact is a problem, but that’s only half the truth.
After all, looking at the free throw attempts by both teams, the Pistons have a significant lead over the Knicks.
In Game 2, the Pistons attempted 34 shots from the free throw line compared to the Knicks’ 19. Even in the opening game of the series, the Pistons had a plus three advantages in the charity stripes.
With the inconsistency of foul call has been a league-wide issue for several years, it is understandable why Thibodeau fumed at the post-match meeting.