39 points set a record! Sika s anti-sky data crushes Brunson 36+11, and the MVP battle in the East Final escalates again

Who would have thought that the second match between the Eastern Conference Finals would become an epic showdown between the "New King" and the "Old God"? When Brunson set the Knicks record with 36 points and 11 assists, the Pacers' Siakam took away the victory and the title of Best Player with a more brutal 39 points!

Core conflict: Data comparison triggered the topic

This game can be called a "god fight" - Brunson made 13 of 27 shots in the game and 5 of 12 three-pointers. Not only did he surpass Ewing to become the first person in the Knicks' playoffs in 30+ times, but he also used 11 times to connect the team's offense; while Sika scored a career-high 39 points with a terrifying efficiency of 15 of 23 shots, and directly hit the Knicks' defense line with 16 points in the first quarter, with a plus-minus value + 16 championships!

Tactical review: Misplaced strikes become winners and losers

Pacers coach Carlisle's tactical arrangement is a textbook:

1. "Sica's single-up challenge" unsolved mode: using Sika's height and wingspan, frequently misplaced to force the Knicks guard, and committed 4 fouls in the first quarter alone, completely disrupting the opponent's rotation rhythm;

2. "Locking Halliburton" smoke bomb: When the Knicks doubled against Halliburton (14 points and 11 assists), Sika and Nesmith (12 points and 7 rebounds) quietly harvested the battlefield;

3. Physical attrition battle: Taking advantage of the Knicks' main strength overdrawn in the last quarter, Sika scored 10 points in a row to lock in the victory, confirming the iron law of the playoffs of "those who win the inside win the world".

Focus of controversy: Who should I give the best player?

Although Brunson's data is impressive enough, Sika's record-breaking score, dominance at critical moments, and the Pacers' 2-0 big score advantage have made this MVP battle unsuspected. Fans are hotly discussed: "Sica is like an unparalleled god of war, while Brunson is more like a lone hero."

Trend Insight: The new generation of stars rewrites the pattern

This season's playoffs, "non-top stars" represented by Sica and Brunson are rising strongly. Data shows that Sika averaged 29.8 points per game in the last 5 games, with a real shooting percentage of 61.3%, and has ranked among the top five forwards in the league; and Brunson's playoff PER value is 27.1, even surpassing Curry at the same time (26.3 in 2015). Their explosion marks the return of the NBA from a "superstar group" to a "single-core leading team".

Ultimate Prophecy: Does the Knicks still have hope of turning the tables?

Historical data shows that the probability of a team that is behind 0-2 is only 6.7%. But the Knicks hold two big trump cards:

Hart's inside performance: If Hart breaks out, it will be more threatening on the offensive end. The "desperate Saburo" who averages 7.8 frontcourt rebounds per game will greatly alleviate the pressure on the inside;

Thibodeau's "7-man rotation": Although it was criticized for "fighting the main force dead", the battle against the Cavaliers in the last round proves that ultimately contracting defense can still create miracles.

Conclusion: This is the charm of the playoffs

When Sika ignited the away game with a dunk, when Brunson missed the tie and left the game with his head down, we suddenly realized that the game without a superstar was more passionate! Perhaps, this is the most primitive charm of basketball: always full of unknowns, and always believe that the next game will be better.