Thibodeau s tactical adjustment

After the failure of G4, Thibodeau's tactical adjustment in G5 became particularly critical. He decided not to blindly follow the opponent's rhythm, but to return to the Knicks' defensive characteristics. After the opening, the Knicks made significant adjustments to Halliburton's defensive strategy. The players put more pressure on the defensive end, especially when blocking Harry's passing route, the Knicks showed higher concentration. In the first quarter, Halliburton made only zero two shots and scored only 2 points and 1 assist. This adjustment directly affected the Pacers' offensive efficiency. As the team's core engine, Halliburton's offensive state made the Pacers' offense stagnate.

The match process

Brunson and Towns' role assignment

Thibodeau replanned the role assignments of Brunson and Towns in G5. He chose to stagger the two's playing time and let the two lead the single-core team at different time periods. In the first quarter, Brunson opened fire with all his energy. He scored in double digits just after the ball in the second quarter, and scored 14 points in a single quarter. Towns took over the attack in the early part of the second quarter and used his size advantage to attack the Pacers' penalty area with all his strength. This strategy gave the Knicks an absolute advantage in inside scoring and rebounding. In the second quarter, the Knicks won the Pacers' double-digit rebounding, and the gap once widened to 14 points. This role allocation not only maximizes the efficiency of the two, but also makes the Knicks' offense smoother.

Pacer's tactical adventure

Carlisle continues his tactical adventure in G5, stretching the rotation to 12 people. Jares Walker, who had previously been unable to enter the rotation, became the new tactical surprise. After Walker appeared on the court, he immediately made a three-pointer on the offensive end and blocked Anunobi's breakthrough on the defensive end. After stealing, he helped Mathering score a three-pointer. This change of formation allowed the Pacers to start before the end of the half, but the Knicks' defensive adjustment and Brunson's continuous firepower made the Pacers' counterattack fail to continue. Although Carlisle's tactical adventure brought certain effects, it also exposed the Pacers' loopholes on the defensive end.

Brunson's continuous firepower

Throughout the third quarter, Brunson showed extremely high offensive efficiency against the Pacers' defensive wheel battle. He kept changing his tricks to finish the offensive end. In the late three quarters, he scored a difficult 3+1, and his personal score exceeded 30 mark. This goal not only climaxed Brunson's personal performance, but also brought the Knicks' home atmosphere to the pinnacle. Brunson's continuous firepower made the Pacers' defense seem weak, and the Knicks widened the score difference to more than 20 points in the third quarter. Brunson's performance not only stabilized the Knicks' offense, but also completely defeated the Pacers' defensive confidence.

Entering the final quarter, the Knicks will always maintain their attention to Halliburton. When the walkers were showing signs of striking, Thibodeau called a timely suspension to make adjustments. Hart's continuous offensive points made the Knicks' victory gradually settle. The Knicks' defensive focus not only limited Halliburton's performance, but also put the Pacers' offense in a dilemma. Thibodeau's tactical adjustments and players' execution have given the Knicks a key victory in the G5. The Knicks' defensive strategy not only successfully freezes Halliburton, but also puts the Pacers' offense into a full stagnation.

Thibodeau's tactical adjustments in G5 and the players' execution gave the Knicks a key victory. Brunson's continuous firepower and Towns' inside impact made the Knicks' offense smoother, while the concentration on the defensive end successfully freezes Halliburton. Although Carlisle's tactical adventure brought certain effects, it also exposed the Pacers' loopholes on the defensive end. In the next G6, whether the Knicks can maintain the same clear mind and strong desire to win in Indianapolis will become the key to determining the trend of the series. Thibodeau's tactical adjustments and players' execution gave the Knicks a key victory in the G5, but the Pacers' tactical adventures and Halliburton's potential outbreak still add uncertainty to the series.