Josh Hart, Obi Toppin to start for Knicks in Game 1

By HoopsHype | April 30, 2023

What’s the buzz on Twitter? Tim Bontemps @TimBontempsPotentially big swing moment: Miami probably should’ve had Jimmy Butler on the line for two free throws after yet another insane Kevin Love outlet pass. Instead, no call, followed by an Obi Toppin 3 and a Jalen Brunson runner, and New York is suddenly back within 2 again. – 2:42 PM Kristian Winfield @KrisplashedAnother Knicks timeout: Kevin Love and Jimmy Butler connect like Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson for the Jets this season. Butler outjumps Obi Toppin and finishes in transition. Heat lead, 74-66, after trailing 12 in the first quarter – 2:36 PM Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunovKyle Lowry had a big influence on that 2nd quarter. This play caused a 5-point swing. He baited Josh Hart into losing the ball on the break (officially labeled a block for Lowry) and then he hit a 3 on the other end to make it a 5-point deficit for the Heat pic.twitter.com/5AUIKIaFA0 – 2:23 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_ChiangJosh Hart is doing a tremendous job so far trying to make life tough on Jimmy Butler. He just turned what looked to be an easy hit-ahead opportunity into a turnover. – 1:54 PM Steve Popper @StevePopperPlay that won’t make a highlight reel and will live in Knicks fans memories forever: outlet for a fast break and Josh Hart races to beat Butler to it, the ball going out off of Butler. This is Thibs dream. – 1:54 PM Kristian Winfield @KrisplashedThe Knicks were better than the Heat in every aspect of the first quarter in Game 1 and lead 32-21. Miami is shooting just 4-of-17 on poor quality threes. RJ Barrett has 11 early points. Josh Hart has Jimmy Butler in hell. What a start to this game. – 1:37 PM Kristian Winfield @KrisplashedJosh Hart puts the clamps on Jimmy Butler on one end, drives by him and finished the layup on the other. The Hart-Butler matchup could determine this series.So far, Hart has held Butler to just two points in the first quarter and has six points of his own. #Knicks – 1:25 PM Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunovHeat seem to have chosen Obi Toppin as the Knicks defender to go after, keep drawing him into pick-and-rolls. Interesting wrinkle is when they try to draw Toppin up high with a non-Butler ballhandler only to get Jimmy Butler the ball in the post isolated on Josh Hart. – 1:20 PM Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDNEven though Quentin Grimes is available, Josh Hart is starting for the Knicks.Thibodeau said yesterday that Grimes will have a big role regardless – 12:23 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzKnicks starters:Jalen BrunsonJosh HartRJ BarrettObi ToppinMitchell RobinsonQuentin Grimes will come off the bench. – 12:20 PM Tim Bontemps @TimBontempsThe Knicks say Quentin Grimes is available, but that Josh Hart will remain in the starting lineup, while Obi Toppin will start in place of Julius Randle, who is out with his sprained ankle. – 12:20 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305So looks like no Julius Randle for the KnicksI’m guessing Obi Toppin in the starting unit?Heat can actually do some different things defensively nowLove on Mitchell and possibly switch everything in other spotsCould see Bam on Brunson today off the switch… – 11:25 AM More on this storyline The Knicks have adopted this strategy because it directly takes Cleveland’s two best defenders, Allen and Evan Mobley, out of the action. And when the Cavs pressure Brunson, the defense is forced to scramble and rotate lead, creating advantages or offensive rebounding opportunities. With the Cavs sending two at Brunson in the play above, Hart short rolled to the basket and drew the attention of three Cavaliers defenders. He had options: throw a lob to Robinson at the rim, kick out to Obi Toppin in the corner, or hit a wide-open Barrett. Hart chose the simple pass to Barrett, who missed. But with the defense out of position, Hart was in a good spot to grab the board and find Brunson, who made a dagger 3-pointer. -via The Ringer / April 24, 2023