Jarrett Allen, Dennis Schroder & Kenny Atkinson Revisit BLOWING 22-PT Lead, Knicks vs. Cavs ECF

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]disturbing.

[00:00:01]>> Okay.

[00:00:03]>> I've never been though.

[00:00:07]>> Right. Um >> that we did a lot of good for three and a half quarters. It's the last 6 minutes of the game that turned it around and let them come back and win.

[00:00:18]I >> think a lot of people watching that game think that this could be a backb breaker. This could be a, you know, turn into more than one loss. How do you not let it be that?

[00:00:26]>> I think we have to look at the positives. I know there's a lot of negatives that we can point out just show you how we ended the game, but I feel like we played three good quarters of basketball and that was most of the game. You know, we have to build on that and try to replicate it.

[00:00:38]>> What can you guys do today against Brunson?

[00:00:40]>> Um try to help out. You know, he's amazing player and we all know that he can make amazing shots. We all saw it, but it's a team effort to stop him. And you talked about those, you know, resiliency at times that you guys have built through this postseason, but what specifically can you pull from that you feel like you've learned that will help you sort of bounce back in this, >> right? Uh just understanding that we didn't have the best effort last night.

[00:01:01]We didn't have the best outcome and the resiliency is going to show tomorrow and how we come out.

[00:01:06]>> When you say you feel like you didn't have the best effort, why do you think that is?

[00:01:09]>> Uh just I feel like we could have done more. I mean, obviously a lot of things that happened out of our control. I mean, he hit I mean, we could control how many tough shots he hit, but I mean, those were incredible shots that they all hit towards the end of the stretch and just come out with more energy and effort to try to stop it more.

[00:01:30]>> That's right. Uh, just try to pressure him more. He's incredible passer. He's been doing incredible out the two series before us. We knew that we had to take his energy away, take away all his tough looks. Jared, they said that they no secret that they've attacked James.

[00:01:44]>> Right. Right.

[00:01:45]>> How do you guys pick him up?

[00:01:47]>> Uh, honestly, I think he's good. I think we He knows that he didn't have the best showing on defense. I mean, he understands the situation that he was put in, but I think he's already passed that. He knows that he has to move to the next game. But, I mean, we're all here for him and he knows that he doesn't even have to look back to know that we're there backing him up.

[00:02:07]part of a loss like that.

[00:02:11]>> I mean, it happened to us on Christmas as well, you know. So, I mean, it's it's not the first time we've been a part of a loss where a crushing blow like that has happened.

[00:02:18]>> What does it take to >> just have confidence in yourself and the team and know that you have to go get one tomorrow, just be able to move on.

[00:02:27]>> Is that the kind of sense of you today?

[00:02:30]>> Yeah, absolutely. It's just >> there's no reason in dwelling on the past. just learn from it, learn what we can do better tomorrow and just try to move on. The >> fact that you played that was a long way to that pressure.

[00:02:43]How much does that help?

[00:02:46]>> Ah, it's like you said, we're not even thinking about it yet. You know, that time is going to come. We're a processoriented team. We just have to worry about the next step.

[00:02:54]>> Was it watchific?

[00:02:58]>> Yeah, definitely tough. Definitely like, oh, we all made mistakes towards the end. Uh, even I made mistakes not rotating. Everybody knows that they could have done something a little better and there was just a lot of people speaking up saying that they could have done better.

[00:03:10]>> Was there some fatigue up there like two weeks prior?

[00:03:14]>> Um, not really. We've been playing every single other day for the past 3 weeks or feel. So, fatigue? No. Mental fatigue?

[00:03:22]Not really. I mean, when you start playing like that, your body gets used to just the tiring effort, getting recovery going, the shoot around, just doing the same thing over and over again. Jared, when you said that everyone was speaking up and just pointing out their own errors, what does that to say about this team? You have so many guys that are willing to kind of step forward and be like, that was on me.

[00:03:38]>> Yeah, like you said, everybody's willing to accept that they didn't have the best effort. They didn't have the best rotation. It just says that we're a team. We're willing to take responsibility for our actions.

[00:03:55]>> Right. Yeah, that's exactly what happened that they were doing the switch to get their certain defender on Jaylen and go from there.

[00:04:05]>> Uh probably I mean you got to find what works in the playoffs and go from there.

[00:04:10]>> You guys have been a switch heavy team throughout the course of this year, >> right?

[00:04:13]>> Um you have other coverages that you use as well, but for your personnel you believe that switch heavy is the way to go.

[00:04:21]>> I think it's like you said there's so many different things that we can do.

[00:04:24]You have to believe in your players. You have to believe in the offense or the defense that has worked well for us so far. So does a switch heavy work in certain moments. He hit some tough shots. You know, at the end of the day, I know that's where it's all going about the switch with Jaylen Brunson, but I think you have to believe in what you have >> when when it is successful switch heavy approach. Like what is it about your personnel that makes it?

[00:04:48]>> Just our size and everybody has the ability to fend. We have people who's going to back up like say Evan gets flown by which rarely happens. I have his back and Dean has my back and so on.

[00:04:58]The chain of responsibility goes all the way to the bottom.

[00:05:01]>> I know a lot of the focus has been on what you guys weren't able to do defensively in the fourth quart.

[00:05:08]Why was there a struggle offensively?

[00:05:11]>> I think we just got caught up in the things that were happening on defense. I think we let that affect our game and slowed us down. We started being more ISO heavy instead of attacking like we did in the other three quarters.

[00:05:22]>> Last one.

[00:05:24]>> Anything else?

[00:05:26]>> Thank you.

[00:05:31]>> What What stood out you watched the film with that fourth quarter?

[00:05:36]>> Uh I mean we gave him a game.

[00:05:39]So when you say you we we you gave them the game, what do you felt like it was more you guys lost it than they wanted?

[00:05:48]>> Yeah, I mean at the end of the day we we controlled the game. We had a great uh I think 90% of the game we controlled it and the last 10% you know they did a great job. You got to give them credit too for not giving up and making shots at the end and uh that was the game.

[00:06:06]What is the greatest challenge in terms of mentally recovering from something like that?

[00:06:10]>> I think uh they did what they're supposed to do, win one at home and they got to protect home court, but we here to win one game and uh it gives us a chance uh to come out tomorrow and uh compete on the highest level.

[00:06:24]>> Where's this team at mentally? Is after a loss like that, is there any, you know, head hanging? Is there any dwelling on anything or are you guys moving on quick?

[00:06:33]uh it's first to form mentality. Uh when I got to the league, I was with Mike Buden Hozer and he always I was always down when we lost the game and he always said it's first to four. So at the end of the day, that's the same mindset we have, the mentality we have as a team.

[00:06:50]Of course, this one hurts. Um but I mean, it's over. It was yesterday. You can't do nothing about it. Uh be positive. Uh stay together as a team and come out tomorrow. What do you think changed the last seven what do you think changed in the last seven minutes or so for you guys?

[00:07:06]>> I don't know. We got to watch you. Did you watch it?

[00:07:09]>> I did. Yeah.

[00:07:10]>> Yeah. I mean then you know probably >> Dennis does did the film speak first off or did anybody have any kind of message that re >> I mean we was up 17 so all we had to do is get a couple of stops you know um and on the offensive end uh just play um our game what we did you know the 40 minutes before that uh and uh then we win the game you know but like I said We can't do nothing about it. We just learned from it.

[00:07:42]Everybody uh was positive this morning um about it. We made some changes and we go out tomorrow.

[00:07:49]>> Dennis, you have um you've always been somebody who's played with a little bit of fire, a little bit of emotion. Strus is that way here. Do you ever wish that there were a little bit more of that on this team?

[00:08:01]>> No, because I mean we got certain guys they they they not doing it how I do it.

[00:08:07]I'm 6'1. I got to kind of, you know, get in people's faces, but it's uh everybody's not opinion, but how they play and how they are as a person. And um that's what I developed, you know, my my whole career. And that's the reason why I'm here 13 years, I believe. And um Steu same way, you know, from a G-League to now uh being one of the main guys on a contender team u speaks for itself.

[00:08:33]But I mean James Harden and all those guys, you know, they they do it how they do it on the highest level and I think that's that's that's good.

[00:08:41]>> You really play tough losses this postseason whether it's been against Toronto or Detroit and then you've bounced back pretty well. How can you pull from that to make sure that last night doesn't turn into two losses?

[00:08:53]I mean, we lost two in Detroit as well.

[00:08:57]So, at the end of the day, it's first to four mentality. Like I just said, uh we going to come out tomorrow and uh want to win every single game we play. Um yeah, last night it didn't work out.

[00:09:09]Tomorrow we got another chance and then we go back.

[00:09:12]>> It's a team game, but James is getting a lot extra. Just what have you guys been seeing?

[00:09:19]I mean, it's it's if you guys watch the game, he made some tough shots. Jaylen Brunson is one of the clutch most clutch players in the in the NBA. Um, social media for that is just uh on a in a in a bad place. I think that we lost the game. Basketball is a team game. Uh, it's everybody on the bench, coaches, the guys who was on the court. At the end of the day, he made some tough shots and, uh, good credit. What do you think you could have done better against Jaylen Brunson in the final seven minutes of the game as a team?

[00:09:54]>> Uh, watch film and you let me know. Uh, I think he hit some tough mid-range jumpers. Uh, every everything was contested, I think. Um, but we made our adjustments. I don't want to share here, but um, at the end of the day, it's it's credit for him, you know.

[00:10:14]>> What that you faced last year? What what makes him so tough?

[00:10:20]>> What type of question is that? I mean, he's one of the best PGs in the world.

[00:10:25]Um >> been doing it since Dallas when he was there and Luca got hurt against Utah in the in the in the series and uh since he got here, you know, he's he's carrying a team uh big organization and uh it speaks for itself.

[00:10:42]>> Thanks, Lennis. Appreciate it.

[00:10:43]>> Thank you, Dennis.

[00:10:44]>> Thank you, too. something. Yeah, exactly.

[00:10:47]>> I don't know if I've ever frolked, but you know, >> probably not in New York City.

[00:10:51][laughter] >> New York City.

[00:10:53]>> Come on.

[00:10:54]>> Questions, >> Kenny. What did you see when you went back and watched the film from last night?

[00:10:58]>> Oh, I I want to like just lean on the positive. We did We had um three quarters of really good basketball. Some of the best basketball we've honestly played in the playoffs. Um especially offensive, offensively and defensively.

[00:11:14]Really good. Um, and then the fourth quarter, you know, we know, um, and I I tell you, looking back on it, the first the fourth quarter, what I'm probably more disappointed about it was our offense.

[00:11:27]Um, shot quality wasn't great. We weren't getting to the rim. I think we took nine threes, you know, thought we could have gotten to the rim more and put more pressure on them at the rim. um you know um you know fourth quarter um you know they were in the first percentile of shop quality. See we have data you guys don't have um first percentile. So our process was was right. They they made some tough tough shots. Um, you know, um, but again, I thought our offense kind of hurt our defense a little bit >> with Donovan. I think he only took a few shots the last, you know, overtime and then the end of regulation. What did you make of >> I don't know what his usage numbers were. I mean, you know, they're obviously trying to get him get the ball out of his hands, double teaming him and stuff. But um listen, I I I would just say overall, not looking in only in Donovan's leg where where we slipped up in the fourth quarter was our you know, we got this theme hit singles and we were we were not making we weren't hitting the next open man. Um and and um that was collectively. Um so that was that was my thing with the guys. We showed them and for three quarters the ball's moving. We're we're passing it to the open guy. Swing swing. I mean, it was beautiful basketball and then I don't know I don't know what um you know you got to look at all the reasons why you know we didn't move a spacing we didn't screen as well um you know so um I know everybody say well fatigue play I you know I'm not giving them that excuse you know should be able to swing the ball to the open man even if you're tired. Was it anything the Knicks did defensively or was more you guys?

[00:13:16]>> I I listen I I I think um um I think they were good they were a really good defensive team. I think it was a lot of it was self-inflicted in terms of not not hitting the open guy. Um again not being forceful to the rim. Probably settling a little too much for um you know for threes and and kind of mid-range made about the Knicks going at James.

[00:13:40]Um, and we all just heard what you said about the the tough nature of the shots that he took, but >> do you have to do something different there? Do you have to get him off?

[00:13:49]>> Which we did. We did. We did. Um, but you could take the other um part of we did and Landry is trying to make it to corner three.

[00:13:57]>> They bounce >> and and you know the what I was expecting, man, people are going to say, man, why are they starting to double?

[00:14:02]They're just going to start giving up wide open. So you're you're you're playing that game as a coach, you know, and you know, there's argument in our coaches maybe. We should have stuck with, you know, is he going to beat us with tough twos? We live with it.

[00:14:14]>> And then there's the other side. It's like, no, we have to get the ball out of his hand. So we kind of picked a middle ground of that. We didn't not we didn't like stick with the analytical thing where you'd say live live with it, live with it, live with it. We started double teaming and we we got, you know, we got hurt with the double team. So, um, so if you're on either side of the fence, you're right. [laughter] And you know, the coach, especially when you lose, you're wrong, you know, no matter what what side you take. But, um, I looked at, man, I looked at our defensive guys. Should we have stayed stayed solid? See if you can keep doing it. Keep it, you know, keep hitting those shots. Um, you know, we started doubling. They started getting a lot of OG gets downhill, gets to the rim, you know, we're running around. We got two bigs out there. So, it's harder with rotate and double team. So, um, so someone said, "Man, you should have just stuck with the, you know, with your basic defense." And I I can't argue that you're I can't say that you're wrong.

[00:15:11]>> You mentioned the shot quality metric, not to get too deep into the woods, but does that account for the person that's taking those shots?

[00:15:18]>> Yes.

[00:15:18]>> Yeah.

[00:15:19]>> And [snorts] and those were shots that as as a team, you're comfortable with giving.

[00:15:23]>> Well, to a certain point, we obviously changed coverages, right? we started get double teaming and getting so at a certain point you're like no you know um you know and it's not in my ear oh that's that shot was a second you know I don't know that but I we you know we do we do monitor it um then we got to make decision and like I said you could say man why'd you start double team when they were making tough shots he was making tough shots >> you know Bridges hits a dribble pull up three I mean I it was so improbable you know some the shots they hit. Um, but we obviously went over stuff today to to make to adjust and and and then we get to decide when to if we pull the trigger when to do it.

[00:16:05]>> What is the greatest challenge of mentally recovering from something like this?

[00:16:09]>> We've gone through like you know RJ Barrett hits a that three that you know that game six that was so important that was to me like you know we we've been through it in the playoffs. we've been through um game six tried closing out of the home like that was devastating you know and and so it's like I'm more like okay here it is this is the place what it's about you know um it's it's it's uh you live between misery and and and awesomeness you know in the playoffs and this is of course misery but it's probably the fourth miserable game four or five miserable games we've had in the playoffs so it's like okay come on get back get back on the horse. We go back at it again tomorrow.

[00:16:53]>> We're talking about those eight minutes uh >> those eight full minutes overall.

[00:16:57]>> Yeah.

[00:16:58]>> But Evan hits that three with like 3 minutes left. That gave you guys >> some light. Yeah.

[00:17:04]>> Yeah.

[00:17:04]>> So, is there anything about those last three minutes specifically that you focus on that might be different than the overall 8 minute stretch that didn't go your way?

[00:17:13]>> I don't know. I'd have to go through all the clips. You know, I' I'd um you know, like I said, it's probably comes back to your original point. When do you when do you start double teaming? When do you start do you stay at home? You know, do you stay with your basic? You got two bigs out there. Are you going to you're going to start running around? You know, you say the Landry Shamut one, you know, we don't even get close to them because we didn't, you know, um you know, didn't rotate correctly. So, um you know, this is what you do. This is you do as you coach, man. you look at it what we can do better. We we obviously, you know, tried to fix some things today, get better at it, and be better in the game tomorrow.

[00:17:52]>> I mean, it was clear, Kenny, that they were going at James, like Mike even said it after the game. So, >> but Chris, we go at it like that's the NBA, right? For sure. And you know, one thing about James, I'll just defend him.

[00:18:02]He's a good isolation defender. Always has been. He's super smart. I said it last night. He's got great hands. Um, I was kind of a little more upset with our our our backline defense. Okay, you know, he hit a couple two two or three really tough shots on him, but then I think the baseline drive where our low guy didn't come over and and get a contest, right? This is this is team defense at this level. It it's it's team defense. Um, you know, are we, you know, helping them, sending them in the right direction to have the help there. So, sure, we can we can I know everybody's putting it on James, but I' I'd say it's I'd say it's a lot of it's on the team, our team defense, and and we were great for three quarters. Like really really great. So we we can do it. Um I just think I think um sure some of it was him. There was a couple bow eyes, but again I I'd argue it was on on you know the the team defense too.

[00:19:00]>> What is the conversation with James?

[00:19:01]What is the challenge to James?

[00:19:03]>> I kind of like it again said you know like I uh I this is my first I said without you we're we're knocked out in the first round. That's first my my personal opinion. So, let's just let's just stop there. We're in a great position. Um you've you've played great.

[00:19:20]Um you know, and you know, sometimes micro um experiences get exaggerated.

[00:19:28]So, you know, keep being yourself, you know.

[00:19:31]>> Is he all right?

[00:19:32]>> Who?

[00:19:32]>> James just seems he seems like he's walking around pretty slow today.

[00:19:36]>> Everybody's walking around slow today.

[00:19:38]That was a, you know, um, obviously late game, >> right? We come here, walk through, they got to sit through a film session and we're not really doing anything. It's more walkthrough. So, I think it was, you know, just general fatigue.

[00:19:52]>> Is that something you said to him?

[00:19:54]>> What's that?

[00:19:54]>> What you just said about we'd be out, you wouldn't get out the first round. Is that something?

[00:19:58]>> Yeah. I Yes. I have those conversations.

[00:20:01]I like like sometimes you lose I think as a player you lose kind of perspective you know or or you're your focus on I'm like man just man you are like you've been um such a great addition and everything is um broad you know um you know what I've talked about for a long time about him since he's been with us.

[00:20:22]>> Last one that you all >> just uh Donovan as well you talked about leaning on him.

[00:20:26]>> Yeah.

[00:20:26]>> Uh to sort of carry you guys through tough time as well. just kind of what have you seen from him in these this aftermath as well?

[00:20:32]>> Yeah, he's the best in film. He always gives the best message. You know, I always ask the players first, give me feedback and uh you know, very manifed home court. We've been here before. We fought through a lot of adversity. Um tough loss, you know, made it honest about it, but they turned, okay, let's, you know, we'll get better through this film session. we'll walk through and um you know just super like positive which which helps to group.

[00:21:00]>> Okay, thanks.

[00:21:01]>> All right, thanks everybody.

[00:21:20]>> [music] [music]