New York Knicks that need to step up in Game 2: Nerlens Noel
The one player who is going to have to step his game up in protecting the paint (in hopes of slowing down Young) and overall defensively is Nerlens Noel. Noel ranked third in the league in blocks per game this season, and he’ll have to prove to be an interior force in Game 2 for the Knicks to have any chance.
Noel is going to have to be the one to help contain Young from getting in the paint as well as preventing the deadly lobs to Clint Capela underneath. While this is no easy task, especially while recovering from tweaking his ankle, the Knicks need him to be better at containment if they hope to win Game 2.
Noel has been a key cog for the Knicks’ defense ever since Mitchell Robinson went down with an injury and he needs a bounce-back game.