Jalen Brunson was uncharacteristically bad and Julius Randle may be back
There are two parts for the final reason why I believe the Knicks will be a lock to win Game 2 against the Heat. For one, Jalen Brunson will be better. While he did finish with 25 points on 48 percent shooting from the field in the Knicks’ Game 1 loss, he went 0-7 from 3-point range and finished with five turnovers. I simply don’t believe that Brunson is going to be that bad from 3 or when it comes to taking care of the basketball.
Brunson will play better and so will the Knicks as an extension of their leader. The second part of my confidence in the Knicks heading into Game 2 is the fact that there’s at least a solid chance that we see the return of Julius Randle. And if he does come back for Game 2, it changes so many things for the Knicks.
Randle’s return changes their starting five, their bench unit, and the way that they’ll attack and defend the Heat. Randle has been a huge part of the Knicks’ success this season and will be a big reason why they win this series (if that’s what ends up happening).
The Knicks may have lost Game 1 and homecourt advantage in this series momentarily, but they’re a lock to win in Game 2. This series will be tied at one game apiece heading into Game 3 in Miami.