New York Knicks guard Miles McBride was excellent in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers. But, in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers, he struggled to replicate that level of production.
In three of the first four games in the series, Miles McBride had a negative plus/minus ratio. His jump shot, much improved this season, wasn’t there. He shot 10 of 33 from the field overall and 5 of 19 from 3-point range.
If he struggles offensively, you can normally count on McBride to make an impact defensively. But that wasn’t the case in the first four games, as the young guard wasn’t playing well in any aspect of the game.
Going into Game 5, the series was in the balance. After a 32-point loss, New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau knew something had to change. He seized the opportunity, turning to Miles McBride as the starter.
This was a move we hadn’t seen much of as playing two guards who barely reach 6 feet tall isn’t ideal. But New York needed to give Indiana a different look and that’s what Thibodeau decided to do. Just as has been the case all season, the Knicks had a player who stepped up when it was needed most.
Miles McBride had his best game of the series, shooting 7 of 15 from the field and 3 of 7 from 3-point range. He scored 17 points with four assists, but it was on defense that he made the biggest impact.