The Defensive Adjustments That Won New York a Title

Everyone will remember the shots. Jalen Brunson delivered in the biggest moments, and that’s what will make the highlights.

But in a low-scoring Game 5 where every possession mattered, I kept coming back to the defense.

The Knicks didn’t just erase one deficit on their way to the championship. They had to fight back twice. Each comeback was fueled by different defensive adjustments: from changing their ball-screen coverage to altering how they handled Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio’s shooters.

In a game where points were hard to come by, those adjustments ended up deciding the NBA Finals.

In this breakdown, I look at the four defensive changes that quietly changed the game and helped deliver New York their first championship in decades.

In this breakdown, I cover:

• The first-half adjustments that sparked New York’s initial comeback
• Why the Knicks changed their ball-screen coverage
• How the Ice coverage disrupted San Antonio’s offense
• The decision to go under screens and force jump shots
• The adjustment to defending Victor Wembanyama with one Tag
• And the key defensive possessions that decided the championship