Speaking of D effort. 2 mins into the contest, Franc got switched on to Big Vuj, left elbow 15' out. Franc first bodied up ans swiped at the ball to delay any rimward progress, waited until Vuj's man could recover. Then Franc sprinted across from the left elbow 15' out to the right elbow 3 point line. Vuj indeed fires to that temporarily open man, but Franc gets there just after the ball, doesn't overrun or get off balance. Guy has to hold, jab step, reset.
Really a terrific unheralddd play by Franc. Recognized quickly what to do twice on that play, blowing up a mismatch and an open 3 point shot.
Also credit Knix team D that
They didn't leave open a strong side shooter as we've seen day too much of. The Big looked to recover to his man (I forget who). The shooter left open was a long pass away, and on the elbow so either of the other two perimeter defenders could get there, if Franc didn't sprint like a mad fool.
Though you'd want the straightaway defender closing out, so as not to leave an open corner three, and the surplus Knick defender on the former strong side could get to the topside shooter to rebalance the D.
The impressive thing is the Knix team D seemed to understand all this. The straightaway defender badges a step or two to the right elbow open 3 shooter, saw Franc's charge and stayed near his man. The corner 3 defender stayed in position.
How often under Fizz did we see either nobody rotate to an open 3 point shooter, or two defenders belatedly close on the same shooter? Really inept stuff, as we tried to protect the paint. Give Coach Miller credit. Knix D looks professionally organized at times.