1 stat explaining each second-round series

KAT's outrageous passing numbers, Duren's disappearing act, and more

Typically, I like to wait until the middle of a playoff round before I do this piece. Unfortunately, I may have delayed a tad too long. Two matchups are already decided, with the Thunder and Knicks moving on in yawn-inducing fashion. No offense to the Lakers and 76ers, both of whom had surprising first-round wins to be proud of, but I’m glad those series didn’t stretch further.

Regardless, there is value in an autopsy. Let’s start with the most eye-popping stat I’ve seen in some time. (Numbers per Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted.)

Knicks 4, 76ers 0

45.7%

This is a crazy number: Karl-Anthony Towns’ 45.7% assist rate in the Knicks’ sweep of the 76ers is the highest that any rotation player has recorded in any playoff series this year, surpassing even Nikola Jokic’s 44.1% assist rate in the Nuggets’ first-round loss to Minnesota. He managed to record 30 assists in just 93 minutes!

I’m not trying to say that Towns is a better passer than Jokic, of course. He has benefited from the Knicks making every shot they take for two weeks straight — and that’s barely an exaggeration. Per the NBA’s potential assist data, the Knicks only missed one (1!!!) shot that came after a Towns pass¹. Insanity!

But it does underscore how dramatically New York’s offense has changed in the postseason. Brunson might be the leading scorer, but the offense now runs through Towns. Towns is averaging far more playoff frontcourt touches per minute than Brunson (and more than Towns did in the regular season), and not coincidentally, the Knicks boast the postseason’s best offense.

Is that partially a result of two favorable matchups? Undoubtedly, but it’s also true that Towns’ occasionally questionable decision-making has never looked better. He’s making the smart play instead of chasing highlights, and his timing and touch while passing on the move have sparkled:

Both Cleveland and Detroit boast far stouter big man defenders than Atlanta or Philadelphia, and it won’t be quite so easy for New York next round. But while those two teams bruise, bludgeon, bloody, and batter each other, Towns and his teammates are enjoying breakfasts in bed.

Thunder 4, Lakers 0