Roland Physicality Report

Game 2: NYK @ BOS | Final Score: NYK 91, BOS 90

PHYSICALITY MVP: JOSH HART

His full-game metrics were strong (24 wins, 57 physicality points), but it was his late-game physical control -- absorbing contact, initiating chaos, and showing poise under pressure -- that made the difference. While others faded or hesitated, Hart made sure the Knicks' comeback stuck.

Net Physicality Edge by Quarter

This Series Is a Style War
BOSTON plays structured, contact-heavy basketball. They led in physicality tags like screens, effort rebounds, fight-throughs, pushes. BOSTON's physicality wins got them open shots...that missed.

NEW YORK plays personal matchup physicality: absorb, drive into bodies, bump to create space. NEW YORK is making more efficient use of contact moments -- which might explain their 2-0 lead despite losing the raw physical totals.

Full Player Physicality Stats

Header notes:
RPR = "Roland Physicality Rating" (in development)
Plays = Physicality Plays (adjusted by level of force)
Wins = a Physicality play that is deemed a 'win'
L = Losses (non-intentional fouls and soft plays)
L2+ = level 2 or high force physicality plays
Falls = player hits the ground
KD = Knockdowns: causes opponent to hit the ground
Net Pts = 'results over process' calculation

NEW YORK KNICKS

...NEW YORK KNICKS "physicality suffered"

Analysis:

• Jalen Brunson absorbed a game high again for physicality suffered (28 wins against, 78.8 xRPR), and had a slow first half (7 wins, 4 losses)...but showed up when it mattered, tilting the game to a second Knicks win.


• OG Anunoby is often the quiet Knick, but led this game in RPR, so kept the physicality high.


• KAT had a strong physicality first half (14 wins to go with a double double 14 pts, 10 rebs in the box score), but was much quieter in the second half (4 wins).

BOSTON CELTICS

...BOSTON CELTICS "physicality suffered"

Analysis:

• Jaylen Brown had an incredible first half (52 RPR, 21 physicality wins with box score 17 pts, 6 rebs, 2 stls), turning the tide by taking on the KAT matchup after Towns had dominated Horford. However he disappeared in the second half (just 5 wins, with 1-7 fg, 4 t/o and a bunch of zeroes for rebs, ast, stl, blk). What happened?? Was he physically exhausted?


• Al Horford looks like a strong game on paper (27 wins, 9 knockdowns) but this overlooks the sequence in the early Q2 where KAT crushed him with back to back and-one postups, followed by a drive right past him for a layup. A lot of his wins came on screens for open shots that missed.


• Jayson Tatum a second straight game where his physicality was better in the second half, but the Knicks showing strength at being physical back on his drives and absorbing contact effectively (shown clearly on the last possesion of the game).

Signature Physicality Moments

• Q1 (4:43) Brown skies for dunk Brunson takes the hit
  Following a defensive play where Brown arguably got away with a foul on Bridges he takes the fastbreak at Brunson. Both fall...offensive foul!


• Q1 (2:24) Porzingis not ready in first moments
  Checking into the game for the first time, KP doesn't take advantage of a Pritchard cross screen, staggers on an OG bump, and then when he finally gets it in the post has lost track of the shot clock...24 seconds


• Q2 (9:39) KAT dominates Horford for the third straight time
  After two straight postups where KAT overwhelms Horford for consecutive and-ones, Al pushes the catch out behind the 3-pt line, but KAT faces up drives right past for too easy layup. Celtics shortly thereafter move Brown onto guarding KAT, and Jaylen does a much better job.


• Q2 (4:35) Jaylen Brown doing it all
  In the previous sequence Brown generated a steal, grabbed a contested offensive rebound, and then knocked down an open three. He follows it up with a hard drive at Hart for the and-one.


• Q2 (:15) Knicks get physical with score and knockdowns
  White deters Brunson but then Towns sets a physical postup on Tatum and on catch sends Tatum to the floor, leaving the dish for open Hart cut to go into the half with physical momentum. For good measure Hart knocks Kornet to floor with his legs.


• Q3 (6:44) Derrick White fearless against Anunoby dunk
  After a crazy Tatum drive where it looks like he got fouled by two guys, OG goes the other way and soars for full force FB dunk over White... who calmly takes OG's knee in his chest for the charge on a level 3 collision that leaves both players dazed on the floor.


• Q4 (10:25) Bridges is awakened and unleashes fury
  Mikal gets banged dribbling by Tatum, no call and is visibly upset with refs as the Celtics runout for an open 3pt fastbreak make... and an angry Bridges, who subsequently begins his offensive assault (14 Q4 points scored).


• Q4 (9:40) Hart with the eraser!
  After a terrible careless inbound turnover Hart blocks Horford's shot at the rim and OG gets on the floor for the rebound -- a turning point.


• Q4 (1:59) Brunson clears space for the go ahead bucket
  Down one Jrue all over Brunson until Jalenhits him in the chest to clear space for the midrange clutch jump shot.


• Q4 (:56) Brunson delivers another clutch score
  Brunson 1on3 FB drives past Horford falls, makes! BOSTON no effort to go 5on4 in response.


• Q4 (:18) Tatum with the thundering dunk to take the lead
  Horford screens OG and Tatum with head of steam blows past Robinson for the dunk.


• Q4 (:12) crafty Brunson outplays Holiday
  Jrue overly physical could have been called for a foul before the foul, and Brunson sagely gets the no doubt contact so the refs *have* to call it.


• Q4 (:02) Bridges with the closing decisive defensive play again
  OG grabbing Horford while sliding with Tatum commits to Tatum and Bridges arrives to double and intercept pass -- game over!