ESPN's Jalen Rose Blames 'Weather' For Knicks' Game 3 Loss to Heat

Jalen Rose partly chalked up the New York Knicks shooting struggles on Miami heat, rather than the Miami Heat.

USA TODAY SPORTS

Jalen Rose believed that the New York Knicks were dealing with the Miami Heat in more ways than one on Saturday afternoon.

The ESPN/ABC analyst and NBA veteran found an unconventional culprit behind the Knicks' 105-86 defeat at the hands of the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, claiming that the weather played a role in New York falling behind 2-1 in their best-of-seven set with South Beach.

The Knicks' loss was literally built on bricks, as they shot a dreadful 34 percent from the field, including 8-of-40 from three-point range (good to tie their worst outside shooting effort in a playoff game where they attempted at least 20). Rose felt that Mother Nature was a de facto sixth player on the floor for Miami, which was already rejuvenated by the return of postseason hero Jimmy Butler. 

Jalen Rose really just blamed the weather for the knicks struggles no way 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/6fqjOmXeWP

— ً (@lelongevity) May 6, 2023

"We talk so much about the nightlife and joke about it in Miami, but also ... when you're the road team, you've got to pay attention to that weather and that heat," Rose said during ABC's halftime coverage, as the Knicks shot 17-of-46 over the first 24 minutes. "It affects the endurance of your muscles and causes tiredness. If you'll notice, the Knicks, in particular, are making shots in the paint but they're missing shots outside of the paint, in particular from three."

The Knicks had trouble scoring from all over the floor on Saturday: while, to Rose's point, they did shoot 45 percent on two-point shots, they were outscored 50-36 in the paint. Bam Adebayo had a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double for Miami, which led by as much as 22.

Rose's fellow analysts didn't offer him any pushback but the same couldn't be said for viewers on Twitter.

Is Jalen Rose gonna pull out his weather app before he makes a prediction on todays game?

— Sweep The Leg (@SweepTheLeg337) May 7, 2023

Jalen Rose just blamed the weather for the Knicks poor perimeter shooting instead of crediting the Heat’s defense

— Kevin Perez (@kevinp305) May 6, 2023

Jalen Rose going to love when he discovers air conditioning https://t.co/p9w4QP0myP

— JJ (@jjmend19) May 7, 2023

The Knicks' opportunity to even the series lands on Monday night, which will host Game 4 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT). Monday's Miami forecast calls for sunny skies and no chance of precipitation. 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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