After the New York Knicks defeated the Phoenix Suns on the back of Brunson’s 50 burger, the Knicks then fell to the LA Clippers.
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The New York Knicks shot from the highs of victory in Phoenix to the lows of a blowout loss in LA in a 24-hour span.
New York took down Phoenix, led by an all-time great single-game performance from Jalen Brunson. But Brunson’s success helped mask another poor defensive outing for the team. Their defense bottomed out against the Clippers the next day, as they gave up more than 140 points for the second time this season.
Evaluating players’ performances in two games with such different outcomes is challenging. But let’s look at what’s worked and hasn’t for the Knicks over the back-to-back.
New York’s starters shine in Phoenix, fade in LA
Jalen Brunson:
Vs. Phoenix: 50 PTS (17/23 FG, 9/9 3PT, 7/9 FT), 9 AST, 6 REB, 5 STL, 2 TO in 35 mins
Vs. LA: 22 PTS )7/17 FG, 2/5 3PT, 6/6 FT), 6 AST, 7 REB, 2 TO in 34 mins
Jalen Brunson’s performance in Phoenix was the picture of perfection. The diminutive guard shot a perfect 9/9 from three while going 8/14 inside the arc. He looked unstoppable. That made his performance against LA disappointing by comparison. He still topped 20 points and 5 assists but didn’t come close to the high-scoring or efficiency of his Phoenix dominance.
Brunson found ways to be effective defensively in Phoenix. He managed that by sneaking into passing lanes and anticipating player movement. He didn’t show the same energy in LA, but understandably so.
Brunson’s muted impact in LA felt more like fatigue than anything concerning. He still made timely plays while the game was within reach. But he didn’t have an extra gear to kick into. He’s still New York’s star, and made it clear in Phoenix. Brunson gets a 4 out of 5 for the back-to-back.
Donte DiVincenzo:
Vs. Phoenix: 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/2 3PT), 1 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 19 mins
Vs. LA: 18 PTS (5/8 FG, 5/8 3PT, 3/3 FT), 1 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 22 mins
There wasn’t much for Donte DiVincenzo to do in Phoenix. The Knicks’ top three played well, and DiVo was along for the ride. That may have saved his legs for LA because DiVincenzo kept New York close by starting the game 4/4 from deep. But he couldn’t maintain that pace all game.
We’re learning two things from Donte’s move into the starting unit. One is that an assertive player can get shots and rhythm with the starters. Two is that Quentin Grimes’ defense at the point of attack hid a lot of defensive blemishes. DiVo’s a decent on-ball defender, but his best defensive traits shine in off-ball situations.
DiVo’s effort kept things interesting longer than they had to be in LA. That’s as much an indictment of the starting unit’s defense as it is a compliment to DiVincenzo. But the team’s struggles aren’t on him, and he gets a 3 out of 5 for seamlessly shifting his approach depending on the team’s needs.
RJ Barrett:
Vs. Phoenix: 21 PTS 6/10 FG, 1/2 3PT, 8/8 FT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 29 mins
Vs. LA: 18 PTS (7/15 FG, 2/7 3PT, 2/2 FT), 5 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 28 mins
RJ Barrett got back on track over these two games. He shot a combined 13/25 from the field, thanks to effective finishing around the paint. However, his three-point shooting wasn’t great. But came far closer to the league average, which is enough when he scores efficiently inside the arc. Barrett also returned to making quick, simple passes, which helped him avoid some bad possessions that marked recent struggles.
Barrett deserves some props for his defense, as well. He had to defend elite scorers for most of the back-to-back and didn’t look out of place. That’s not to say he locked anyone up, but he stayed in front of players and made them work for looks.
Over the last five games, RJ has scored 20 points per game on 46 percent from the field despite an awful night in Utah. He’s trending in the right direction, and this back-to-back continued the pattern. Barrett gets a 3.5 out of 5 for two solid nights.
Julius Randle:
Vs. Phoenix: 23 PTS (10/16 FG, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 6 AST, 8 REB, 1 BLK, 5 TO in 35 mins
Vs. LA: 22 PTS (8/17 FG, 0/3 3PT, 6/6 FT), 3 AST, 4 REB, 3 TO in 31 mins
Julius Randle put up solid numbers but had a mixed-bag performance. As usual, that comes down to defensive woes. I can’t blame him, though. He started on Kevin Durant in Phoenix, and you could see his spirited start on defense wane as fatigue set in. By the time he chased Kawhi Leonard around LA, it felt like his legs were already gone.
I’ll also give Randle leeway for 8 turnovers in two nights. His post-up passing sparked the Knicks’ offense early in Phoenix, but they threw new looks and adjustments at him all game. Randle made mistakes, but I think he was surprised when the coverages changed.
Randle lost a step by the time he played the Clippers. But defending Durant and Kawhi in back-to-back games will do that. I’m grading him on a curve while admitting that his defense MUST be better for the starting unit to stand a chance. He gets a 3 out of 5 for the pair of games.
Jericho Sims:
Vs. Phoenix: 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/1 FT), 3 REB in 16 mins
Vs. LA: 7 PTS (3/4 FG, 1/1 FT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL in 18 mins
I saw some things I liked from Jericho Sims in the Phoenix game. He positioned himself better to have a defensive impact, and we didn’t see the miscommunications that hurt his first starts. But Ivica Zubac overwhelmed him to set the tone for LA’s offense a night later.
Sims’ production in LA looks nice, but only because he played in garbage time. He’s a poster child for players that Tom Thibodeau sets up to fail, and the poster was a literal Zubac dunk. Sim isn’t ready to compete against starting centers, and it doesn’t look like he’s had any practice with the Knicks’ starters, either.
Sims gets back-up minutes as it is, so I don’t see the value in starting him. He gets a 1 out of 5 for two tough nights. Four challenging games are enough; let him play with the second unit.
The Knicks’ bench is fun to watch…sometimes
Immanuel Quickley:
Vs. Phoenix: 10 PTS (3/8 FG, 1/3 3PT, 3/4 FT), 3 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 TO in 24 mins
Vs. LA: 9 PTS (3/8 FG, 2/5 3PT, 3/4 FT), 3 AST, 4 REB in 19 mins
Immanuel Quickley’s impact looks muted by the numbers, but he felt like a steady presence on both nights. He scaled back his aggression as a scorer but added playmaking to the tune of 6 assists in 43 minutes. He also contributed on the glass, making up for less scoring by filling the stat sheet elsewhere.
IQ was solid on defense but not as impressive as he can be. I watched players score on him more often than I’m used to, but that’s partially because of tough match-ups like the odd cross-match against Norman Powell.
Quickley drives the second unit and shines as an outlet ball handler next to Jalen Brunson. I’m not sure he can solve the starters’ POA defense issue, but I don’t think he’d struggle to fit with the starting unit. He gets a 2.5 out of 5 for the pair of performances, and I’m mulling over ways to give him a chance with the starters.
Quentin Grimes:
Vs. Phoenix: 9 PTS (3/7 FG, 3/6 3PT), 1 AST, 2 REB in 15 mins
Vs. LA: 8 PTS (3/8 FG, 2/5 3PT), 1 REB, 1 STL in 24 mins
Quentin Grimes is getting better looks with the second unit. He shot the ball well, going 5/11 from deep in the back-to-back. He also finished a smooth transition layup in LA. Grimes looks more comfortable in the offensive pace and flow of the bench crew.
Grimes’ defense shined against Devin Booker. He gave the Phoenix scorer fits, unlike everyone else in orange and blue. Interestingly, Norman Powell had more success against Grimes, but I’m guessing that came down to size and strength. Regardless, Grimes’ defense is a strength.
The starting unit is missing Grimes’ defense, but I’d hate to see him lose his rhythm. That’s partially why I’m considering IQ as the following option to solve point-of-attack woes for the starters. I like what we’re seeing from Grimes with the second unit, and I wonder if he could step up further with Quickley shifting to a starting role.
Grimes gets a 2.5 out of 5 for spacing the floor and defending exactly how New York needs.
Josh Hart:
Vs. Phoenix: 6 PTS (3/8 FG, 0/3 3PT), 2 AST, 2 REB in 29 mins
Vs. LA: 0 PTS (0/1 FG), 1 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 8 mins
Josh Hart wasn’t particularly productive in Phoenix, but he energized things. He added pace and effort that his 2 assists and 2 rebounds won’t accurately reflect. On the downside, his shooting struggles returned.
He played just 8 minutes in LA because Hart got himself ejected. He had a right to be mad at the refs, but this was terrible timing. He got kicked out when the Knicks needed his energy more than usual. He also hung Randle out to dry as the only viable power forward left.
So Hart gets a 1 out of 5 for vanishing when the Knicks needed him.
Isaiah Hartenstein:
Vs. Phoenix: 7 PTS (2/2 FG, 3/4 FT), 2 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 2 TO in 30 mins
Vs. LA: 12 PTS (5/7 FG, 2/4 FT), 2 AST, 10 REB, 3 BLK, 3 TO in 30 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein plays 30 minutes a night, so why isn’t he starting? I get the idea of a second unit having chemistry, but what good is that when the starting lineup is so flawed? I-Hart promotes ball movement regardless of who he plays with, and his defense is sorely needed even if it can’t live up to Mitchell Robinson.
None of that directly addresses Hartenstein’s play in the back-to-back. Suffice it to say that his 19 points, 4 assists, 18 rebounds, and 6 blocks over two nights are all genuine positive production. None of it is fluky. I think he’s helped with Brunson’s shooting coming back and RJ’s success in a more spacious lane. He also blocked at least two dunk attempts that I can remember.
Hartenstein gets a 3 out of 5 for being the best big man New York has, at least until Mitch gets back.
Tom Thibodeau’s defense keeps getting destroyed
I can’t tell if the Knicks’ starters have a bigger problem with their scheme or personnel. Tom Thibodeau’s rotation leaves arguably his top four defenders to come off the bench. The starting unit is scoring well but giving up more points because they can’t stop anyone.
We can point the finger at players or schemes; the resolution stays the same. Tom Thibodeau needs to make some adjustments. The Knicks have given up at least 133 points in four of the last five games, which can’t continue.
Closing Thoughts:
The loss to LA felt like a scheduled defeat, but it didn’t have to be THAT bad. It’s the first time in a long time that I found myself mentally checking out because the Knicks felt so lackluster. You know it isn’t good when Thibodeau brings in the bench unit with more than five minutes left to the action.
The defeat makes that Phoenix victory bittersweet. I’m stuck wondering if the Knicks just showed that they can beat good teams or if Phoenix only proved that New York can’t win without a Hall-of-Fame production from someone. It’s frustrating to think that my recap is more concerned with defensive woes than Brunson’s masterpiece of a performance.
But I think the Lakers are beatable. They’ve lost 3 of their last 4, the Knicks don’t have to travel on their rest day, and the Lakers don’t shoot like Phoenix or the new-look Clippers. So, Monday night is a chance to regain momentum. I’ll see you then, Knicks fam!
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