Nothing comes easy for the New York Knicks, but they seem more comfortable in a fight anyway.
New York beat the Toronto Raptors 102-96, giving up a big third quarter lead but fighting back to win late. The Knicks went from up 18 in the third quarter to down 4 in the fourth.
For the second game in a row, New York made just enough plays to sneak past an opponent. The Knicks know how to win ugly, and they’re finally figuring out how to make plays late.
RJ Barrett and Alec Burks saved their best for the clutch again. Julius Randle brute-forced his way to a good game despite poor shooting. On the defensive end, Nerlens Noel had one of his best performances of the season. New York is back at .500, and they got there scrapping like they have all season long. Let’s see how the performances came together.
Leaders live up to their roles for the Knicks’ starters
Elfrid Payton: Elfrid Payton started the night with a pair of reverse lay-ups and provided a little bit of everything the rest of the way. He was efficient across the board and chipped in some playmaking to go with his forays inside. It was a strong performance in shorter minutes than normal.
Payton put up 11 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 turnover in 17 minutes of play. He shot 5/7 from the field and 1/2 from three. I’ll take this production and efficiency over Payton’s 20 points on 20 attempts performances any day. Elfrid finished his opportunities inside and continued his recent trend of actually taking three-pointers when he’s open. It was a good game from the point guard, plain and simple.
Payton didn’t put up gaudy numbers, but he gave New York a boost. The starting point guard has slipped to back-up minutes recently, but it allows him to pick his spots more effectively. This was a perfect example of how Payton can produce when he’s not pressing to make things happen. Randle and RJ did the heavy lifting, but Elfrid Payton did a great job feeding off them. This is a role and minutes allocation that I can get behind. Payton gets a 2.5 out of 5 for his impact.
Reggie Bullock: It wasn’t a typical shooting night for Reggie Bullock. The 3 and D guard struggled with his jumper and forced some out-of-sync shots in the half-court offense. But Bullock was able to salvage a solid night with his defense. Bully forced multiple turnovers and reaped the rewards of fast breaks that he produced.
Bullock played 27 minutes, dropping 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 steals with 1 turnover. He shot 4/11 from the field and 2/8 from three. Two of the steals turned into Bully’s only field goals inside the arc. Defense was Bullock’s saving grace; he didn’t seem to have it offensively. A couple of timely threes helped make up for poor shooting in general.
I was beginning to get spoiled by Reggie’s three-point run. Bullock has shot lights out since the Allstar break; a few duds were overdue. He still showcased his value by playing harassing defense to set the tone for everyone else. Bully especially shined with some well-timed double-teams on Pascal Siakim, the player responsible for multiple steals from Bullock to begin with. Reggie Bullock gets a 2 out of 5 for a solid night.
RJ Barrett: RJ Barrett continued all of the positive trends in his play. Barrett knocked down his three-point looks, made some heady passes, and closed out the game with a clutch shot. Every time RJ took a rep, it felt like he sparked positive chain reactions. He would finish in the lane, hit a catch and shoot, or line up a jumper for Randle or Taj. Barrett had everything going and didn’t miss a beat when the pressure was at its highest.
Barrett picked up 19 points, 5 assists without a turnover, 1 rebound, and 2 steals in 33 minutes of action. He shot 7/12 from the field, 3/6 from three, and 2/3 from the free-throw line. As the season wears on, we’re starting to see more chemistry from RJ and Randle. Broadway Barrett hit a three with 30 seconds left, and the Knicks clinging to a 1 point lead. Randle assisted that shot. Other slashers have begun kicking out to Barrett more often as well. Players recognize that the 20 years young sophomore is ready to handle big moments.
The numbers are great and still don’t do justice to how well RJ Barrett played. His game carries a maturity that you won’t find in other young players. Barrett’s ability to score from power and finesse alike is scary. Now he’s added a legitimate shooting stroke to the recipe. We saw the young man make some mistakes in clutch moments recently, but instead of shrinking, Barrett has risen to the occasion at every opportunity after. RJ gets a 4 out of 5 for his performance.
Julius Randle: Julius Randle is still chasing the smooth offensive dominance he had before. The braids brought back some of the magic, but the shooting touch is still missing. Randle was a force inside, either finishing or drawing free throws at a high rate. He would have had a much bigger night if he had an answer for Toronto’s zone defense.
Randle put up 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists to 5 turnovers. He shot 7/19 from the field, 1/8 from three, and 11/11 from the free-throw line. The big man got to pad his numbers a bit with four free throws in the final minute of the game, but his scoring was already respectable without them. The Raptors slowed Randle down with double-teams and zone defense. He couldn’t buy a three-pointer, which left him dribbling into traffic where turnovers commenced. The Raptors staged a comeback behind that zone, and it was Randle anticipating a double-team late that led to his assist to RJ in the final minute.
The biggest testament to Randle’s growth this season is that this performance counts as a tough one for him. He wasn’t as smooth as his best games; the dominance wasn’t quite as easy for him. Defenses are throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Randle at this point, and it’s barely enough to contain him. Make no mistake, the uptick in efficiency from RJ and Reggie after the Allstar break is partially due to Randle’s insane gravity. Teams do everything they can to stop him and he’s still putting up monster stats. Randle gets a 3.5 out of 5 on the night.
Nerlens Noel: Forget about Nerlens Noel’s shot-blocking for a minute. His work on the glass made this performance a stand-out on the season. Noel was active on every board, tipping the ball out and creating long rebound opportunities all game long. He piled up rebounds early in the game and menaced the boards throughout the game. Yes, he was still a premier shot blocker that created loose balls with deflections as well…but improving beyond his typical performance came down to rebounding.
Noel spent 28 minutes collecting 9 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 4 blocks. He shot 4/7 from the field and 1/2 from the free-throw line. Clyde and Breen talked about Noel practicing a hook shot inside that we’ve seen more and more of lately. The shot blocker is showing a pinch more patience when he has the ball inside on offense. That amounts to one extra dribble into a gather or rising in motion across the lane rather than from a stationary position, but it’s effective.
The challenge for writing about Noel’s performance is that so much of it was typical. He always blocks shots and gets steals. Even when the big man gets overpowered, he’s not one to shy away from physicality. He was markedly better by winning more physical battles and playing under control in traffic. I can’t recall a badly dropped pass or egregiously rushed shot inside. That sounds minor, but it set up for Noel’s big game. The starting center gets a 3 out of 5 for his performance.
The Knicks’ second unit gives just enough
Derrick Rose: While he wasn’t quite the force that he’s been in recent efforts, Derrick Rose still managed to be the best player on the second unit for most of the night. Rose didn’t add anything unique to the mix, keeping his usual brand of athletic drives and clever ball movement. The former MVP continued his worse trends as well, legs fading as the game wore on. Even with the second-half slow-downs, Rose has proven a reliable leader off the bench.
Rose spent 23 minutes in action. He put up 11 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, and 3 turnovers on 4/10 from the field, 0/1 from three, and 3/3 from the free-throw line. If anything was missing from this game, it was the eye-popping assists that Rose has snuck into most performances. This performance was more slow and steady as the second unit struggled shooting. Rose kept the bench afloat. I find myself typing that too often.
The stats don’t really do justice to Rose’s performance. As his game began to fade, the Raptors bench started to gain ground behind Flynn and Watanabe. There were no hot hands to feed or rely on. For most of the night, the second unit got its offense from Derrick Rose attacking a crowd. The result wasn’t a stellar stat-line, but it was a much more important victory. Rose gets a 2.5 out of 5 on the night.
Immanuel Quickley: Immanuel Quickley was back to struggling in this one. He flashed his dominant scoring form against Memphis, but the rookie wall version showed up for Toronto. IQ was back to hunting for whistles, resulting in ugly forced shots. The Raptors’ zone kept Quickley on the perimeter for the most part, where he failed to punish Toronto for spacing. The rookie missed shot after shot, converting just one field goal, which was at least a nice one.
IQ managed 3 points and 5 boards in 18 minutes. He shot 1/8 from the field and 1/6 from the three-point line. The clip above shows one of the few times that Quickley was able to get his shot off without heavy pressure. The Raptors respected his jumper enough to challenge him, and it threw the rookie off for a change. He has to counter pressure with more than just rip-throughs and prayers for help from the refs.
On the bright side, Quickley turned in another nice rebounding performance. He had a pair of big offensive rebounds in the Memphis game and grabbed the long boards throughout this game. Clyde always commends the guards who get those long rebounds. Quickley didn’t have it as a scorer, and he’s been relegated to off-ball offense almost exclusively. Adding rebounds at least kept him productive in some aspect. IQ gets a 1.5 out of 5 on the night.
Alec Burks: Another slow start meant Alec Burks’ fourth-quarter outburst stood out that much more. The wing struggled to produce anything for the better part of three quarters. In the fourth, Burks drew fouls for free throws and finally made some shots. Thibodeau let Burks take over point guard duties in the clutch. Burks rewarded that faith not only with his scoring but also by whipping a beautiful assist to Julius Randle.
Burks rocked for 26 minutes, shooting 2/9 from the field, 1/4 from three, and 3/4 from the line. He finished up with 8 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and 3 turnovers. It looked like another game where the Rose, IQ, Burks tandem couldn’t gel. While Rose was the focal point, Rose was the scorer for that line-up. In the fourth quarter, when Burks saw more touches, the scoring wing quickly replaced Rose as the force for production. But there’s a fluidity missing from the trio; they take turns instead of feeding off each other.
Three-quarters of struggle could have easily left Burks dejected and unproductive late. But that’s just not the veteran scorer’s game. He kept attacking with the touches that he received. At this point, Burks has earned a role as closer. He applies pressure on the defense on the ball with catch-and-shoot ability off. That makes him a great compliment for Randle and RJ late. I’d like to see him produce more throughout the game, but as the adage goes, “it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.” Burks finishes strong and gets a 2 out of 5 on the night.
Taj Gibson: This was Taj Gibson’s quietest night in a long time. That might be because Nerlens Noel’s performance eclipsed him. Gibson got the backup minutes for real this time, so his workman-like approach didn’t stand out as often. It was still a decent night of work in the paint for Tom Thibodeau’s most reliable vet.
Taj put up 2 points, 4 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 20 minutes of action. He went 0/3 from the field and 2/2 from the free-throw line. It was a rare night in which Taj felt forgettable. I’ve gotten used to humming “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters when Taj makes a post move or starts coaching a young dude on the court. This time around…he didn’t get into the action much.
Please don’t mistake my indifference for the performance with it being a bad one. Gibson didn’t do anything glaringly bad. His defense was solid, and he held things down under the boards. His game was still solid for a backup big man. It’s just a dip in performance compared to the nights where Taj looks every bit as good as Noel or even better. Forgettable beats detrimental every time. Gibson gets a 2 out of 5 for the night.
Obi Toppin and Kevin Knox: Obi Toppin got five minutes in the first half and provided plenty of energy. This was my favorite game of his on the glass, and he almost put up another highlight dunk en route to a 2 point, 3 boards night. Kevin Knox got Toppin’s second-half minutes to answer Toronto’s zone defense. Knox didn’t take a three, but he was active enough to draw free throws off a cut inside and to add 1 point, 2 boards, and a 1 steal.
Neither player got enough minutes to make a big stamp on this game. But they provided energy and combined for 3 points, 5 rebounds, and a steal in 10 minutes. Baby steps are good steps too.
Finding closers exactly where you’d expect with Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau: I gave Tom Thibodeau hell for decisions he made in close losses last week. This week, I’m looking at the adjustments, and I owe him plenty of props. Thibs has programmed me to get nervous in third quarters. He watched his starters break a big lead and then cough it up all in the same quarter. But his decision only looked bad until the bench came in and struggled as well. The starters outperformed the bench, and Thibs got them back into the game right in time to save a win.
For the past two wins, the Knicks have let Alec Burks be the point man to close out. That shift away from Payton has meant improved spacing and better results. I should point out, though, the quality of competition has dropped a notch in these recent wins. The Knicks closed out Memphis and the Raptors, quality wins but not the same level as beating the Nets, Sixers, or even the Celtics. Right now, that adjustment looks key, but the shift in competition could play a role too.
The nuances mainly fall to fourth quarter personnel in this one. Burks wasn’t the only uncharacteristic closer. Thibs rode the hot defensive hand of Nerlens Noel as well. We can be certain that RJ and Randle will play out the last minutes of a game, Burks is becoming a fixture, and there are two spots left for the best performers on the night. The clinching line-ups and strategy has taken shape with this run of tightly contested battles. Thibodeau gets a 3 out of 5 for this dub.
Closing Thoughts
Let’s take a step back and admire the margin for error. A couple of weeks ago, we were frustrated at late-game execution as Randle and Barrett fumbled away opportunities or bricked shots that could have stolen big wins. This week, it was Pascal Siakam picking up a double-dribble that set New York up to finish strong. It was a pleasant reminder that there are only truly a handful of closers in the league at any time. Even great players start to slip when the pressure is at its highest.
Have you figured out where I’m heading yet? Let’s talk about RJ Barrett specifically. Anthony Edward’s proclamation that Minnesota hoped Barrett would shoot looks different a few weeks later. At the time, Edwards had a point. RJ had picked up turnovers and misses throughout close losses heading into that fateful buzzer-beating brick. But Broadway Barrett is earning the new moniker because of his response. RJ has been New York’s best player in the clutch for two straight victories; the rest of the team thrives off Barrett’s play. Now let’s go back to an oldie but a goodie…He’s still just 20 years old! From mentality to skillset, RJ Barrett has the potential to become a true closer in this league, and that type of ability only shows up in true stars.
The Knicks continue a run of tough but winnable games when LA comes to visit. The Lakers look a lot less scary when Lebron and AD aren’t playing. They have New Orleans and Dallas to follow, which means more opportunities to play the good but not great tier of opposition. The playoff margins leave little room for error in their own right. I’m personally feeling some confidence. The Knicks have to iron out more wrinkles, but they’ve just reminded us about how they win. I’m ready to watch these guys fight, and god forbid Randle gets that three-ball back. I’ll see you after the next one fam!
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