The New York Knicks defeat the Atlanta Hawks 117-108, which gives the Knicks a 3-0 series lead. Also, RJ Barrett gets chants in Atlanta.
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The New York Knicks defeating the Atlanta Hawks 117 to 108 gives the team a winning record for the second time since November. New York’s offense continued to roll with all five starters in double-figures and the team shooting over 50 percent from the field. The success carried through to the bench. The Hawks kept things competitive, but the Knicks were in control for almost the entirety of the game.
Julius Randle put everything together while RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson continued impressive runs. Off the bench, the rookie and the vet stole the show with Quentin Grimes and Taj Gibson contributing. The Knicks look like they’re starting to find themselves, and running roughshod over opponents in the process. Let’s see how things came together for another victory.
The most complete performance of the season for New York’s starting unit
Alec Burks: 17 PTS (4/8 FG, 2/6 3PT, 7/7 FT), 8 AST, 9 REB in 36 mins
Since moving to the starting line-up, Alec Burks has become a Swiss-army knife for the Knicks. He took that role to another level against the Hawks by flirting with a triple-double on ridiculous efficiency. Refs called a tight game, which allowed Burks to attack his defenders and repeatedly get to the line. That added an elusiveness to his game that turned his production up a notch.
The best part of Burks’ performance is that he produced while being more of a third-option for ball handling. RJ Barrett and Julius Randle were the focal points of the offense, often initiating things in place of a point guard. That meant Burks was closer to his second-unit role, picking spots to attack and getting some easy looks created by teammates as well. By mixing his shot attempts with clever passes like a late lob to Robinson, Burks was able to keep the Hawks defense off-balance all game.
I should also mention that Burks’ defensive effort was impressive. He kept Trae Young busy and had communication with teammates who would often switch to keep Young from having a lane. That pushed his performance to a two-way impact. Burks played a near-flawless game, and his impact was undeniable. Burks picks up a 4 out of 5 on impact.
Evan Fournier: 18 PTS (7/13 FG, 4/8 3PT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 3 TO in 32 mins
It feels like this offseason’s biggest acquisition has finally found his groove. Evan Fournier was similar to Burks in that his touches came secondary to Randle and Barrett. He still capitalized frequently by knocking down threes and attacking off the dribble. Fournier’s buckets felt timely, with his second-half three-pointers breaking the Hawks’ momentum. His fourth-quarter three, followed quickly by a drive and finish, was essentially the Mariano moment of this game (the closer).
Fournier did run into some trouble protecting the rock. It’s never a good thing to have Trae Young pick your pocket and hit a three on the opposite end of the floor. But that said, the French wing’s turnovers didn’t deter his aggression. That’s the most important bit of growth for him this season. Fournier used to let struggles cause him to fade to a background role, but he relishes chances to step up in recent action. It probably helps that he had Trae Young guarding him often though.
Speaking of Trae Young guarding Evan Fournier, that seemed like a big reason why New York signed him. The Hawks don’t have a Knick that they can hide their defensively impotent star player on anymore. No matter how the Hawks schemed to stop attacks, the Knicks could find an attacker off the dribble. Fournier’s role felt subdued compared to some teammates, but his impact was filled with key buckets as he did exactly what he’s paid to do. Fournier’s rolling lately, and he picks up a 3 out of 5 on impact which is docked for the turnovers.
RJ Barrett: 26 PTS (8/20 FG, 2/5 3PT, 8/10 FT), 3 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 41 mins
While Julius Randle came away with the more impressive numbers, RJ Barrett stole the eye test for me. The Knicks started this game off by establishing Barrett out the gate. He drove to the basket for lay-ups, kicked out for dimes, and found Mitch on lobs. Establishing Barrett with the ball in his hand opened up New York’s offense for every other player, even Randle.
Barrett was in double-digits by the end of the first quarter. He would continue to knock down big buckets right into the fourth quarter. The fourth really displayed his value as the Hawks got close to a comeback but Barrett and Fournier checked back in to help ice the game. That’s no slight on Randle who played brilliantly, but New York’s top two players are feeding off each other’s presence right now.
I have to focus on that last bit. It’s often felt like Randle and Barrett produce despite each other rather than feeding off one on another. Last year felt like it was one guy blowing up while the other played decoy. The two have found much better chemistry this year, and I’d speculate it’s because the ball is in the wing’s hands more often than the big man lately. This feels like a potential to develop well-beyond last season’s success. Barrett gets a 4 out of 5 for continuing his bid for Player of the Month.
Julius Randle: 24 PTS (10/21 FG, 2/6 3PT, 2/3 FT), 9 AST, 6 REB, 1 TO in 38 mins
Five games after thumbs-down gate, Julius Randle finally got his scoring efficiency back to go with all-around production. Randle’s approach in this performance wasn’t far from recent games. He started by feeding teammates early, establishing scoring threats for every other piece on the floor. Once defenders were deterred from cheating off their assignments, Randle capitalized on the bit of additional space he had to work.
The results are undeniable. Randle was able to position himself closer to the hoop with time to attack post moves. Even when defenders fronted him well, the big man had enough space to create separation on step-backs and get his shot off. It helped that Randle’s jumper was falling even out to long-range, but I think his starting points closer to the rim played a pivotal role in that success. He’d often bump his defender back, hop away into a gather, and knockdown jumpers from the space he produced.
This wasn’t a flawless game though. Randle got caught sleeping on defense a few times to the tune of some open three-pointers. He wasn’t the force that we know he can be on the defensive glass either. The defensive lag was evident during Atlanta’s fourth-quarter comeback attempt. That said, Randle did far more good than bad and finally played like an engine for this offense. He picks up a 4 out of 5 for finally piecing together good shooting with the rest of his productivity.
Mitchell Robinson: 14 PTS (6/8 FG, 2/4 FT), 13 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 31 mins
If you asked me what the turning point for the Knicks’ season was, I’d tell you to look for the first game where New York committed to establishing Mitchell Robinson as a roll threat. Every Knick ball-handler is looking to feed Mitch lately. His hands seem improved, he’s rolling harder than ever, and defenders have trouble denying the pass to such a big and athletic player. This is all to say that Robinson feasted on the Hawks inside.
I can’t hype Robinson’s rebounding enough. This makes three straight games of double-digit rebounding and a quick scan through his game-log shows these performances have been somewhat rare this season. I’d credit the improved defensive rebounding to his mobility and motor increasing. He routinely grabs 4 or 5 offensive boards (including in this game), but his increased efficacy on the defensive glass is bumping his impact up a notch.
I can’t close this out without mentioning how well Mitch handled pick-and-roll defense. Trae Young is incredibly crafty and Mitch frequently had to from Young while denying the pass to a roll man. Robinson did a fantastic job of controlling that space between the ball-handler and the screener, even when he was visibly breathing hard from defending there frequently. Robinson gets a 4 out of 5, because I need to stress that his impact was as important as any of New York’s best scorers.
Knicks’ second unit’s least and most experienced players lead the way
Immanuel Quickley: 3 PTS (1/6 FG, 1/3 3PT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 2 TO in 20 mins
The slump continues for Immanuel Quickley. Quickley knocked down an early shot from long range and immediately looked to get himself going with another attempt. The shot rimmed out and that became the theme of his night. IQ would get some separation, fire off a shot in space, and it would get three-quarters of the way down before refusing to go in like a Happy Gilmore putt.
This is the first game where poor shooting seemed to bleed into IQ’s ability to create for others. He couldn’t establish enough of a threat to force defenders to close gaps on him. That meant Quickley would dribble into and through the lane, without managing to free anyone up. He’d reset up top or have to force a shot once options and clock dried up.
It wasn’t all bad though. Quickley was a pesky defender that managed to grab plenty of rebounds despite his diminutive side. That said, he even slipped a little defensively with Clyde begging him to stop going for head fakes (Gallo pump-faked him twice in one possession). The good news is that IQ found some ways to be productive and earn his minutes, but he was barely hanging on in this one. Quickley gets a 1.5 out of 5 for lack of offensive impact.
Quentin Grimes: 8 PTS (3/3 FG, 2/2 3PT), 1 AST, 1 REB in 16 mins
For a rookie getting limited minutes and touches, Quentin Grimes really makes the most of his opportunities. The youngster will always have a role thanks to his aggressive defensive play. He found himself picking up a couple of bad contact fouls, but that was the nature of this game’s officiating. Grimes was more often visibly cutting off a ball handler or erasing a passing option by shooting into the lane. His rotations are as crisp as vets.
Of course, there’s also the perfect 3 for 3 from the field to talk about. Grimes turned three shot attempts into 8 points. One of those was an open baseline three, basic as they come. But the next three came from far out with a closing defender nearby. His midrange make might have been even more impressive as he picked up a loose ball and instantly got into form to knock the shot.
Grimes only got 16 minutes to produce, and he fully capitalized. The rookie was a terror on defense and made every shot he got the chance to take. His quick release creates shots where they otherwise shouldn’t be available. The kid has potential well beyond a typical three and D role. He has stopper potential with an ability to get his shot off that goes beyond simple catch-and-shoot play. Grimes gets a 2.5 for great numbers in limited minutes.
Obi Toppin: 1 AST in 11 mins
Quentin Grimes’ success presents a nice contrast to the struggling Obi Toppin. Toppin doesn’t have a point guard to create openings and his production has fallen off a cliff. He’s not getting many minutes and never has his number called on plays. But Obi’s not doing himself any favors. He’s not getting to loose balls, a negative on the glass recently, and even his trademark of outrunning opposing bigs in transition has faded out.
To his credit, Toppin did have a nice pass out of the post for his one dime. He also should have picked up two points, but IQ mistimed his lob. Toppin’s gravity still created space for a follow-up on the offensive rebound by Taj Gibson. But that broken play defines Obi’s limited time…missed opportunities.
Taj Gibson: 7 PTS (3/4 FG, 0/1 3PT, 1/2 FT), 3 REB in 17 mins
Nerlens Noel was out again due to knee issues. But it was no harm, no foul because Taj Gibson came in and quickly poured in some buckets. The big vet had a big first-half run, producing inside and adding punch to the second unit. When his offense faded for the second half, the second unit seemed to flounder and lose momentum.
But Gibson himself wasn’t the problem. The big man did a good job against a Hawks’ size on the interior, clearing things out for guards to chase the rebounds. He did a respectable job of holding down the fort while Mitchell Robinson caught his breath. The only issue is that Taj had far more success in the first half compared to the second where his only attempt was a three-pointer at the top of the break.
Taj was solid. It was a workman-like performance which we’ve become accustomed to over the big man’s two years in blue and orange. He started with a serious spark that helped the bench keep pressure on. When his production dipped, the second unit struggled. Nerlens Noel keeps that group afloat with defense, Taj has to add points or create second-chances to do the same. Gibson gets a 2 out of 5 for a solid night as the backup center.
It’s all starting to work with a new weapon to try and fit in
Tom Thibodeau:
Tom Thibodeau’s job was trickier than I’ve made it sound by speaking about New York controlling most of the game. His depleted second-unit struggled late and gave up a big run led by Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari. That forced Thibs to make multiple substitutions to wrest control back when Atlanta was on the brink of a comeback. The big move? Thibodeau actually let Evan Fournier see some fourth-quarter minutes and the French wing responded with two big buckets.
There’s nothing for me to nitpick about Thibodeau’s decision-making this time. I still wish Obi would get some play calls, but the rookie hasn’t been earning his touches recently. Grimes might have used another 5 minutes well but the margin for error in this game dropped late. Thibs got his key players the breaks that they needed and shepherded the victory.
The bench needs some firepower, but everything seems like it’s coming together over the past couple of weeks. New York’s defense finally looks organized and sharp. The injury-prone vets might not be reliable to bolster the bench, but here comes Cam Reddish to both help and complicate the rotation. Thibodeau seems to have finally found balance for his starters though, and that’s a huge step for a team that wants to be more than a play-in opponent. Thibs gets a 3 out of 5 for clutch substitutions.
Closing Thoughts
The Knicks’ are rolling right now, riding big streaks from RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson. Those two young players look like they’re turning the corner. It’s easy to forget how young those guys are because they’re two of the longest-tenured Knicks at this point. But they’ve always had it in them to take leaps and their inconsistency thus far is a common plight of the young promising player.
The scary part is that they’ve both had runs like this before and been derailed by injury, health protocols, or inexplicable slips in play…but that’s how young guys develop. You look for flashes, then watch as the flashes become sustained for longer and longer. The leap comes when the flash becomes the norm.
That brings me to Cam Reddish. He’s young, has flashed incredible upside, but has struggled more than he’s produced. If Robinson and Barrett’s success teaches us anything, it should be to not give up on a player that shows flashes but struggles. Yes, a raw talent might not work out in the way that Frank Ntilikina or Kevin Knox didn’t. But they may need time and lessons to find their ways like RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson are showing us right now.
The Charlotte Hornets are up next and they’ve been rolling recently. They won 4 in a row before losing the Orlando Magic. That makes this rough timing as the Hornets will be pressed to avoid a losing streak and hungry to maintain their spot in the standings. A New York victory would be another statement and it would also bring the Knicks into a tie with Charlotte. This is a dynamic challenge for New York’s improved defense and I’m looking forward to evaluating how they hold.
See you then Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out JD’s analysis and fan reactions of the Cam Reddish trade!
