The New York Knicks defeat the LA Clippers 110-102. The Knicks’ offense showed up as we saw greater improvement from RJ Barrett.
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The New York Knicks snapped a three game losing streak with an emphatic victory over the Los Angeles Clippers 110 to 102. New York’s offense was clicking (the just missed breaking their season record for scoring in a quarter with 39 points in the first), but the Clippers stuck around to keep things interesting throughout. The Knicks were coming off some terrible nights from three and at the free-throw line but rectified both issues in time for this victory. Despite some lulls and slip-ups throughout the game, the score is closer than this win ever truly felt.
RJ Barrett continued his ascent as a focal point for the offense, while Julius Randle took steps in the right direction with a few mistakes that still need work. Immanuel Quickley ran the offense brilliantly off the bench and Nerlens Noel’s return couldn’t have returned at a better time. The Knicks got a desperately needed win as a tough road trip approaches. Let’s see what developments might help them keep winning and which habits still need work.
Young players taking leaps for the Knicks’ starters
Alec Burks: 10 PTS (3/7 FG, 2/5 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 30 mins
Nobody sees role changes more often than Alec Burks. The microwave wing off the bench returned to the starting point-guard role in Kemba Walker’s absence. Burks lent a steady hand to the starting line-up, capitalizing when he got space while letting other ball handlers run most of the offense. He didn’t leave much to complain about offensively, although we’ve seen better performances when he’s more assertive.
Burks struggled to stay in front of Reggie Jackson on the defensive end. Jackson was blazing hot, knocking down some deep threes that expanded his threat well beyond the arc. Burks couldn’t get over the screens on time and was often beaten off the dribble. But Jackson played the kind of game that makes you wonder if anyone could keep him off the scoreboard, in Burks’ defense.
Burks put together a positive performance, but one that failed to stand out. His comfort off the ball allowed the offense to run through Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. But that meant fewer opportunities for Burks to get himself going. The end result is a respectable effort, but not much more. Burks grabs a 2 out of 5 for nice offense mixed with defensive struggles.
Evan Fournier: 14 PTS (5/12 FG, 4/8 3PT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 28 mins
Evan Fournier’s three-point threat was an ever-present nightmare for the Clippers’ defense. He frequently moved along the perimeter and through screens to get barely defended jump shots off at range. The French wing struggled on most of his trips inside the arc but it hardly mattered because he frequently knocked down timely shots without having to dribble.
Fournier’s shooting was always a good bet to come around. His effort everywhere else is a bigger story. Fournier is hustling toward loose balls and rotating to help defend scorers with more and more frequency. He looks more comfortable making rotations, although he still picks up some bad fouls along the way. The free-agent acquisition won’t ever be a stopper, but he’s doing enough to deserve a shout-out.
As RJ Barrett ascends and Julius Randle finds his offense, Evan Fournier’s touches might see a reduction but his efficiency could get a boost. His 4 of 8 shooting from the arc is perfectly in line with the types of looks he earned with simple cuts around the perimeter. He’s in a good position to pick up the slack if other scorers struggle, or simply take the open looks that other ball handlers’ gravity can afford him. Fournier gets a 2.5 out of 5 for a nice start.
RJ Barrett: 28 PTS (9/24 FG, 3/5 3PT, 7/7 FT), 6 AST, 14 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 43 mins
RJ Barrett looks more and more like a player on the cusp of a third-year leap. He bookended this game with some struggles to finish inside, but his aggression paid off. Barrett frequently turned defensive rebounds into transition buckets and was able to bolster his efficiency with good shooting from three and at the line.
Barrett’s night would have been far more efficient without a series of near-misses late in the game. Note that he played 43 minutes, and it’s entirely possible that fatigue was the biggest issue there. Even on RJ’s missed attempts, his gravity forced bigs to rotate and created second-chance scoring opportunities for others. When he’s finishing consistently inside, the leap will be complete (assuming his jumper doesn’t pull another vanishing act).
RJ’s 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists are exactly as good as those raw numbers sound. He didn’t shoot a high percentage from the field, but that efficiency slipped as he got closer to 40 minutes of action. The third-year youth has quiet confidence carrying his game right now and elevating teammates around him. Barrett has had nice runs before, but this time he feels like a genuine leader rather than an up-and-comer. Barrett picks up a 4.5 out of 5 for leading the team to this victory.
Julius Randle: 24 PTS (8/15, 3/7 3PT, 5/6 FT), 5 AST, 9 REB, 7 TO in 40 mins
Speaking of leaders, Julius Randle put together a high-scoring effort on fantastic efficiency from the field. He started the game by knocking down some jumpers, but while he sometimes can begin to settle after a few made shots, Randle put more effort into a versatile attack. The best development was that teammates found Randle on cuts going to the basket more often, allowing him to attack with momentum.
We have to discuss the turnovers though. Randle saw his share of double-teams throughout the game. Randle picked up a few hockey assists on the occasions that he spotted the double and made a quick swing pass to the next man. But more often than not, Randle would wait too long or try to squeeze the pass-through traffic. He has to consistently take the simple option and trust his teammates to complete the play.
On the bright side, this was still a step in the right direction. Randle didn’t force many bad shots and played smart basketball most of the way through. Even his turnovers came from being overzealous but trying to do the right thing. He’s still not dominant as last year, but Randle made a nice contribution to this victory as 1b to RJ’s 1a. Randle gets a 3.5 out of 5 for his impact.
Mitchell Robinson: 8 PTS (3/6 FG, 2/4 FT), 2 AST, 8 REB in 16 mins
Mitchell Robinson was on the verge of another big game, but he landed on Luke Kennard’s foot which ended his night early. While Mitch was healthy, he was a force. The big man cleaned up the offensive boards, turning airballs into free assists for the shooters. He cleaned the glass at both ends and demanded attention on every trip into the middle.
Mitch had his hands full on the defensive end. Ivica Zubac has a throwback post-game and got the best of Robinson on a few occasions. At times it was just a matter of good defense facing better offense as Zubac knocked down quick hook shots over Robinson’s outstretched hands. But Mitch also jumped at too many head fakes and gave up positions too close to the basket.
Despite the tough battle in the post, Mitch continued to look like one of New York’s best players until his injury. RJ Barrett is stealing the headlines, but Robinson’s recent play is bordering on a leap of his own. He was averaging 12 and 9 since the new year started and was en route to a comfortable double-double in this game. The injury derails a lot of promising growth for Mitch, but hopefully, he’ll be good to go soon…the Cavs are a huge team, so we could use him. Robinson grabs a 2.5 out of 5 despite an incomplete night.
Nerlens Noel is back and Immanuel Quickley is dealing for the Knicks bench
Immanuel Quickley: 8 PTS (3/8 FG, 2/3 3PT), 6 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL in 18 mins
Immanuel Quickley’s playmaking was on display throughout his time against the Clippers. It helped that IQ hit a three-pointer early and would do just enough scoring to keep defenders off-balance. That helped him to get to his spots on the floor and feed others, including a well-timed feed to a cutting Julius Randle for a dunk.
Quickley’s defense fits well with Grimes, Reddish, and Noel. That group only got five minutes, but their defense was aggressive and fun to watch. IQ was aggressive to a fault at times, picking up some cheap contact fouls on Reggie Jackson. That match-up gave the sophomore fits early on and I wonder if it played a role in Quickley having a short hook on the night.
IQ looked the part of a playmaking point guard. He made good reads, knew when to attack, and let his ball-handling create openings for cutters and shooters. His playmaking always takes a leap when his jumper forces defenders to play him close. He’s still developing consistency, but the sophomore is clearly moving in the right direction. Quickley gets a 3 off the bench for piling on the numbers in a brief amount of time.
Quentin Grimes: 6 PTS (2/10 FG, 2/6 3PT), 2 REB, 1 TO in 20 mins
Quentin Grimes’ defense was so good that I didn’t realize he missed so many shots. Grimes was clearly struggling with his shot a bit, needing more space than usual to hit. But his shot selection wasn’t bad, with a couple of tougher shots coming off rebounds and broken plays. The rookie’s confidence is a strong point and he didn’t hesitate when he was open, even though the results were mixed.
Grimes got 20 minutes despite shooting poorly because his defense and effort were just that good. He especially stood out when defending the point of attack. He’s as physical as a defender can get without being whistled. His help defense is on par with his on-ball defense and gives the whole team a defensive boost. The pace of the game feels different because Grimes’ pressure forces opponents to rush.
The rookie has clearly endeared himself to Tom Thibodeau. We complain about Obi Toppin’s minutes or some other young player, meanwhile, Grimes is getting key minutes despite shooting miserably. His stat-line is completely unimpressive and yet his eye test offers ample explanation. Grimes is the Knicks’ best perimeter defender virtually every night out. The rookie gets a 2 out of 5 for a solid contribution from his second-unit role.
Cam Reddish: 2 PTS (1/2 FG, 0/1 3PT), 2 REB in 5 mins
The Cam Reddish era in New York began with five minutes. He grabbed a defensive rebound, took it the length of the court, and beat his man for a reverse layup. Cam’s ball-denial was equally impressive, with his length visibly deterring players from risking passes when Reddish approached the lane. It was barely a glimpse of the newest Knick, but his size and fluidity already showed some promise.
Obi Toppin: 2 PTS (1/2 FG, 0/1 3PT), 1 AST, 1 BLK in 8 mins
I’ll be a broken record with this one…Obi Toppin’s play didn’t warrant the quick hooks that he got in this game. He had a highlight-reel dunk on a fast break, and an impressive block right before he was benched for the final time. Obi’s only blemish was a badly missed three-point attempt at the top of the break. I’m not even sure a perfect performance would have kept Tom Thibodeau from going right back to Randle anyway.
Nerlens Noel: 8 PTS (4/5 FG), 7 REB, 3 STL, 1BLK, 1 TO in 26 mins
For his first play returning from injury, Nerlens Noel poked a ball loose and dove to complete the steal. Noel would continue to play the role of disruptor throughout his night on the floor. The shot-blocker wound up with more minutes than expected thanks to Mitchell Robinson’s ankle. Noel used those extra minutes to poke balls loose and challenge players at the rim, blocking Reggie Jackson emphatically at one point.
Noel always brings defense to the table, but his offense was a pleasant surprise. The big man knocked down a couple of shots from further out than we’re used to seeing. On multiple occasions, he was patient and used his dribble to get an open look. These weren’t complicated bits of execution, but go above and beyond Noel’s typical catch and finish approach.
New York seems cursed to never have both of its regular centers healthy. But Noel returned at the perfect time to cover for Mitchell Robinson. Noel’s presence was a pleasant reminder that he can boost the defense, especially when he’s paired with Grimes defending the point of attack. Noel picks a 2.5 out of 5 for stepping up in his first game back from injury.
Taj Gibson: 1 REB in 6 mins
Taj Gibson hit the floor after Mitchell Robinson left with an ankle injury. I mean that Taj literally hit the floor. He made a nice attempt at a block and wound up landing awkwardly on his arm. The big man shook it off and provided a few solid to give Nerlens Noel a breather. His six minutes were uneventful, but that’s not such a bad thing under these circumstances.
Securing the first win in a back-to-back with Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau:
Two Knicks broke the 40-minute mark for Tom Thibodeau to ensure a victory in the first game of a back-to-back. I mention this because the starters pushed 40 minutes last week, and came out with no legs against the Pelicans a day later. But this time the big minutes helped secure a win and break a losing streak. It’s hard to blame Thibs for locking up a win with a tougher game approaching the next day.
As far as key decisions in this match-up, I didn’t see many. The Knicks had a comfortable lead for most of the action, which meant most choices just aimed to maintain momentum. He trusted Fournier in the fourth quarter and was rewarded with a three after the wing subbed in. Thibs found a few minutes to get Cam Reddish a look which was nice. But none of his choices seemed crucial to securing the win because New York outplayed LA for most of the night without needing any help.
The real question will be whether RJ Barrett and Julius Randle can follow 20-point performances with similar performances a night later. The Knicks shot 24 percent from three against the Pelicans on tired legs, they can’t afford to shoot that poorly when the Cavs’ size makes the interior a nightmare. Thibodeau gets a 3 out of 5 for putting together a solid win, but it may lead to tougher decisions tonight.
Closing Thoughts
Thank God for that win, because ever since thumbs down-gate, it feels like this team is on the verge of real issues. Even during the win against LA, some tweets from beat writers mentioned Julius Randle’s bizarre behavior during a time out. We make mountains out of molehills (and thumbs downs) in NYC, but losses can turn frustration into locker room issues. Compiling some wins would go a long way to helping everyone appreciate the emerging story since New Year’s Eve.
The story of the 2022 Knicks is youth taking clear and visible steps forward. RJ Barrett might be making his leap right now. Mitchell Robinson and Immanuel Quickley aren’t far behind, showing growth in key areas of their games. Quentin Grimes has played himself into a regular rotation role as well. We hone in Obi Toppin’s minutes or worry about finding Cam Reddish opportunities. But let’s not miss the fact that a number of prospects are stepping up at the same time.
Next up are the fifth-place Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. I’d like a word with the schedulers that set up New York two back-to-backs in close proximity and ended the four-game run against one of the biggest teams in the league. The Knicks have moved closer to a bruising, inside-out attack as RJ Barrett had become more assertive. That approach will face a serious test with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen patrolling inside.
We won’t have to wait long to see how it goes. Let’s see if the Knicks can overcome fatigue and start an unlikely win streak during a hellish week on the road. See you after the game 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, make sure to check out the analysis and fan reactions when the Knicks lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
