The New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 104-102. A complete team effort with the veterans closing out and the youth packing a punch.
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The New York Knicks got off to a fast start, then held on for dear life against the Detroit Pistons, winning 104-102. The team effort included six players in double-digits and four players with 18 or more points while no one scored more than 21. The Knicks led by 12 points after the first quarter, but Detroit chipped away for the rest of the game. Ball movement wasn’t always crisp, but there were spells of smart passing and clutch shooting.
It was the veterans’ turn to come up with big plays in the clutch after the young guys propelled the team in recent wins. Julius Randle returned and closed with a clutch assist, while Alec Burks and Evan Fournier hit shots at the right moments. New York’s youth contributed as well with RJ and IQ continuing to take on leadership roles. This wasn’t a pretty victory, but there were plenty of noteworthy moments. Let’s take a look at each player’s performance.
Burks comes through in the clutch for the Knicks’ starters
Alec Burks: 18 PTS (4/6 FG, 3/5 3PT, 7/8 FT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK in 33 mins
Making more with less has become a bit of a theme for Alec Burks. Julius Randle’s return pushed the Knicks’ starting backcourt in more off-ball possessions than ever. But Burks responded by knocking down his shots and getting to the free-throw line. Burks would turn six attempts into 18 points, and he saved his best moments for last.
The microwave scorer knocked down a corner three in the final minute of action to seal the victory. But his clutch plays to close involved more than scoring. Burks disrupted Cade Cunningham twice in the closing minutes of action, causing steals that led to points on both occasions. His final steal came almost directly after that clutch three-pointer. We got to see fourth-quarter Burks, but with a defensive twist.
Burks also gave us glimpses of his usual tertiary production. He came up with some rebounds in traffic and tracked a couple of long ones down. He only tallied a pair of assists but moved the ball freely all night. It was a strong all-around performance for Burks who has had a nice bounce-back in recent efforts. Burks picks up a 3.5 out of 5 as his impact score, carried by high efficiency and clutch plays.
Evan Fournier: 11 PTS (4/12 FG, 3/10 3PT), 4 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 27 mins
Evan Fournier’s numbers aren’t as pretty as Alec Burks’. But Fournier managed to produce in bursts by making field goals in pairs and adding some playmaking between the scoring. During a third-quarter dry spell that saw Detroit close the gap, Fournier knocked down threes from both corners to create some breathing room. His gravity would free up Burks for a third triple during that stint.
Fournier’s efficiency dipped because he missed shots that he usually hits. Julius Randle did a good job of picking Fournier out in particular, and the French wing often rewards those passes. But his shot was a bit off. He made up for that with playmaking as this marks the eighth game that Fournier adds four assists or more in his past nine played. He had four such games in the entire season prior to this run.
The shooting woes may have helped keep Fournier benched as the game wound down. His defense wasn’t holding up against Detroit, who often singled him out when Cade Cunningham or Saddiq Bey saw the opportunity to isolate. Pair the poor defense with shooting woes and this wasn’t a strong night for Fournier, but he did enough to keep it respectable. Fournier picks up a 2 out of 5 for production despite shooting struggles.
RJ Barrett: 21 PTS (7/18 FG, 1/5 3PT, 6/7 FT), 1 AST, 9 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 36 mins
Speaking of shooting woes, RJ Barrett couldn’t buy a three-pointer and that issue extended to the couple of midrange pull-ups that he tried. As a result, Barrett was left scrapping and crafting his way to finishes inside. The Pistons stacked the paint against the young star, but he would not be denied as he attacked the middle on nearly every touch.
Barrett’s head down, aggressive drives meant less passing than usual. He was determined to score in traffic, but that left few opportunities to create for teammates. So Randle took over the creation off gravity, while Barrett focused on scoring. RJ tempered his performance by grabbing nine rebounds and pushing the pace.
I’d mark this performance in a similar manner to Fournier. Barrett had an obviously flawed game, especially compared to his recent run. But the young star also managed enough scoring and rebounding to maintain a solid contribution to his team. He made an abrupt shift from lead ball-handler to second-option and I wonder if that shifted his mindset a bit. Barrett closes with a 2.5 out of 5 on impact for a 20 and 9 performance that needs efficiency and playmaking to feel complete.
Julius Randle: 20 PTS (7/18 FG, 2/5 3PT, 4/8 FT), 5 AST, 7 REB, 2 STL, 2 TO in 31 mins
Julius Randle returned and I knew ahead of time that this would be controversial. The team is fresh off some season-high assist numbers without their star, and Randle was always going to take over some of the offense. His jumper still hasn’t come close to last season’s form, which meant inefficient scoring whenever he settled. But I did see some signs of improvement that were noteworthy.
Randle used his gravity to free up teammates well. Detroit sent quick doubles his way, and he had bursts of sharp passing. In the third quarter, he didn’t press for his own scoring but fed his shooters on the wings. He made a similar read on a fourth-quarter dime to Burks that closed the game. The big man still had moments of pressing for offense or settling for jumpers, but he didn’t let things stagnate for long spells.
The question becomes whether he can take the positive and build on it or if he’ll revert to bad habits. There was a particularly frustrating second-quarter stretch in which Randle missed a lay-up, complained to the ref while his teammates stopped a fast break, then missed another lay-up after being ahead of the pack from complaining in the first place. He continued to jaw at the ref which meant another odd-man rush for Detroit and a dunk. Those are the moments that drive fans crazy. Randle picks up a 3 out of 5 for taking steps in the right direction overall.
Mitchell Robinson: 4 PTS (1/3 FG, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 9 REB, 1 STL, 5 BLK, 2 TO in 29 mins
Mitchell Robinson had to fight in the middle throughout this game. His big man numbers are solid with nine boards and five blocks leading the way. But those numbers don’t tell you about all the times he boxed Isaiah Stewart out so teammates could grab boards. Robinson and Stewart were tangled up, pushing, and battling in a match-up that made me recall old-school Knicks games.
The best part about the physicality inside is how Mitch responded. He never shrunk or gave up ground. Robinson had good position and bumped Stewart off the path of rebounds. He held his ground defensively to block shots and maintain rim protection. The refs let both teams play physical basketball and our big shot blocker embraced the situation.
Robinson’s scoring took a hit thanks to that physicality. He could argue for more free throws even despite limited attempts from the field. But low scoring is his only blemish unless you’ll blame him for letting Stewart fire threes. Stewart is an abysmal shooter normally, so I’m giving Mitch a pass on that. Robinson gets a 3 out of 5 for his battles under the glass.
Immanuel Quickley continues to lead New York’s second unit
Immanuel Quickley: 18 PTS (6/15 FG, 4/9 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 6 REB, 3 TO in 31 mins
It felt like Immanuel Quickley was going to have a bigger game than this. That’s not to take away from another 18 points to go with three assists and six boards, but IQ had nine points with a trio of early three-pointers. Those quick hits made him seem poised for an explosive night that came back to the median of his recent performances.
But IQ’s median has risen to a really strong place. He may have struggled to knock down jumpers after the early streak, but he still managed to give Detroit headaches. The diminutive guard dribbled into space and knocked down a couple of difficult floaters. I think the increased physicality hurt his scoring inside the arc, but it didn’t completely shut him down.
I find it interesting that both IQ and RJ saw their playmaking dip when passes to the roll man were taken away. The refs don’t normally allow as much contact as we saw in the middle and I think that shows the most in those two young up and comers. IQ couldn’t create as many assists with lobs over the top and he wasn’t as efficient inside. But he still managed a strong game because he’s been performing near Sixth-man-of-the-year levels lately.
I’m cheating and adding a small bit here about a clip that’s gone around Knicks’ Twitter. It shows Quickley with the iPad out, going over a replay flanked by Jericho Sims, Deuce McBride, and Obi Toppin. Our sophomore scorer has grown into a leader in Derrick Rose’s absence. IQ gets a 3 out of 5 for leading the second unit and closing with the starters.
Miles McBride: 0 PTS (0/6 FG, 0/5 3PT), 3 REB in 17 mins
Miles McBride had a tough game offensively. His good looks weren’t falling and he had to hoist up a couple of bad ones thanks to receiving passes late in the shot-clock. But make sure to note that he was relegated to spot-up shooter for most of the action. We got some glimpses of McBride running plays in the prior two games but that didn’t happen much here.
Deuce still held down seventeen minutes of action thanks to his defensive play. The Knicks were short-handed and McBride needed to find ways to contribute. His go-to contribution was intact as he pressured ball-handlers the length of the court. He didn’t add to the scoreboard but he harassed scorers on the opposite side.
The scary part of games like this is that I can picture Thibodeau using them to justify a benching. Sure the play-in game is all but out of reach, but Grimes will be back and I have doubts that Burks or Fournier will lose time. For what it’s worth, I think McBride held his own considering a severely limited offensive role and some damned good defense. McBride gets a 1.5 out of 5 for his effort off the bench.
Obi Toppin: 10 PTS (4/6 FG, 0/2 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK in 17 mins
With Julius Randle back, Obi Toppin was relegated to a secondary role again. He still managed to create some easy points by beating defenders down court for a pair of transitions. His three-point shot was off again, so Obi’s scoring went back to dunks and lay-ups inside. A couple of crafty explosive steps can get highlight-reel results for the big man.
Even in limited minutes, Obi gave us glimpses at how he can help produce easy points. From fast breaks to backdoor cuts, he was able to add ten efficient points without his jumper. The sophomore also flashed his passing skills with a pair of assists off simple actions within the offense. He’s one of the few players on the roster that truly produces without needing many touches.
Toppin’s defense deserves a shout too. He barely broke the fifteen-minute mark but managed a steal and a block in his limited time. His one chance to defend Cade Cunningham in isolation ended with a contested miss. It feels like Toppin has more to show us, but the roster construction and coach make that hard to say with any certainty. Obi gets a 2.5 out of 5 for producing a lot in a short time.
Jericho Sims: 2 PTS (1/1 FG), 1 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 19 mins
Jericho Sims didn’t get many opportunities inside like every other Knick big man. But he still made his mark just by fighting for position and giving New York control of the paint. I mentioned Mitchell Robinson battling with Isaiah Stewart and holding his own, that goes doubly for Sims.
Sims’ strength and agility helped him be an even more effective rebounder than Mitch. Robinson often had his hands’ full clearing space for others. But Sims managed to bump Stewart and others off while taking the boards for himself. In ten fewer minutes of action, he grabbed just one less board than Mitch. Sims has the power and movement to win position-battles with almost anyone.
New York’s big rookie is showing promise on a nightly basis. He protected the rim well and has settled in as a rebounder. Sims clearly needs polish, but he has an eye-opening upside. Even the way he grabbed some defensive boards and dribbled out of traffic to find runners was impressive. He’s a unique big man and I’m excited to see what offseason development can mold him into. Sims gets a 2 out of 5 for strong play but with limited time.
Thibodeau goes back to his vets, and the move pays off this time
Tom Thibodeau:
I can’t be too hard on Tom Thibodeau for trusting his vets this time. He kept Quickley out there to close but pulled McBride who wasn’t hitting shots. Randle got in over Obi and made a clutch assist when we’re accustomed to him forcing his own shots. Burks made game-closing plays that were crucial. I want to see the young guys, but Thibodeau stuck to his guns and eked out a win.
There are some wrinkles that I’d have liked to see though. I wanted Obi to be featured more with the second unit because he showed us intriguing skills with the starters. I’d have also liked to see Miles McBride run some sets as point-guard instead of playing for catch-and-shoot opportunities all night. I think the youth had more to give, but we can only speculate.
That gets to both the issue with Thibodeau and the reason he’s successful. Thibs is consistent to a fault. His players know what to expect and so does his opposition. Simply by passing instead of ramming into traffic, Julius Randle made the closing minutes slightly less predictable. Thibodeau gets credit for trusting his vets this time, but we’ve seen that strategy backfire more often than it works this year. Thibodeau gets a 2.5 out of 5 for barely beating a tanking opponent.
Closing Thoughts
Rather than rehash drama over the starters or vets vs youngsters, I’d like to pose a question. How much of a difference do you think Derrick Rose would have made for this team? Rose has missed 49 of the Knicks’ 75 and they’re sitting four games out of the play-in. How many times has this team folded late either by losing composure or running out of steam? They’d have to be ten games better to avoid the play-in, so I’m not going to reach that far, but I think they’d firmly be around that seven, eight, nine section.
I wonder what the narratives of the season would be in that case. Would Obi Toppin look much better since his chemistry with Rose was electric? Would the play-in Knicks have a record that took some pressure off Randle and kept Burks playing a role he’s more attuned to? On the other side of this is the question of how Rose’s presence might have kept Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett from snatching leadership roles from the void. Injuries can truly change the perception of a season and the trajectory of a roster.
But please don’t misconstrue this as excusing the front office, the coach, or the players. This team shouldn’t be so reliant on one piece that it falls apart so easily. There’s a lack of creativity pervasive throughout the organization as we beg for a starting point guard for the umpteenth straight season. I’m just staring at the play-in standings and the Tankathon race and thinking that “what-ifs” are just as useful to toy with.
The Chicago Bulls are next in a game that seems unfair. New York is returning from a three-game road trip with no chance to rest or recover. But they’ve played themselves into a hole and now they desperately need every win. We’ll see if they can avoid fatigue and overcome a top-five opponent after the next one. I’ll 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 the panels analysis and the fan’s reactions to the Knicks win over the Miami Heat.
