The New York Knicks crushed the Detroit Pistons 117-96. The Jalen Brunson era has begun and it looks promising.
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The New York Knicks started the preseason with a 117 to 96 drubbing of the Detroit Pistons. What a difference a point guard makes, as Jalen Brunson helped make New York’s offense look easy for the starters. The bench was its usual dominant self. That combination left New York with a thirty-point cushion and some extended minutes for the third-string hopefuls.
This is just one preseason game, so everything is a flash of potential right now. But let’s look at the attributes that stood out from the performances of the key players in this victory.
Cohesive and efficient play marks New York’s starting unit:
Jalen Brunson: 16 PTS (7/9 FG, 2/4 3PT), 5 AST, 1 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 20 mins
While I’d like to avoid any major preseason proclamations, I think it’s safe to say New York has its point guard for the foreseeable future. Jalen Brunson took command of the offense, and everyone looked better for it. He distributed the touches well, controlled the pace of play, and scored whenever New York needed some momentum.
What stood out the most was Brunson’s impact on everyone else. We didn’t see RJ force shots late in the clock or Randle dribble in place for entirely too long. Instead, Barrett scored efficiently, Randle didn’t turn the ball over, and everyone seemed to trust New York’s new point guard. If this isn’t a preseason mirage, then everyone will be better because of Jalen Brunson’s presence in the line-up.
RJ Barrett: 21 PTS (8/14 FG, 3/5 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 23 mins
It took a few early misses for RJ Barrett to get going, but no one could stop him once he gained momentum. We’re watching RJ for consistency this season. Can he continue his momentum from the second half of last season? He’s off to an excellent start.
It’s worth noting that RJ didn’t look to take over until a third-quarter stint with the young second unit. He took the lead with that crew and turned an already decent night into an impressive performance. We’ll have to keep an eye on his efficiency and jumper moving forward, but the first returns are promising to say the least.
Evan Fournier: 5 PTS (1/3 FG, 1/2 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 18 mins
Evan Fournier’s best defensive performances last season came down to playing passing lanes and being a help defender. He had a similarly effective game in the passing lanes during this one. There are questions about a Brunson/Fournier tandem’s ability to defend, but they can keep their heads above water if Fournier is focused and working as he did against Detroit.
Not much else stood out as new. But we saw some signature Fournier in a quick three to start the game and a lob to Mitchell Robinson later. He played a solid complementary role to the rest of the scorers.
Julius Randle: 15 PTS (6/10 FG, 2/4 3PT, 1/2 FT), 4 AST, 6 REB in 18 mins
Many of my favorite aspects of Julius Randle’s performance aren’t showing in his stat line. He got into his defensive assignments, didn’t force shots, and did most of his damage on the interior. His production was excellent, but the fact that he fit and flowed with everything New York was aiming for matters even more.
Randle’s production really was impressive, though. Julius got his share of isolations, powering inside on face and post-ups alike. He proved to be a willing passer when defenders doubled. And for most of the time, his decision-making felt faster than usual. We’ll have to see how it sticks, but this is a version of Randle that I believe every Knicks fan could live with on the roster.
Mitchell Robinson: 6 PTS (3/3 FG), 4 REB, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 1 TO in 18 mins
Mitchell Robinson started the game with a steal and a coast-to-coast dunk. He followed that with an emphatic block of Jaden Ivey. That set the tone for Robinson’s defensive impact on the night. A simple rotation from Robinson was enough to cause a couple of turnovers from would-be slashers like Bogdanovic.
Mitch didn’t reinvent the wheel with his play. But he did appear to be in great shape. The big man got all over the floor and never looked particularly tired. Robinson will have his work cut out on the glass and defense, but he seems prepared for the job.
The Knicks’ bench shows promise for another strong season:
Immanuel Quickley: 13 PTS (5/11 FG, 1/4 3PT, 2/4 FT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 3 STL, 1 TO in 20 mins
Immanuel Quickley looked visibly stronger and every bit as elusive as he’s always been. That combination saw IQ get into the lane and finish through contact repeatedly. He also flashed playmaking and vision with a few nice dimes to Obi Toppin and a beautiful pass to Cam Reddish in the corner. His combination of finishing inside and clever playmaking showed improvement in critical areas.
IQ also put together a solid defensive performance. He doesn’t get his due for the defender he’s become, but this was a greath example of his growth. The third-year Knick might be the sleeper for the most improved former draft pick on the roster if his finishing holds up…I hope his jumper isn’t as inconsistent as last year.
Miles McBride: 7 PTS (3/7 FG, 0/3 3PT, 1/2 FT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 6 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 23 mins
With a few players out and a big lead to work with, Deuce McBride got an extended look and made a strong impression. His defense was fantastic, evidenced by six steals that came mostly before garbage time. He didn’t do a ton in the half-court offense, but he never looked out of place, either.
McBride’s path to minutes is daunting or requires injuries, but he’s got the tools to become an impact player. He’ll make it much easier for Thibodeau to rest Rose when needed. The sophomore might even snag some extra minutes as a defensive sub against hot hands.
Obi Toppin: 8 PTS (4/9 FG, 0/4 3PT), 3 AST, 6 REB in 22 mins
Although his jumper still looks like a work in progress, Obi Toppin showed improvement in one key area. His rebounding was strong, with good positioning and box outs as shots went up. That’s an important piece for his development. Besides that, we got the best traits of Obi from last season but not much new.
Toppin’s motor, dunks, and passing were displayed in this first preseason game. They’re not new attributes but friendly reminders of how he became a fan favorite.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 8 PTS (3/5 FG, 2/3 3PT), 1 AST, 7 REB, 2 STL, 2 TO in 27 mins
New York is gonna like Isaiah Hartenstein. He protected the interior and chased after boards with energy throughout his minutes. The big man hit a pair of three-pointers in quick succession to display the new dimension he’ll add to the offense. Stack his motor, defensive play, and spacing ability together for a player New Yorkers will appreciate.
I think the Robinson/Hartenstein tandem could become a real treat for fans and a nightmare for opponents. It’s not just their size or intimidating play; both guys have endless motors. Teams won’t get breaks from energetic 7-footers flying around the court.
Derrick Rose: 3 PTS (1/2 FG, 1/1 3PT), 1 AST, 1 REB in 6 mins
I want to note that Derrick Rose looked healthy and prepared to be the same impact player we’ve had since Leon Rose traded for him. It’s good to see Rose back.
Cam Reddish: 3 PTS (1/6 FG, 1/3 3PT), 1 AST, 1 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 11 mins
Cam got off to a promising start with a nice three and then a beautiful two-man fast break with RJ Barrett. But he also took some bad shots and left early with a sprained ankle. So the Reddish situation continues to be defined by flashes of potential hampered by injuries. Hopefully, we get a better look before the preseason ends.
An easy night for Tom Thibodeau:
I hope not to have too much to say about coaching during the preseason, but kudos to Tom Thibodeau for getting plenty of minutes to everyone we wanted to see. I’m not sure if it was the nature of preseason or planned, but he gave RJ Barrett a nice spotlight in the third and called a few clearouts to keep Julius Randle fed and happy with isolation opportunities. Then he let his bench get extra work in, thanks to a comfortable lead.
Thibs had been under a microscope for every comment he makes since preseason began, but this was a fine reminder that he’s got a pretty good grasp on things.
Closing thoughts
Knicks basketball is back, and I can’t tell you how happy I am. There was a strange frustration that snuck through a lot of this off-season. It started based on the struggles from last year but continued into the failed trade talks for Jaden Ivey and later Donovan Mitchell. Fans lost trust in critical figures from Leon Rose to Tom Thibodeau to Julius Randle.
Then the Knicks tipped off, and all of that other stuff went away. Instead, we were cheering a team that looks promising and is loaded with young talent. It was a great reminder that as much as we focus on the bad news, there was plenty to like about this offseason. That starts with Jalen Brunson, continues with Hartenstein, and concludes with the end of the Charlie Ward curse.
We can dissect interviews and rumors until we’re blue in the face. None of that matters if the New York Knicks are winning basketball games. It’s better to argue about which young player has taken the biggest leap than which to include in a trade. We have basketball back, and it might only be preseason, but it’s exciting to realize that there’s plenty of upside and hope for this team.
Preseason continues on Friday with Indiana, and I’ll be here to note all the developments. I’ll see you after the next one, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out the latest Knicks Weekly, where Tommy Beer joins CP and Alex to discuss season expectations!
