The New York Knicks fell to the Phoenix Suns 95-116. New York was competitive in the first half, but Phoenix went on a run to close the game.
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The New York Knicks collapsed against the Phoenix Suns, losing 95 to 116. The final score hides the fact that the game was tied deep in the third quarter. But it always felt like the Knicks were clinging to competitiveness while the Suns were waiting to go on a run. That’s because of familiar problems with the Knicks’ three-point defense and offensive efficiency.
The Knicks got a boost from their starting backcourt, with Jalen Brunson knocking down big shots and Quentin Grimes providing great defense against an elite player in Devin Booker. Derrick Rose played well but got hurt. Jericho Sims was strong but split his time with two other players. Contributions from everyone else were sparse.
New York lacked the firepower to keep up with an elite opponent, which has quickly become the norm for this team. Is there room for this roster to improve from within, or is it time to consider more extensive changes to avoid a plateau? Let’s take a closer look at the performances to help us decide.
The Knicks’ starting backcourt shows promise
Jalen Brunson: 27 PTS (11/21 FG, 2/4 3PT, 3/4 FT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 29 mins
Jalen Brunson kept New York competitive while his supporting cast lagged. Every time Phoenix made a run, Brunson came up with an answer. He scored nine straight points to push New York into a tie in the third quarter. The point guard played his typical offense, with clever moves inside and scattered jumpers mixed in.
The rest of Brunson’s game was muted, though I don’t blame him for the problems. He made plenty of nice passes to teammates that never found their jumpers. His defensive effort deserves recognition in recent games, even if the results have been mediocre.
But at the end of the day, Brunson can’t carry this team alone and doesn’t have help. Brunson picks up a 3.5 out of 5 for giving the Knicks a chance, although no one else took advantage.
Quentin Grimes: 10 PTS (4/10 FG, 1/5 3PT, 1/2 FT), 8 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 32 mins
Quentin Grimes began the game with an aggressive streak, firing away and attacking off the dribble. His jumper didn’t fall consistently, but his forays into the paint were rewarded with a mix of finishes and dimes. Grimes’ ability to dribble past and through defenders stood out above everything else.
The sophomore’s defense lived up to its reputation. He chased Devin Booker throughout the night, forcing the star player into tough shots and fewer opportunities to assist teammates. Booker’s production looks alright, but compare his numbers to season averages, and you’ll see just how significant Grimes’ impact was.
Grimes was the silver lining of this game. His playmaking was a welcome surprise next to the defense we’ve been waiting for all year. Now he has to get the jumper falling, and he can be a major impact player. Grimes nets a 3.5 out of 5 for his two-way play.
RJ Barrett: 12 PTS (3/11 FG, 1/3 3PT, 5/6 FT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 1 TO in 27 mins
RJ Barrett’s struggles are becoming more problematic with each game. He continued to shoot poorly and miss bunnies at an alarming rate. But, to Barrett’s credit, he forced fewer shots and continued a recent trend of patience under pressure — that led to some extra free throws and a couple of nice passes.
But the bright spots were hard to pick out amid the misses and ineffective play. Barrett’s inefficient shooting stood out, with nothing else to distract from it. He didn’t show extra defensive push, rebounding effort, or anything else that might make up for his inability to convert.
Barrett’s ten-game stretch of quality performances has been all but erased from memory. In the past five games, he’s scoring 13 points per game while shooting 26 percent from the field and 8 percent from three. But the poor shooting hasn’t stopped him from attempting 15 shots a game or playing 30 minutes a night during the struggle. As a result, he gets a 1 out of 5 for the performance, and that’s a step up compared to his recent awful play.
Sickness can only excuse him for so much.
Julius Randle: 9 PTS (4/11 FG, 1/4 3PT), 2 AST, 6 REB, 1 STL, 3 TO in 27 mins
Julius Randle managed to play worse than Barrett. His game lacked the aggressive leanings that made him a force in Denver. His jumper never fell, and he got back into the habit of pulling up in traffic with nowhere to go. Randle’s becoming more reliable for jump pass turnovers than three-pointers.
The big man showed sparks in the post or when he got deep into the defense. But he wasn’t willing to work off-ball for deep position.
That highlight shows Randle can make a bigger impact if he doesn’t settle on the perimeter. But the highlight that stood out most was a play in which he ignored Grimes’ clear call for a switch. Instead, Randle watched a player run free and take a wide-open shot, then Randle failed to box out and gave up a layup.
Those moments are defining Randle’s game. He can call team meetings and have a good performance once every five. But Knicks fans remember the poor effort on defense, lazy rotations, and selfish offense because the former All-Pro isn’t doing enough good to make us overlook the bad. He gets a 0.5 out of 5 for impact. Accountability should start with Randle and RJ.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 7 PTS (2/5 FG, 3/3 FT), 1 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 15 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein had a familiar start to this game, picking up two quick fouls and sitting out for most of the first half. He was pretty productive when he managed to stay on the floor, doing a bit of everything. But his effort didn’t cover for the team’s defensive struggles. He wound up in a three-way timeshare at center that sapped each big of considerable impact.
I’m giving Hart a 2 out of 5 for producing plenty with his limited time. We saw how he could be better utilized in the offense in garbage time. Hartenstein worked from the top of the key to create for others. He capped it off with a lovely pass to a cutting Deuce McBride.
New York’s second unit loses its point guard and falls apart
Derrick Rose: 7 PTS (3/5 FG, 1/2 3PT), 4 REB in 8 mins
Derrick Rose gave life to the bench, beating defenders off the dribble for a couple of nice finishes inside and hitting a three. But he left the game early with an injured toe. The bench never found its footing without him.
Rose only played 8 minutes but managed to be the second-leading scorer off the bench behind Miles McBride, who played a healthy dose of garbage time.
Immanuel Quickley: 6 PTS (1/6 FG, 0/2 3PT, 4/4 FT), 2 AST, 1 REB, 1 BLK in 28 mins
After Derrick Rose left the game, New York’s second unit needed a boost. Immanuel Quickley was the lead candidate to provide as much, but he failed to be the spark. Quickley struggled to score, marking his third poor shooting effort in a row.
IQ’s defense keeps him on the floor even during tough shooting nights. He provided quality defense again but didn’t add as much playmaking or rebounding as usual. That left him without much productivity to cover for his poor shooting. I’m not sure his defensive impact made up for the rest of his issues.
The Knicks need Quickley to find more offense. His defensive play is commendable, but he can’t keep shooting so poorly. Quick hasn’t put enough pressure on defenders off the dribble lately. If Derrick Rose misses any time, he’ll need to step up and find a balance between aggression and efficiency.
IQ gets a 1 out of 5 for his continued struggles.
Obi Toppin: 0 PTS (0/4 FG, 0/2 3PT), 1 AST, 3 REB in 16 mins
Obi Toppin missed a couple of bunnies and a couple of threes for the second straight game. He battled a bit on the boards, but this performance was as sluggish as I can remember. Toppin never got out in transition or beat opposing bigs down the floor.
Obi never got going in this game. His lack of difference-making is eye-opening after he seemed so promising to start the road trip. He only scores a 1 out of 5 for his impact, and I might be giving him more credit than he deserves for the silent night.
Mitchell Robinson: 2 PTS (1/2 FG), 4 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK in 17 mins
Mitchell Robinson returned to the Knicks and covered for Isaiah Hartenstein, who ran into fast foul trouble. Mitch picked up a couple of blocks and applied defensive pressure early. But he also looked a step slow, which got worse as he fatigued.
Robinson wasn’t terrible, but he didn’t look like himself. He seemed a step behind, and his aggression slowed as time passed. The big man wasn’t the same force we’re used to on the glass. He gets a 2 out of 5 for his impact on the game, but it’s a promising return despite some shortcomings.
Jericho Sims: 5 PTS (1/2 FG, 3/4 FT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 16 mins
Jericho Sims entered the game as a third-string center behind Hartenstein and Robinson. He was the most effective of the trio. Sims got after the ball and continually attacked inside the paint. He didn’t have any highlight reel dunks, but the big man earned multiple trips to the line.
Sims’ activity sparked plenty of production for just 16 minutes of action. He’s been the stand-out center for New York since the West coast trip began. He gets a 2.5 out of 5 for productivity and plenty of defensive impact in limited minutes.
Miles McBride: 9 PTS (4/6 FG, 1/2 3PT), 1 STL in 14 mins
Miles McBride showed off an ability that few of his Knick peers share. That’s an ability to knock down pull-up jumpers from midrange. McBride also added defensive pressure that led to missed shots and a steal. The game fell out of reach before he could get many meaningful touches, but he was a catalyst for a brief garbage time run.
McBride gets a 2.5 out of 5 for being one of the only players off the bench with a clear positive impact.
Tom Thibodeau can’t find a solution for the defense
Tom Thibodeau could coach a perfect game, and this team would probably still lose to the league’s upper echelons. But that doesn’t absolve him from some strange choices. He refuses to let go of a drop-heavy scheme that has consistently given up massive three-point games to opponents. He has tried every combination possible. It hasn’t worked.
Thibodeau also stretched the rotation again. He did so to get Mitchell Robinson’s legs going while still rewarding Jericho Sims for recent quality play. But that meant a three-man rotation at center with no one catching much rhythm.
I’m still throwing him a 2 out of 5 because circumstances worked against him. Derrick Rose went down, and the bench floundered after. Thibodeau at least gave Miles McBride a shot at meaningful minutes. The sophomore responded with a decent performance.
Closing Thoughts
There’s nothing worse than being stuck in the middle of the NBA. Nobody wants the dreaded label of “treadmill team.” But to escape the center, front offices have to pick a direction. Of course, coaches will always want to win, and players will want to play. So it’s up to a competent front office to find pieces that fit cohesively with clearly defined roles.
The Leon Rose era has been loaded with logjams. The team brought in vets to win while promising that they wanted to focus on development. The developmental players never got chances to take on prominent roles for fear of impacting wins and losses. That’s not to mention the disconnect when New York has to spend its draft capital dumping those same veteran contracts.
Thus, we feel like a franchise caught in limbo. Too afraid to lose games to risk giving young players a real chance. This team will win enough matches to avoid firing anyone while losing enough games for fans to check out mentally. That’s where this roster sits unless the front office picks a direction.
I’m not choosing win-now or rebuild for them. That’s what Leon Rose gets paid to do. But he must choose because no one cares about a tenth seed in the play-in tournament.
The Knicks play the Thunder next, with little rest after a long trip. A win would turn this into a 3-2 road trip and a small victory. Plus, it would mean revenge after being embarrassed at home. There’s a chance to salvage optimism before returning home. We’ll meet to discuss after the action, 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 the Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors Post-Game Analysis, where Alex & JD give their takes!
