Welcome to part IV of the Knicks Pulse Check! Where we update the fans with the continuing trends of the New York Knicks.
At the conclusion of part III of the Knicks Pulse Check, I almost felt like Lloyd Christmas in Dumb And Dumber. Recently fired from another job and down on his luck, Lloyd and long-time friend Harry Dunne launch into a spiral of pity and despair, recounting the ways in which things just haven’t turned out in their favor. As if things weren’t bad enough, they discover that their bird “Petey” dies, and Lloyd yells out, “Our pets’ heads are falling off!!”
Granted, although finishing a rough 10-game stretch in December at .500 isn’t exactly a doomsday scenario, combine that with the Mitchell Robinson injury news, and the mounting issues on defense – things were starting to trend in a negative direction.
That brings us to part IV of the Knicks Pulse Check, and the obvious main topic of discussion: the OG Anunoby trade.
Since Leon Rose pulled the trigger on a trade that sent out fan-favorite Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and a 2nd round pick from the Detroit Pistons for the seven-year veteran out of Indiana (OG), Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn, the Knicks are 6-2, with statement wins against both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers. Furthermore, in the last 10 games, the Knicks are 6-4, and for the season, they hold the ninth-best net rating (down one spot from last check-in), tenth-best offensive rating (down one spot from last check-in), and the 12th-best defensive rating (up two spots from last check-in).
It’s possible that these statistics would be even higher had it not been for a recent ankle injury that kept star point guard Jalen Brunson out for the last two games. Reportedly, head coach Tom Thibodeau characterized the injury as “pain tolerance” going forward. Although this isn’t a reason to sound the alarm just yet, it’s certainly something to monitor.
December 29th – January 15th (6-4)
Ambivalence personified
Leon Rose has executed four in-season trades – three of those resulted in immediate positive impacts. The Knicks were clearly a better team after trading for Derrick Rose, Josh Hart, and thus far, the same can be said for the OG Anunoby trade.
The flip side of course is that the Knicks and Knicks’ fans said goodbye to both Quickley and Barrett – homegrown talent – that was there at the beginning of this rebuild, and both players contributed to a team that has been in the playoffs for two of the last three seasons. Despite the fact that I’ve been lower on RJ, especially towards the end of his time in New York, I’m still sensitive to the fact that he took on the challenge of New York and never shied away from the pressure. In regards to Quickley, the young and ever-developing point guard has a chance to be the best player in this trade years down the line, and it’s possible that the Knicks may regret selling low on IQ.
With that being said, the Knicks turned the page and have welcomed in the prototypical defensive wing in today’s league – OG Anunoby. It took five minutes of him being on the court against the Timberwolves to see his impact. OG constantly has his hands in the passing lanes, makes opposing guards/forwards uncomfortable in the pick-and-roll, and hits open shots at a decent clip. On offense, it was hard not to notice how fast the ball moved without RJ Barrett in the starting five. Brunson and Randle seemed to get to their spots quicker, OG was a willing cutter without the ball in his hands, and Donte DiVincenzo was ready to hit the open three off of his teammates’ drives to the hoop.
Since OG was traded to the Knicks, he’s averaging 13.7 points per game and shooting 40.6 percent from the three-point line. And while those stats won’t win any individual accolades anytime soon, it’s OG’s presence and how it’s impacted his teammates that has been amazing to watch. Since the trade, Jalen Brunson is averaging 8.6 assists per game and Julius Randle is averaging 26.5 points per game. Brunson has been criticized for his lack of playmaking before, but with improved spacing, he has been able to find his teammates more often, and Randle has been able to drive the lane and finish without as much traffic in his way.
All Hart
Isaiah Hartenstein has been one of the most important players on this team – period, full stop. Since his introduction into the starting lineup, Hartenstein is averaging 11.3 rebounds to go along with 8.3 points per game. The fifth-year veteran has been instrumental in improving the flow of the offense for the starting lineup with his ability to pass, set screens, and initiate actions through dribble handoffs at the top of the key.
But maybe the most surprising factor in IHart’s performances has been his impact on defense. Hartenstein is averaging 1.7 blocks per game since entering the starting lineup (1.1 for the season), and he’s posted a defensive field goal percentage of 45.2 percent, which ranks 7th for centers that have played at least 30 games this season. It’s hard to think that Mitchell Robinson’s absence hasn’t had a bigger impact on the win-loss record. However, it’s a credit to Hartenstein, the work he has put in, and the coaching staff that has put him in positions to be successful.
Donte from downtown
Donte DiVincenzo has been an offensive revelation for the Knicks. Skip back to the summer, and fans were skeptical as to just how much offense Divo would bring to the orange and blue after signing his four-year $46 million contract. Questions were raised in regards to how the Knicks would use DiVincenzo coming off a season in which he played just over 26 minutes a game with the Warriors, averaging 9.4 points per game and shooting 39.7 percent from the three-point line. Would Divo be able to provide the same impact with fewer minutes? Where would he fit in the depth chart with IQ, Grimes, and Hart?
Fast forward six months later, and Donte is the Knicks leading three-point shooter (by percentage), canning 42.8 percent of his six three-point attempts per game. Furthermore, per Cleaning the Glass, Divincenzo also ranks within the 96th percentile in corner three accuracy and within the 89th percentile in points per shot attempt. His efficiency has helped the Knicks continue as a top-10 offense for the majority of this season.
Donte has also been a solid defender and great rebounder for his size and position. Alongside Josh Hart, Divo uses his athleticism to sky above taller guards and forwards to grab rebounds and extend possessions. If the Knicks decide against making another trade to bring in another guard who can create off the dribble, both Divo and Deuce McBride will be asked to fill that role. We’ve seen DiVincenzo create in spurts, but can he do it on a more consistent basis? Only time will tell.
Eight of the next 10 games will be on the Knicks home floor at Madison Square Garden. With games against the Rockets, Wizards, Hornets, Nets, and Jazz, the Knicks need to string together some wins to stay afloat in a difficult Eastern Conference playoff race. The Knicks most recent loss to the Orlando Magic put them in seventh place in the conference with just 1.5 games separating the fourth seed and the seventh seed.
Getting Jalen Brunson back and healthy will go a long way toward accomplishing that goal, but as a team, the Knicks need to figure out how to finish out close games, especially when they have the lead in the fourth quarter.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. Subscribe to the newsletter for KFTV content and events, shop discounts, and more at bit.ly/kftvmail. And in case you missed it, check out Alex Trataros talking Knicks and OG Anunoby on SNY.
