The New York Knicks picked up their first postseason win in eight years, beating the Atlanta Hawks 101 to 92 and tying the series at 1-1.
New York got off to another slow start, struggling to score and failing to defend the three-point line. Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic torched them with help from three-point shooters and Clint Capela’s rim protection. But the second unit kept things close in the first half, and defensive adjustments helped wake the starters up on both ends of the floor. New York held the Hawks to 35 points in the second half, closing the game in a resounding fashion.
Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson were the heroes. Randle, Bullock, and Barrett found their offensive games. But Obi Toppin and the Garden crowd might have stolen the show. 8 years in the making, this win was electrifying. The energy in NYC ought to be a feel-good story for the entire NBA. Let’s take a look at how the Knicks got back on their feet.
Knicks starters come alive in the second half
Elfrid Payton: Elfrid Payton had another rough start. He shot 0/2 in the opening 5 minutes of the game and found himself benched for the rest of the game. Derrick Rose played so brilliantly that he started the second half, and Payton was left with 1 point and 1 steal for his night. We’ve gradually seen his minutes dwindle for a while now. This rotation adjustment feels inevitable.
Reggie Bullock: Reggie Bullock found his three-ball but might have had an even bigger impact when he picked up a flagrant foul against Deandre Hunter. The Knicks’ offense got going as the third quarter started, but their defense didn’t kick into gear until Bullock used a hard foul to send Deandre Hunter to the floor. From there, the defense picked up the physicality, and New York took control of the game on both ends. Bully put a stamp on that defense by chasing Trae Young throughout most of the fourth quarter.
Bullock spent 31 minutes on the floor. He picked up 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. Bully shot 5/8 from the field, 4/7 from three, and 1/2 from the free-throw line. The wing knocked down two big three-pointers in the third quarter that helped tie the score. He hit another in the fourth quarter as well. But more important was Bullock’s defense on Trae Young. He consistently pushed Young to the left, and with bigs pressing up, Bullock’s relentless closing proved disruptive throughout the quarter.
Reggie Bullock embraced a chance at revenge. He put a hard foul on an opponent, set the tone defensively, and hit some momentum-building shots. It was a great response after his rough game one. He was New York’s best defender and tied for second-leading scorer. Reggie was great…also, he’s had some great social media responses to Trae Young’s antics. Bully grabs a 4 out of 5 for his crucial role in tying the series.
RJ Barrett: RJ Barrett started the night with a strong finish for an and-one, followed by a quick three-pointer. He cooled from there, but his scoring proved crucial in keeping the Knicks close to start both halves of this game. Barrett still struggled with his scoring efficiency, but he started to find seams in the defense by pushing in transition and playing with confidence. We still haven’t seen the best that Barrett has to offer, but he’s flashing signs that he’s figuring Atlanta out.
Barrett saw his minutes dip to 26 but still finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 5/14 from the field, 2/5 from three, and 1/1 from the free-throw line. RJ drove himself into trouble at times, hitting traffic inside with no passing lanes to save him. The sophomore was lucky not to turn the ball over, but the shots he got off weren’t pretty. If he curbs those by passing before he’s in too deep or pulling up from mid-range, that can bump his efficiency a bit. Barrett’s drive-heavy approach saw Thibodeau switch gears to a Burks/Bullock wing combo in the closing minutes for better spacing.
Broadway Barrett still hasn’t made an appearance in this series. He’s getting warmer, but the RJ Barrett that took over some games still hasn’t arrived in the postseason. We can see him working things out, though. Barrett drove by tough closeouts but wasn’t always aware of his passing options or which Hawks were rotating to trap him. I think it’s only a matter of time before he starts seeing the floor better and does more damage. For now, Barrett’s impact on this one nets a 2.5 out of 5. He was big in the third quarter and kept things afloat in the first but struggled otherwise.
Julius Randle: The Atlanta defense left Julius Randle looking hesitant and lost throughout the first half. They sent Capela into the lane like a free safety and made sure to close passing options at the corners. That approach takes away Randle’s two best options on drives. His shot isn’t falling like it should either. But despite all of that, the Knicks’ star began to find ways to produce. He drove strong and didn’t shy away from his looks in the second half. You could catch Randle looking for cutters inside and shooters at the elbows instead of the corners for assists. The adjustments helped a lot.
Randle put up 15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers in 36 minutes of action. He shot 5/16 from the field, 2/7 from three, and 3/4 from the line. The Hawks did a great job defending him, particularly in the first half. But Randle would not be deterred. He hit two important three-pointers in the third quarter, establishing momentum early and stopping a Hawks run later. His finishes inside were all willpower, fighting through defenders or hitting fadeaways in traffic. The big man did find some easy mismatches though, as the Hawks switched A LOT. Any screen Randle set for Derrick Rose led to a chance to take a smaller defender on.
The other key to Julius Randle figuring things out was transition play. Randle led the Knicks in rebounds and was quick to push the pace off a defensive board. That allowed him to get downhill before the Hawks were set to double and trap him. It’s these kinds of adjustments that can change a series. The Hawks blanked New York’s star player for 3 halves, but he figured out ways to hurt them in the end. Now just wait for his jumper to start falling, and Atlanta will really have its hands full. Randle gets an impact grade of 3 out of 5 for a huge second half.
Nerlens Noel: Nerlens Noel was a game-time decision thanks to a sprained ankle. He labored a bit, picking up foul trouble early and ceding minutes to Taj Gibson, who was tremendous. That doesn’t mean Noel was bad. The shot blocker showed a ton of heart by embracing his match-up with the bigger and stronger Clint Capela. Noel boxed Capela out for some of my favorite moments in his performance. It’s the simple stuff that gets me.
New York’s shot blocker picked up 2 points and 5 boards on 1/3 from the field. He only played 17 minutes for various reasons, but that’s probably good news for his aching ankle. I think he deserved at least one steal on an early poke against Trae Young, but the Hawks star flailed, and the refs treat the dude like I’d treat Kyden Randle officiating a pee-wee game.
Noel played limited minutes, but he fought. In some instances, all of his energy seemed dedicated to keeping Capela from disrupting rebounders. That extra space allowed defensive rebounders to turn and sprint up the floor. Boxouts don’t grab highlights like a well-timed block might, but they come from the same lunchpail mentality that we’ve grown to love about our big man. Noel gets a 2.5 on impact in his shortened playtime.
New York’s second unit steals the show again
Derrick Rose: Derrick Rose was undeniably the star of the night. He led the Knicks in scoring by more than 10 points and sparked the second unit to outperform the starters for most of the night. Rose hit the floor five minutes into the first quarter and played for 31 consecutive minutes. New York needed every minute from him. It wasn’t just the floater that Rose hits from anywhere inside the arc; he hit three-pointers and picked up dimes along the way as well.
Rose led the team with 39 minutes, 26 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and just 1 turnover. He shot 9/21 from the field, 2/3 from three, and 6/6 from the line. The former MVP talked about handling trash talk on the court, and he did just that. Rose kept pace with Trae Young, forcing the rest of the Hawks to beat the Knicks…and those Hawks couldn’t overcome New York’s defense.
We’re used to this type of game from Rose. He drives inside, has a floater that functions from the midrange, and punishes players that drop too far. The fact that he can seamlessly take his regular-season success into the postseason is awe-inspiring. Look at Julius Randle and RJ Barrett struggling with the defensive schemes and intensity to understand what I mean. Rose is the perfect veteran for a young team with no playoff experience…well, maybe there’s one other guy that can debate with him, but we’re getting there. For now, Derrick Rose gets a 4.5 out of 5 for carrying New York through its toughest moments.
Alec Burks: Alec Burks couldn’t recapture the magic from his game-one explosion but found enough fourth quarter heat to be a net positive. He struggled with his jumper for most of the night, even on open looks. But as soon as that final quarter started, Burks hit a three-pointer. Shortly after that, he threw a lob to Obi Toppin for the loudest Garden reaction of the entire game. I’d forgive anyone that thought Burks had a great game based on his strong closing run alone.
Burks spent 30 minutes adding 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 turnover to the Knicks stat-sheet. He shot 4/13 from the field, 1/5 from three, and 2/4 from the free-throw line. One of my biggest pet peeves is more field goal attempts than points scored. But to Burks’ credit, it never felt like he was forcing offense at the expense of others. Some of his best minutes came as de facto point guard when Thibodeau finally gave Derrick Rose a breather. The scorer wasn’t at his best, but he wasn’t as bad as his inefficient field goal percentages suggest.
The Knicks’ bench scorer was better than his numbers, but not great. Burks’ impact gets a boost from another strong night on the glass. I’ve raved about the wing’s rebounding all season long, so of course I’m bringing it up again. He also made timely plays despite his overall struggles. It’s just enough to turn a rough night into a crucial contribution. Burks’ impact gets a 2.5 out of 5, and that’s all thanks to fourth-quarter magic again.
Immanuel Quickley: Immanuel Quickley had an off night. He got to his spots, took open looks, and generally played a smart game but couldn’t can his shots. It meant a minutes cut for the rookie and a tough night overall. But IQ deserves serious props for the effort he turned in on the defensive glass. I caught Quickley boxing out bigger guys all game long, as he frequently matched up with Huerter and Hunter. The rookie played good on-ball defense, and his effort didn’t wane off the ball either. I love when a player finds contributions despite struggles!
Quickley got just enough minutes for an impact grade, 15. He shot 2/9 from the field and 0/4 from three to finish with 4 points, 1 assist, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. Twice as many attempts as points will never endear me to a performance, but IQ was similar to Burks. He outperformed those numbers by a decent margin…Check the plus/minus for some supporting evidence. Outside of one rushed three, I liked IQ’s shot selection and felt his decision-making was strong overall.
Am I being too nice to the rookie? Maybe. It’d be hard to imagine me covering for Elfrid Payton after 4 points on 9 attempts. But I’ll blame the eye test over bias. IQ took his open shots and drove when the three-ball wasn’t falling. He had a nice assist to Obi and generally played the right way. His numbers are ugly, and the performance wasn’t good, but I can be patient with a player who makes the right decisions because I think results are bound to follow in time. Quickley gets a 1.5 out of 5 on the night, but I think the performance will track to a better output next time.
Obi Toppin: Obi Toppin only played 12 minutes, but his impact went above and beyond the numbers of the minutes. The hometown kid put up great production for the limited time, but more importantly, he sparked the Garden crowd with a block and transition dunk for one of the best moments of the postseason so far. He played with confidence, bought Randle some extra fourth-quarter rest, and rose to the occasion.
Toppin picked up 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, and 2 turnovers in his 12 minutes. He shot 2/4 from the field, 1/2 from three, and 3/4 from the free-throw line. His aggression was rewarded all game long, and the crowd blew the roof off in appreciation. His mom wiped tears from her eyes as the crowd chanted Obi’s name, and it felt like catharsis from a difficult season. Obi’s struggles for most of the season saw plenty of frustration from fans and media alike. So having our hometown player step up when the lights are brightest feels special and earned…and he stayed after the game to get extra reps up. Hard work reaps rewards!
Taj Gibson: Taj Gibson feels like the embodiment of this team’s culture. He stepped onto the floor and played his heart out, filling the stat sheet and at one point having to come off the court for pure exhaustion. Derrick Rose was the engine, but Taj felt like this team’s heart and soul. He was the scrappy presence that treated every possession as the most important one of the night.
Gibson played 30 minutes and dropped 6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, and 1 block. He shot 3/4 from the field, including a late dunk that had the crowd HYPE. I could pull highlights of him blocking shots, dunking, or even giving a heartfelt speech about how special it feels to be playing in the Garden. But I prefer this clip that Tommy Beer pointed out. The hustle and effort that Gibson shows here was present in virtually every play.
Taj Gibson was a midseason depth addition, and here he is playing a crucial role in New York’s first post-season win in almost a decade. I’ve got plenty of recaps up where I sing his praises, but last night is my favorite performance of his entire season. The numbers aren’t gonna blow you away, but watch this game back and look at him go to work. Taj was battling for everything, setting screens as hard as he dunked. If Taj clocked 4 offensive boards, then he probably helped create twice as many with tip-outs and work. I grew up with Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason; I got to enjoy the hard work from guys like Kurt Thomas. Now another generation gets to see the fighting spirit that Knicks fans embrace above everything else through Taj Gibson. Gibson’s performance rates a 4.5 out of 5.
Thibs adjusts, momentum flips
Tom Thibodeau: The focus on Tom Thibodeau’s coaching will fall on his decision to bench Elfrid Payton for the second half. The Payton narrative has been one of the bigger stories throughout New York’s late run. But there’s a lot more to discuss with the way New York adjusted in the second half. Obviously, getting Derrick Rose more minutes was big, and it helped draw attention away from Randle and RJ. But some subtle and not-so-subtle changes also helped spark the second-half turnaround.
Thibs had the Knicks push on every defensive rebound. It’s clear that boxing out and creating space was a focal point of practice because even guards like IQ and Rose could be spotted boxing out big men. More importantly, Noel and Gibson focused on clearing out Capela and trusted players like Randle, RJ, and Burks to clean up. Players also closed out stronger, daring the Hawks to drive and finish inside…the Hawks started this game with 8 straight three-point attempts and seemed squeamish about going into the paint all game. Randle and Barrett stopped focusing so much on the corners when double-teams came, which helped them pick up assists elsewhere. The Knicks coaches did their work, prepared the team well, and crafted a blueprint to steal momentum.
Fans could question Thibodeau for not getting Rose breaks sooner. He’ll catch some flack for playing Elfrid Payton at all. But Thibodeau’s second-half adjustments hit on all cylinders. I hope he trusts Burks and IQ to be a backcourt tandem for the rest of this series. Let Rose get the starts because he’s earned them. Thibodeau’s smart moves and quick shifts earn a 4 out of 5 on impact for this game.
Closing Thoughts: “Magical stuff” is how Taj Gibson described his journey to this moment. The feeling is mutual for Knicks fans. I got to feel the energy at MSG for game one, but this victory looked like it took things up to a Spinal Tap 11. The Knicks have struggled for so long that I feel like most people either forgot or never got to truly feel what the Garden can be in the post-season. From the “Trae Young’s balding” to the shower of “MVP” calls when Julius Randle showed the slightest signs of life, Knicks fans bring a passion that combines with NYC’s culture for an irreplicable experience anywhere else in sports. Watch this reaction…
That’s not just appreciation for the hustle and the highlight. That is a crowd of more than 15,000 people who know how hard Obi Toppin has worked to get to this moment. They’re not a group that just showed up when national attention picked up around April…these fans were here for the whole ride. There’s something about that moment that packs in so much of this journey. The struggling player who worked his tail off just to get 10 minutes in the rotation. The team fighting back from a double-digit deficit early to a commanding lead late.
The crowd exploding like this is the culmination of a journey because it is in a lot of ways. I don’t mean just for Obi. A lot of us have weathered 8 years without a playoff game to witness that win. Like Obi, the Knicks were counted out but did more and more until the entire league took notice. Now the next step is winning this damned series and shutting Trae Young up…you can’t claim Reggie Miller’s spot just because we don’t like you, kid…We hate plenty of out-of-towners.
Game 3 is on Friday night and takes place in Atlanta. I hope to see the Knicks fans show up to make it less comfortable than Young and the Hawks are expecting. After two competitive games without our top two playing their best, I think taking homecourt advantage back could be a matter of Randle or RJ getting hot. I’ll be there to break it down with y’all, but for the moment, I’d like to just enjoy this. The explosion of enthusiasm, the feel-good victory, and the way this community of Knicks fans have managed to stand out. I love this team, I love this season, and I love this whole community!
See you after the next one Knicks fam! Stay tuned to knicksfantv.com for the latest Knicks news and rumors throughout the playoffs!
