The New York Knicks showed up to Chicago with revenge on their minds. A spirited defensive start led to a 107-103 victory over the Bulls.
The bounce back came after the Knicks had been outworked by the Bulls in their previous contest. New York chased down the long rebounds and forced the second chances that eluded them last time. They also knocked down 50% of their three pointers while holding Chicago below 17% from range. Defense set the tone as the Bulls scored just 17 in the first quarter. That helped the Knicks to a vice grip on the lead that they never surrendered.
The starter provided contributions from a much-maligned starting backcourt. Julius Randle dominated again. Immanuel Quickley added just enough punch off the bench to get the team over the hump. The night was far from perfect though as the bench has some lingering chemistry issues and Tom Thibodeau’s solution was…questionable at best. Let’s dive into the performances.
Knicks starters show up with a vengeance
Elfrid Payton: Bolstered by a huge first quarter, Elfrid Payton managed his best performance in quite some time. The starting PG spent a majority of the game attacking the paint and wreaking havoc because of it. Payton might miss inside, but at least early on he would draw enough crowd for a second Knick to grab the offensive rebound. He still didn’t do anything from range outside of five feet though. What really helped Payton’s overall performance was a steady dose of rebounding and some nice passing to boot.
Thibs rode Payton’s play for 35 minutes and 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, a block and a turnover. Elfrid shot 9/19 from the field, 0/2 from three and 2/2 from the free throw line. As much as this game brought out Payton’s qualities, his flaws also shined. His play tapered off after a red hot first quarter, going from very good to just decent. He started to have a mistake or a bad miss for every nice play or made bucket. He incredibly had just one made field goal outside of the restricted area. That’s 19 attempts with efficacy only at Mitchell Robinson range.
Narratives are what drive sports talk and you’ve probably seen headlines that focus the Knicks victory on Payton’s bounce back game. It’s a feel-good story, but also it’s overblown. 20 points on 19 attempts isn’t a great achievement. I have no clue how Payton could get inside so often and barely reach the free throw line. Payton’s hot start gave him cover for an otherwise, good but not great performance. He grabs a 3 out of 5 for being good but certainly not great.
Reggie Bullock: The first long rebound of the game went to the Knicks after Reggie Bullock sprinted to tap it toward a teammate. That hustle was indicative of Reggie’s entire night. Bullock didn’t shoot particularly well or blow up the stat sheet, but he made things happen purely off effort. The wing saved his only three of the night for a crucial make in the fourth quarter, a fitting a exclamation point on a performance where he quietly did a lot to help. Then he played five more minutes and made some mistakes.
Bullock managed 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 turnovers on 4/7 from the field and 1/3 from three. He was the intangibles guy for most of the night, but both of his turnovers happened in the final minute or so of the game. The guy had a lot to offer defensively and off the ball, but I don’t trust him in the final minutes of games anymore. That said, the closing minute doesn’t erase an otherwise good performance. One that Bullock really needed.
The nightmare close happened with the Knicks clinging to a lead of 5 points or less. That fact alone drops Reggie’s intangibles laden performance to a very average 2.5 out of 5. By and large he played the type of game I want to see. But we need more three point makes to tip the scale higher. Also, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one that feels this…but Bullock gives me Lance Thomas vibes. Thomas would play hard, quietly handling the dirty work all night. Then Thomas would try to do too much and erase all of the good will with rarer but more obvious mistakes.
RJ Barrett: When I say that RJ Barrett didn’t have his A-game, I don’t mean that he played poorly. Barrett was a wrecking ball inside, powering through contact in a manner that screamed “who needs wiggle really?” But Barrett was competing without a jumper, making just one of his four tries outside the paint and missing more free throws than he made. That made RJ easier to contain and while he still played a productive game, it wasn’t up the peak standard that he’s set for himself recently.
Barrett rocked for 32 minutes and managed 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists to 4 turnovers. He went 8/16 from the field but 0/1 from three and 1/3 from the free throw line. The Maple Mamba’s playmaking numbers are a bit deceiving. He made multiple nice passes out of the high pick and roll, but not everything was finished. The turnovers reflect his need to get inside to produce, he had to work solely in traffic which meant a more mistake prone game than normal.
RJ’s 50% from the field offsets having twice as many TO’s as assists, especially because he should have had at least one or two more assists. He manages a 2.5 out of 5 by sheer willpower in the lane. The kid’s jumper was just plain off. He responded by playing a clever game inside although it wasn’t perfect. I was happy to see the rebounding total as well, RJ’s a good rebounder but it felt like that aspect of his game started to slip a bit.
Julius Randle: The Knicks needed to make up for poor three-point shooting in their first round against the Bulls, so Julius Randle took matters into his own hands. I want to know how many reps this guy took after the loss to Chicago because he returned to knock down shots from everywhere. The hot hand didn’t erase Randle’s playmaking either, as the big man’s best play of the night came when he forced a double-team and found Reggie Bullock for three with less than 5 minutes on the clock. But the flame throwing is the show stealer.
Add another impressive stat-line to Randle’s all-star push. He played 38 minutes for 28 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 turnovers. The big man shot a lovely 11/20 from the field, 5/7 from three and uncharacteristic 0/2 from the free throw line. The low free throw tally reflects that Randle did most damage from outside. It wasn’t just his three-ball falling, Julius’ midrange has been a staple all season. He also stepped up defensively after what I felt was a terrible performance on that end in the last game.
Randle’s brilliant performance locks in another 4 out of 5 performance score. For all of the hype surrounding Elfrid Payton’s game, it was Julius Randle that keyed the victory. We’re just so used to this kind of performance from the big man that it’s easy to take for granted. We need to get this man into the all-star game at all costs. We did it for David Lee, we can get Randle a spot too!
Mitchell Robinson: It was a fairly typical game for Mitchell Robinson. He did damage receiving passes at the dunkers spot and on the offensive glass. Mitch spins limited touches to gold. On the interior, the shot blocker grabbed rebounds and played his usual brand of impact defense. When the Knicks’ perimeter rotations are on point, Robinson’s presence inside is magnified as we get to watch players perform acrobatics just to finish a lay-up.
I mentioned limited touches that Mitch made the most of. He shot 3/5 from the field and 2/2 from the free throw line over his 28 minutes of action. That was good for 8 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and a turnover. Part of Robinson’s problem is that he mishandled a couple of passes, our big men do that. A nice wrinkle in this game is that I caught Robinson guarding Lauri Markkanen more frequently. Lauri lit us up last time, so getting our top defender on him more often was a nice sight.
Robinson’s production and play are flirting with a higher score, but not quite there. A couple more stocks or an extra basket to land the double-double would put his performance at a 3 or higher. Instead, I’m keeping him in average territory with a 2.5 out of 5. He was good, don’t get me wrong, but we’re all aware that he can be even better. The extra minutes may be slowing him down just a step but it’s hard to say because his teammates are also missing him on a number of cuts.
Knicks second unit still not gelling
Immanuel Quickley: With Elfrid Payton pumping in the points, Immanuel Quickley saw his minutes diminish but still made the most of them. IQ had a sloppy first half which further served to push Payton’s great open to the forefront of people’s minds. The rookie looked like an actual rookie for a change. In the second half though, it was IQ making key plays that kept his second unit afloat. His three pointers helped keep the Knicks comfortably ahead while his wings combined to go 2/9 for 8 points on the night. Quickley still found himself benched during fourth quarter struggles while Rivers and Burks got more opportunities to miss.
After just 13 minutes of play Quickley put up 9 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound and 2 turnovers. It was one of those turnovers, an unforced dribbling error, that got IQ his quick hook. He shot 3/7 from the field, 2/3 from three and 1/2 from the line. If you’d like to unclog the lanes for RJ and Randle to score inside more comfortably and turn the ball over less…Quickley is gonna need more than 13 minutes.
I don’t give game scores for less than 15 minutes. Players don’t get enough time to find a rhythm with less. IQ should never be in that position though. He made rookie mistakes. It was a good learning opportunity. But I’m still not happy about how he was treated and I’m about to take it out on the guys who deserved quicker hooks off the bench…
Austin Rivers: This makes three games in a row that Austin Rivers has been terrible. His play is lacking the characteristic aggression and physicality on both ends right now. The combo guard is 2/12 for 10 points over his past three. He’s lingering on the perimeter but has been so bad that I let out a “Hallelujah” when he made a long range jumper in the second half. Here’s what really bothers me. Rivers hasn’t played less than 15 minutes so far. He has free rein to struggle in a manner that even Immanuel Quickley somehow has yet to earn.
For his 18 minutes of play, Rivers provided 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist to 2 turnovers and 1 steal. That’s not good enough, period. He shot 1/4 from the field, 1/2 from three and 2/2 from the free throw line. The bright side is that we’re not seeing many forces from the combo guard, but that’s as much about his touches dropping as it is anything he’s consciously doing.
Blame Tom Thibodeau for the 1 out of 5, not Rivers. Maybe I’m being too harsh, but this is partially cumulative because this was the third straight game that’s just plain bad. He’s shot below 40% in 8 out of the last 10 games. The second unit shift toward Alec Burks has hurt the combo guard, but it’s not an excuse for extended struggles. Rivers’ defense has been slipping a bit too.
Alec Burks: Playmaking is what spares Alec Burks from an Austin Rivers level tear down after last night. The scoring guard followed his best shooting night with a dud. The bad shooting has been characteristic of his time back from injury. Burks made a timely three-pointer but missed everything else he shot. His best moments all came from creating for others off the dribble. It was a nice addition of creation that the Knicks certainly needed, but it’s scary to think that Burks is relying on assists to keep his game afloat. We need the scorer.
In 19 minutes, Burks put up 3 points, 5 assists to no turnovers and 3 rebounds. He shot just 1/5 from the field and 1/2 from three. He’s gotten a bit squeamish about the jumper, shooting just 36% from the field in 8 games back from a sprain ankle. It’s a testament to Burks being a quality player that he still found a way to be productive but I’m starting to get nervous. The dynamic scorer from early in the season is nowhere to be found. He’s a forgettable piece without the versatile attack augmenting everything else.
Burks grabs a 1.5 out of 5 in spite of the nice assist numbers. The Knicks need Alec Burks the scorer, not the passer. That’s not to say I want to see him play greedy ball or force shots. It just means that we have plenty of point guards who can get some assists while shooting poorly from the field. We need more shooters and Burks is supposed to be that guy.
Obi Toppin: Obi Toppin is starting to compile quality minutes although his opportunities are limited. The top ten pick knocked down a three pointer and then a mid-range jumper in limited time. I don’t love seeing Obi forced into a shooting role, but he’s already looking more fluid on those jump shots. He also sets a half-decent screen.
With just 10 minutes of action and 4 points with 1 rebound to boot, Toppin doesn’t get a performance score. He was 2/4 from the field and 1/2 from three. The big man is more a victim of New York’s front court depth than anything. Julius Randle has been too good to cut minutes for and the Robinson/Noel combination anchors the defense. That leaves scraps behind for what was supposed to be a prized selection.
Nerlens Noel: Two things are guaranteed when Nerlens Noel plays, a highlight reel block or two and an ugly dropped pass. He’s one of the most reliable presences on the Knicks’ roster, providing the second unit with enough interior defense to hang. The big man has recently become more of a rim running threat as well with the second unit seeking him out for lobs more often than the starters are able to find a more athletic Mitchell Robinson. Offense is secondary for Noel though, it’s his defensive shot blocking that stands out every single time.
The box score doesn’t really do Noel justice. He put up 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 turnovers in 20 minutes of action. He was 1/2 from the field and 2/2 from the line. His defensive presence isn’t quantified even with three blocks tallied. That said, I can’t help but keep going in on this guy’s hands. Alec Burks bounced a pass off of Noel’s hands in transition. I didn’t blame Nerlens though because Burks threw it behind the back and in motion. Everyone should know by now that Noel isn’t catching that. It was a scary play during a close game and there I was laughing…because Noel’s got stigmata hands. There are holes in those things.
Despite my appreciation for his defense, Nerlens Noel still clocks a 2 out of 5 only. I treat that as passable for a back-up though, which is exactly what Noel’s performance rates. He was good on defense but didn’t do much offensively or on the glass. The big man wasn’t bad by any means, but he wasn’t particularly good besides in rim protection.
Is Tom Thibodeau doing this to spite us?
Tom Thibodeau: The Knicks bounced back in a manner that suggested minor tweaks and a big mental adjustment. That’s a recipe that points to good coaching. The players came out with fire in the first quarter and while fatigue saw their efficacy dwindle, the team held its lead and took care of business. Small adjustments like Payton increasing his aggression and Mitch seeking out Markkanen more often paid dividends. There’s a lot to credit Thibs for in terms of preparation and closing.
But there’s also plenty for fans to complain about. The obvious one is IQ being pulled in the fourth while Burks and Rivers were given freedom to continue bricking. Obi’s strong play early didn’t warrant much opportunity later, so forget being rewarded for good play. I also think that even though Payton played well, the fact that he got more minutes and FGA’s than RJ Barrett is problematic. RJ’s the future and the present, but he took a backseat to a guy that needed 19 shots for 20 points.
I hope I’m not the only fan that wondered if Thibs is trying to prove something by overplaying Payton even as the PG’s performance slipped in the second half. Sure, I’m the lunatic that said out loud “he’s doing this to spite us” but at least a few of you must have had similar thoughts. At the end of the day though, Thibs’ players showed up prepared and got the win. His rotation choices were frustrating, but the win warrants a 2.5 out of 5.
Closing Thoughts: The question of the day is “where do we go from here?” I don’t have an easy answer. New York has won just 5 of the last 15 games. This sinking feeling is bolstered by the fact that Tom Thibodeau is relying more on vets and less on youth as we move along. The strange part about that is the vets haven’t performed particularly well. Payton and Bullock have been wildly inconsistent and more bad than good. Rivers and Burks have been consistently bad lately. The reason the team has been bad for 15 games isn’t because the youth aren’t pulling the weight. It’s the vets with all their extra leash that continue to cause momentum shifts and crash landings for the Knicks.
So when I ask about the direction for the Knicks, I’m not demanding a shift to tanking. I’m just wondering whether a scraped together win on the backs of struggling vets is setting us up to fail long term. That’s because I expect Payton to come back down to Earth faster than I expect Burks or Rivers to find magic that’s been missing for weeks now. All that’s reliable to me is that Thibs will let those guys play through the pain in a manner that Obi or Quickley might not be afforded.
But let’s not be too down when the Knicks just won a game. New York is a half-game out of an 8th seed and they’re sitting in play-in territory with the win. Their schedule gets dramatically easier from here on out and a lot of road games are already behind them. This season is a marathon, not a sprint and we’ve got more games to play than have been played so far. This a time to be hopeful, not upset. We can perfect our “We want Quickley” chants while we watch this all develop and wait for the Garden to open back up!
