The New York Knicks continued to roll with a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies 118 to 104.
The game was more competitive than that final score might suggest. Memphis picked up a series of technical fouls down the stretch, collapsing under pressure from New York’s defense and refs that allowed a physical battle to unfold all night. The Knicks were incredible from three, led again by Julius Randle with the starters and Derrick Rose with the second unit.
Memphis fought back with second-chance buckets and free throws. But even when the game was closer, the Knicks always seemed to have a counter for Memphis’ pushes to make the game competitive.
Julius Randle spent most of the night searching for his shot but still led the way. Derrick Rose played like a star, refusing to be denied his win. The bench got a boost from the return of Alec Burks and shot-blocking by Norvel Pelle. Let’s dive into the success of the Knicks in this hard-fought victory.
Knicks Starters scrap to a big lead
Elfrid Payton: Elfrid Payton was aggressive. That aggression didn’t always lead to the best results, but it kept Ja Morant under pressure at all times. Knicks’ starting point guard attacked the lane and was physical on both sides of the court; he made sure nothing came easy for Memphis’s young star. Payton still had some frustrating possessions, especially his turnovers, but overall this wasn’t a bad performance in limited time.
Payton put up 10 points, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers in 18 minutes of action. He shot 4/8 from the field and 0/1 from three. His role in the rotation is well-established. Knowing that he has 15-20 minutes a night really ought to free Payton up to maximize his minutes. Payton needed patience mixed in with his aggression for the finishes that he accomplished. Balance will be tough with limited touches and minutes, but this felt like a step in the right direction.
It’s easy to bury Payton’s performances relative to his backup, Derrick Rose. That’s hardly a fair comparison, as Rose performs better than many starting point guards in this league right now. Elfrid doesn’t make the decisions about the rotation; he shows up and tries to play his part. Payton held Ja Morant to 2/14 on the night, outscoring his match-up despite taking 6 fewer shots. The Knicks’ starting point gave them solid minutes in the win. He gets a 2 out of 5 for impact.
Reggie Bullock Reggie Bullock didn’t shoot quite as well from three as usual but made up for it with a couple of finishes inside. Bullock also got to pad his scoring with some technical free throws at the end of regulation. Bully even had a euro step finish that probably deserved an and-one whistle. The 3 and D wing managed to hit double-digits again, although his defense did slip up a bit.
Bullock played 34 minutes and managed 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. He shot 4/9 from the field, 2/6 from three, and 3/3 from the free-throw line. Those free throws were gifts from Memphis’s coach and star but mattered nonetheless. They sealed the Knicks’ lead as out of reach in the closing minutes and spelled the collapse of any chance for a comeback. It was a welcome close after Bully had let up some good looks to Kyle Anderson and Dillon Brooks throughout the game.
Bully didn’t have his best game but still managed to play a productive role in the win. He missed some three-pointers that have been automatic lately and gave up more points than usual, but Bully did more good than bad even on an off-night. His gravity frees up other shooters even when Bullock isn’t getting looks for himself. Add that nice drive to the rack, and Bullock looked promising for a guy having a rough night. Bully’s impact is worth a 2 out of 5, taking a small hit for the defensive dip.
RJ Barrett: RJ Barrett picked his spots and was effective throughout the game. He saw a dip in minutes and usage, but not for poor play. Barrett played his typical brand of hard-nosed, slashing basketball. The sophomore wasn’t freed up to shoot as often as usual; this was his first time attempting less than 3 long-range shots since April 3rd. But that didn’t deter RJ from making frequent visits to the paint and picking up assists to go along with his finishes inside.
Barrett played 34 minutes, scoring 15 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds on 5/12 from the field, 1/1 from three, and 4/6 from the free-throw line. He played fewer minutes than any of his past 9 games, a benefit of Burks’ addition to the rotation. RJ didn’t have to shoulder the same offensive load as usual. When Broadway Barrett found space, his jumper was smooth and accurate. Memphis often kept good pressure on the prospect, but he still turned in a strong night.
This was the same Barrett we’ve watched play a perfect second option, but with fewer minutes and reps. That’s not a bad thing for a young key player that has been playing 40 minutes so frequently. That RJ didn’t lose his rhythm or miss a beat while other players worked is a great sign. Barrett got even more rest than I was comfortable with. I found myself eager to see his return in the fourth quarter. That says a lot about how good the Maple Mamba was despite not hitting his high marks from recent performances. New York’s highest-drafted player lands a 3 out of 5 for his impact.
Julius Randle: Julius Randle couldn’t always find his shot but had enough offense to shepherd New York through a challenging game. The Grizzlies were able to keep Randle on the perimeter and forced him to take contested jumpers for most of the night. Randle is good at hitting tough shots but spent most of the game too far from the basket to find consistent success. He hit a series of improbable threes to maintain his scoring edge.
Randle played 38 minutes, putting up 28 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 turnover on 9/23 shooting, 5/8 from three, and 5/5 from the line. The Knicks’ star struggled everywhere else, but his off-balance buzzer-beating threes on multiple occasions. While he fought to find offense, the big man did damage with clever passing for most of the night. He got iso-heavy in the fourth quarter but knocked down a crucial three-pointer during that spell.
This wasn’t a peak Randle performance. He lacked the efficiency, rebounding, and transition offense that expand on his typical impact. That doesn’t mean he had a bad game, though. The big man threw good passes to shooters and hit his own series of tough shots at range. Even struggling on offense, Randle led all players in scoring. A tough night for Randle is a strong performance for most. The Knicks’ star grabs a 4 out of 5 for a gritty performance on an off night.
Taj Gibson: Taj Gibson went from a third-string luxury when he signed to starting against Jonas Valanciunas against Memphis in the midst of a playoff race. Valanciunas was too big to keep off the boards, but Taj Gibson made every loose ball a battle. Taj provided shot-blocking to cover for the missing Nerlens Noel’s best trait. By the end of the night, the New York native turned Knick had completed yet another heroic performance that helped secure win.
Gibson pumped in 6 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks, and 1 turnover. He got after everything from rebounds to opposing shots. Impressively, Taj did most of his damage while in foul trouble. He left the second quarter with three fouls and spent the third quarter wreaking havoc despite picking up his fourth. The big man couldn’t keep Memphis off of the offensive glass but created plenty of second chances of his own. Taj showed up and fought despite being undersized against a giant.
I sing to the virtues of Taj Gibson about once a week. The guy steps up regardless of what New York needs. His match-up with Valanciunas was scary because the Memphis center had given the Knicks fits throughout their first meeting. Taj didn’t keep Jonas off the boards, but he contained the big man’s offense. On top of that, Gibson added points, boards, and blocks to keep up with his tough opponent. The former Bull continues to be an unsung hero of this run, moving up the depth chart to cover anyone who gets hurt in the middle. Gibson gets a 3 out of 5 for his impact score.
Derrick Rose shuts the door and leads New York’s second unit
Derrick Rose: Derrick Rose has been good ever since arriving from Detroit, but his recent play is approaching the “special” territory. The former MVP has turned New York’s second unit into a devastating weapon through his combination of explosive scoring and smart passing. Rose was unstoppable against Memphis, scoring 73% of his attempts and picking up nearly a point per minute on the floor. He closed the game out with a series of elusive drives that put any hopes for a Grizzlies come back to rest.
Rose played 27 minutes and hit for 25 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. He shot 11/15 from the field and 3/5 from three. It’s the second game in a row that Rose hits 3 three-pointers, a total he’d reached just twice across the rest of the season. The former Bull may not have tallied many assists, but he set a tone for ball movement. Burks and IQ both received ample opportunities to attack both on kick-outs and as lead ball handlers. Rose was a willing passer and good shooter, but his best moments came on forays inside.
The former MVP seems poised for a big post-season. Rose is finding a groove as a shooter on top of his success running Tom Thibodeau’s offense. He’s learned his teammates’ habits and can guide both the starting and second units through any situation. He plays the role of the sixth man but is clearly the Knicks’ lead point guard. His brilliance against Memphis was just another step up from already strong performances. Rose gets a 4.5 out of 5 for his dominant night. No one was taking this game from him.
Immanuel Quickley: Immanuel Quickley was most effective off-ball in his performance against Memphis. The rookie made both of his three-pointers with quick releases on a catch and shoot. He wasn’t as successful attacking off the dribble; an ugly fourth-quarter turnover got him benched late. But considering his limited minutes and timeshare on touches, IQ still managed to have a solid night.
IQ only got 16 minutes to work, a product of that early fourth quarter hook. He shot 3/6 from the field and 2/3 from three for 8 points, 1 rebound, and 2 turnovers. I’m genuinely curious how often Quickley has had more turnovers than assists in a game. Don’t fret over 0 assists; Quickley didn’t get many chances to create and was smothered by rangy, bigger defenders most of the night. His floor spacing was still obvious, and his blunders came from picking up his dribble to draw fouls while the refs let contact go. The rookie wasn’t bad, just less effective than we’re accustomed to.
Quickley getting pulled in the fourth quarter was a disservice, but he earned the benching. The rookie generally turns his game up a notch in the late portions of games. He made a couple of early mistakes that cost him precious minutes in the fourth. The young guard also had his hands full, trying to defend the bigger wings on Memphis. Circumstance reduced IQ’s opportunities moreso than performance. The youngster gets a 2 out of 5 for how pretty all three of his made field goals were.
Alec Burks: Alec Burks set the tone for his return by making extra passes. Those passes led to a lay-up for Norvel Pelle, a dunk for Obit Toppin, and a three by Immanuel Quickley. Burks had his first shot rim in as well and knocked down a series of midrange shots off his pivot foot. The scorer looked strong until he turned his ankle midway through the fourth quarter.
Burks played 16 minutes in route to 9 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds on 4/7 shooting, 1/1 from three, and 0/2 from the line. Burks hit his only three on his first attempt of the game, right at the top of the key. From there, he drove past closeouts and made clever passes or took good shots. Burks allowed Thibodeau to rest Rose for a couple of minutes in the second quarter and would have done the same in the fourth if not for an ankle injury. Those few minutes of rest might explain why Rose looked so explosive late.
Burks had a nice comeback before the injury. He hit shots and added some nice playmaking between his own attempts. The scorer was about to run the offense in the fourth quarter when a player fell into his leg and caused an ankle injury. That’s too bad because Burks has been one of New York’s best fourth-quarter players all year. His return is dampened only by another potential injury for more downtime. Otherwise, Burks’ impact was good enough for a 2.5 out of 5.
Obi Toppin: Obi Toppin earned extra minutes in the second quarter but met a quick hook in the fourth. That brought his minutes back down below the Impact score threshold of 15. The rookie added 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal on 1/3 from the field and 0/1 from three in ten minutes. It’s nice to see Toppin as a willing shooter but not one who settles. His athleticism is where the offense comes, and Obi is trending toward a dunk a game. He’s getting rebounds in traffic lately as well.
I’ll throw in one more thought. Getting a couple of extra minutes from Obi in the fourth would benefit Randle. The Knicks’ star seemed fatigued late, and a few extra minutes might have saved his legs for those final possessions.
Norvel Pelle: Norvel Pelle’s five minutes against Houston gave me pause. The big man seemed slow to adjust to the chemistry of his new rotation spot. I should have known that this team’s next-man-up approach would cover for my concerns. Pelle came in and stuck to the basics. He set screens, took up space inside, and blocked shots.
The fourth-string big man played 15 minutes and managed 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks. Most importantly, the Knicks’ lead didn’t slip with Pelle out there. He was a +7 on the night, buying Taj Gibson time to catch his breath and save some fouls. New York’s latest acquisition looked ready for his minutes and increased role. The front-court rotation wasn’t as good as when Mitch or Noel is healthy, but it was good enough to compete. That’s impressive with 3rd and 4th stringers carrying the load.
It’s eye-opening to see how seamlessly players fit into the roles in Thibodeau’s system. Norvel Pelle is far from a household name, but he’s a physical big man that challenges shots. He didn’t have to change his game and wasn’t asked to do too much while taking the backup Center role. Pelle’s shot-blocking had a genuine impact, and his two boards don’t tell the whole story about space he cleared for teammates to snag loose balls. He played well in an important game. Pelle gets a 2 out of 5 for a positive impact as a fourth-stringer pushed to play.
Tom Thibodeau’s well-oiled machine continues to churn
Tom Thibodeau: The competition got tougher, but Tom Thibodeau’s crew kept up their usual pace. The Knicks barely beat Memphis in MSG and without Jaren Jackson to worry about a few weeks back. This time, with the Grizzlies having homecourt advantage and a key player back, New York was more dominant rather than less. It was a great example of how much growth and confidence have built in just this past month alone. The Knicks started their winning tear without knowing how to close, but at this point, they’ve got teams throwing in the towel from frustration.
Thibodeau’s in-game decisions weren’t bad. He balanced the second unit scorers by letting them attack, two at a time for most of the night. It was nice to see Burks and Quickley get some time to be the backcourt while Rose rested his legs before closing each half. Quick hooks for IQ and Toppin in the fourth made sense as a momentum swing was occurring, though I disagreed with the moves happening so fast. There were subtle moves as well, like keeping Pelle matched with back-ups almost exclusively…a smart way to help an inexperienced player avoid a tough match-up.
Thibs didn’t do anything that would leap off the screen, but he coached a good game. The Knicks came in and got business done with a depleted frontcourt and against an opponent that needed the win. New York set a physical tone early that translated to angry Grizzlies by the end of the night. The game was still close when Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins picked up two technical fouls in the late stages of New York’s win. The Grizz unraveled from there, giving in to the Knicks’ pressure. Thibodeau gets a 3.5 out of 5 for his successful night.
Closing Thoughts
The New York Knicks are well past conversations about legitimacy. This team is real, and their end-to-end wins over the Rockets and Grizzlies have put an exclamation point on the debate. The opposition got better, and the Knicks kept winning. New York gets to enter the final 4 games of this tough road trip needing just 1 win for a .500 record, but I’m sure they want more.
The last hurdle of the season is beating a proven contender, and the Knicks will have 4 consecutive chances to do just that. Races for playoff positioning will keep every match-up as intense as the postseason. They’ve been close against the best all year long, but now they have one last chance to really put the stamp on their final run-up to the playoffs. Revenge against Phoenix would be especially sweet, and I’m really eyeing that match-up for the adjustments that both teams make after their recent battle.
Next up is Denver and their probable MVP Jokic. With Noel potentially out, New York may be facing the prospective MVP with their third and fourth string bigs. That hasn’t stopped the Knicks before. They seem to embrace an underdog role with enthusiasm. This team loves to prove people wrong, and the chip on its shoulder isn’t going anywhere. I dreaded this stretch of season from the moment it was announced…but now I’m excited. I want to see how Thibodeau’s collective handles the adversity of top-notch competition because I think they’re ready. The whole season has been building up to this last big run, and there are a couple more statement wins I’d like to see New York lay claim to. I’ll see you after Denver, Knicks fam!
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