The New York Knicks are the hottest team in basketball after defeating the Toronto Raptors 120 to 103 for their ninth straight win.
It was a competitive game through three quarters, but New York turned things up in the second half for a third straight game. New York’s defense slipped up early, giving up several good looks from three in the first half. But even while Toronto was shooting lights out, the Knicks kept pace. Eventually, Tom Thibodeau’s defense stepped up, and New York’s second unit took momentum with an early run in the fourth quarter. The Knicks never looked back from there.
Julius Randle and Derrick Rose were steady hands that guided the team through more competitive phases, while other players contributed in bursts. RJ Barrett had foul trouble early but another big second half. Nerlens Noel’s block party continued. Best of all, Obi Toppin led the Knicks’ bench in three-point makes. Let’s revisit the New York Knicks’ NINTH win in a row.
Knicks get big nights from the usual suspects
Elfrid Payton: Elfrid Payton looks like he’s feeling the pressure. Payton seemed more hesitant than normal, which led him into trouble and turnovers. He would make a nice cut and receive the ball but wait too long to get a shot off or complete an extra pass. The turnovers might have gotten to him as he pulled back on a fast break in the third quarter instead of risking a pass to RJ Barrett ahead of the pack. I think Payton’s in his own head right now.
Payton got just 15 minutes, putting up 4 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and 4 turnovers. He shot 2/6 from the field and 0/1 from three. This was the first game where I felt a lack of confidence from the starting point guard. Even when he struggles, you can expect a handful of plays where Elf makes an aggressive move to the basket for a quick finish. He made the right cuts in this game but seemed to get caught between the shot attempt and the pass.
With Derrick Rose coming alive, Thibodeau would cut Elfrid Payton’s minutes regardless of recent struggles. There have been times where I felt that Elf pressed for offense because he feels the substitution coming on. But this game felt more like he was uncertain rather than forcing things. That meant as many turnovers as points in a brief but tough appearance. Payton gets a 1 out of 5 for his impact in a tough outing.
Reggie Bullock: Clyde Frazier commented on not getting to point out Reggie Bullock enough midway through the second quarter. Almost immediately after, Bullock erupted for three straight three-pointers, each assisted by a different Knick. Bullock didn’t hit any other threes during the game, but he did score a few bunnies in transition that helped him continue a streak of quality scoring.
Bully played 37 minutes and dropped 16 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds. He shot 6/10 from the field, 3/7 from three, and 1/1 from the free-throw line. The best thing about this performance is that every shot Bullock took was assisted by a different teammate. He received assists from every other starter plus Rose and IQ. Bullock finds open space, and every other Knick knows to look for him. He hits shots where the pass is off-center, after resetting his feet, after pump-faking closeouts, and under any other circumstance that you can imagine. If he has room, get him the ball to shoot.
Reggie Bullock is consistently producing at a high level. The wing is stacking points and assists without needing the ball in his hands often. He also brings some of the best defense on the team. That’s a recipe for a perfect role player for this Knicks’ team. Bully doesn’t just stand out when he’s hitting shots. He comes to the ball when guys are in trouble and draws defenders to create lanes for slashers. Bullock’s hit his groove as a Knick and makes a strong case re-signed. He grabs a 2.5 out of 5 for impact in the win.
RJ Barrett: RJ Barrett had another quiet first half, followed by another explosive second half. The sophomore didn’t struggle in the first half as he had in the previous two games, but he took a backseat to other hot hands. Barrett’s half ended early because of foul trouble. That meant fresher legs as RJ dropped 18 points in the second half. The youngster was a playmaker early, feeding teammates before taking matters into his own hands with a series of jumpers and strong drives.
RJ worked for 38 minutes and finished with 25 points, 4 assists, 12 rebounds, and 2 turnovers. He shot 8/16 from the field, 3/7 from three, and 6/7 from the free-throw line. The 20-year-old knocked down some nice mid-range jumpers off the dribble to go with his threes. He got after rebounds that allowed him to push the pace and apply pressure.
Broadway Barrett is on a tear right now. His past five games have been beauties. For the last two games, he’s picked up 4 or more assists. I think some of it has to do with teams doubling Julius Randle even more aggressively. The Raptors wanted the ball out of Randle’s hands at all costs, but that meant a lot of space for RJ to operate. The prospect has made mistakes with his playmaking in the past, but those reps lead to better results now. Barrett has taken his scoring and playmaking to another level. He picks up an impact score of 4 out of 5.
Julius Randle: Julius Randle is dropping thirty-point games with ease. He started the game on fire, setting the tone with three-point shooting. Randle was hitting threes off the dribble that most players are afraid to attempt. If defenders pushed up to stop the shot, Randle drove past them. That left Toronto switching and doubling the Knicks’ star whenever he touched the ball. It limited the big man’s playmaking but allowed him to swing the ball to other ball-handlers who feasted in the open spacing.
Randle is impossible to guard when he shoots like this. The big man shot 10/17 from the floor, 5/7 from three, and 6/8 from the line. He pumped in 31 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 turnovers in 39 minutes. Despite his low assists, I’d say he moved the ball well. Randle had ample opportunity to attack smaller defenders and draw double-teams, moving the rock to players who would do the playmaking. These three-point barrages are becoming more common and could take Randle from MIP conversations to MVP if he can set this pace for a full season.
I’m running out of superlatives for Julius Randle. He’s exceeded my expectations by a mile. The big man has done this all year long, somehow finding ways to improve on his already great performances. He deserves some MVP points, not over Jokic or Embiid, but I’d argue he’s right there with everyone else. The big man hasn’t missed games, plays massive minutes, and provides the Knicks with literally everything. His impact is even greater than this fantastic stat-line suggests. He earned the MVP chants whenever he stepped to the free-throw line. Randle nets a 4.5 out of 5 for his contribution.
Nerlens Noel: Can we come up with a cool nickname for Nerlens Noel? He’s constantly erasing shots at the rim, denying dunks, and sending would-be finishers crashing with nothing to show for it. Noel had two big fourth-quarter blocks, sending Pascal Siakam to the shadow realm on a dunk attempt. In this game, where Noel’s numbers were light, his shot-blocking was clear proof that his impact was greater than the sum of those statistics.
Noel added 1 point, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 4 blocks in 29 minutes. He went 0/1 from the field and 1/1 from the line. Noel’s low-scoring and field goal tallies are rarely ever an indictment of his game. With this offense that has so many weapons on the ball, Noel’s humble ability to impact without touches becomes a huge positive. He focuses on what he does best, that’s disrupting offensive players whether they’re dribbling by or trying to finish inside.
Noel’s numbers might have dipped, but he continued his recent run of great performances. The big man’s blocks were momentum changing. He once again created transitions out of thin air with his defense. He’s a game-changer once he gets going with rim protection and can string together blocks in a series like shooters will string together three-point rallies…if only there were a way to do a heat check for a defender. Noel grabs a 3 out of 5 for his defensive impact.
Rookie threes and Rose’s onslaught for second unit dominance
Derrick Rose: Julius Randle called Derrick Rose a leader after the game. It was yet another gem from the former MVP. Rose made every player on the floor better while he was out there. He scored at will, putting defenders on skates with a series of hesitations and quick explosions. D-Rose had a gem passing the ball as well. He found shooters and cutters alike, drawing out Obi Toppin’s best shooting performance of the year. I’m curious about how many hockey assists Rose picked up as well. Randle called the former Bull a leader, and I’d throw in the word “unstoppable.”
Rose played for 33 minutes, adding 19 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 turnover. He shot 7/10 from the field, 0/1 from three, and 5/6 from the line. Rose played with incredible patience, moving the ball and waiting to strike until the defense was out of position. His play encouraged a similar approach from everyone he rocked with. He attacked big men on switches and left them on skates, finishing floaters despite defenders all around. At one point, bodies were flying by him, and I reminisced Andre 3K’s character from Semi-Pro.
Rose was dominant. He barely missed a shot, picked the defense apart with passing, and was unstoppable in transition. Each game looks better than the last, with a growing impact. What stands out the most is that Toronto took away Randle’s passing options, but Rose picked up that slack. If teams force the ball out of Julius Randle’s hands, the Knicks have Rose and RJ to feast on the unbalanced defensive scheme. Rose grabs a 4.5 for absolutely controlling the Raptors whenever he was out there.
Immanuel Quickley: Immanuel Quickley is in a similar boat to Nerlens Noel. His numbers don’t match his recent performances, but his quality of play didn’t actually slip. IQ hit a couple of good looks and moved the ball extremely well. He fit seamlessly into the patient and extra passing approach that Derrick Rose helped establish. The rookie sparked a shooting onslaught for Reggie Bullock, finding the wing along the baseline for the first of three consecutive three-pointers. Even without touching the ball, IQ is such a threat to shoot that he makes it hard for defenders to dig or help against anyone else.
Quickley played 21 minutes and managed 6 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 turnover. He shot 2/5 from the field, 2/4 from three. Toronto’s guards showed discipline in fouling, which kept IQ from stealing free points at the line. The rookie didn’t get the ball or attack as often as usual, but that’s because he shared the floor with a bunch of hot hands. Rose was cooking all night, RJ’s fourth-quarter run with the second unit was beautiful, and Obi Toppin had it going from three. With so many mouths to feed, IQ let the offense come to him. He remained a threat even without being overly aggressive.
The beauty of Quickley’s game is that he already bends the defense out of shape. The rookie is liable to pull up as soon as his feet get past the logo. He’s the second unit’s fast-release shooter, a perfect follow-up to Reggie Bullock with the starters. This game didn’t show off IQ’s ability to break down a defense inside, but that’s only because it wasn’t necessary. Quickley’s maturity was on display because he didn’t force anything or lose composure. He grabs a 2.5 out of 5 for an impact greater than his numbers suggest.
Taj Gibson: Taj Gibson saw a rookie on defense and decided to go into attack mode early. He attacked Freddie Gillespie on the offensive glass and inside. At one point, Taj hit that youngster with a spin move straight out of your local Y. It proved to be a nice boost in a high-scoring half. Gibson always finds ways to provide New York with just what it needs.
Taj put up 9 points, 5 boards, 1 assist, and 1 turnover. He shot 4/5 from the field and 1/1 from the line in 19 minutes of action. While Gibson’s a good defender, Noel took extra minutes by being great in the second half. The slight dip in minutes may have also related to Taj Gibson’s eye injury from the previous game. He was rocking with goggles and an eye that looked redder than a Sharingan from Naruto. The big man didn’t seem affected, though. He owned his second unit match-up with Gillespie.
If you read the recaps frequently enough, you know that I Stan Taj Gibson. He gives me Kurt Thomas vibes from that last heroic run in 2013. But Taj is five years younger, more consistent, and better at this stage than KT was. It’s the leadership that both players shared. Gibson’s presence has a feel about it. You can see players wander toward him for advice or catch him leading by example. The big man has been a gift all season long! Taj gets a 2.5 out of 5 for another great performance.
Obi Toppin: Obi Toppin only got 9 minutes, but he made an impression with that time. Toppin knocked down 3/4 three-point attempts, shooting with rhythm and confidence that we’ve rarely seen this season. He put up 9 points and 2 rebounds in his short time out there. Were there some mishaps on defense? Only a couple. He’s improving on defense and starting to look more comfortable even as a shooter.
That 90’s vibe from Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau: Tom Thibodeau drew a line from Julius Randle’s leadership and hard work to Patrick Ewing’s efforts in the ’90s. As a Knicks fan, I can think of no greater compliment. The best part is that Thibs was there. New York’s head coach was an assistant to some great 90’s teams, and that experience seems formative. Those New York teams got contributions from a lot of players who knew their roles and played to their strengths. Take a look at this squad in 2021, and you can find the exact same mentality oozing from every piece in the rotation.
Thibodeau didn’t introduce many new features or tough decisions. He hasn’t had to be particularly creative lately. His system has players with a clear set of expectations, and they continue to fulfill those needs. Bullock is shooting, Rose is creating, and Randle is doing it all. It’s not just culture but also comfort and knowledge developing in this team. If anything, the most interesting decision for Thibs might have been an early challenge on a seemingly inconsequential putback attempt. The challenge earned two points during a stretch where the Knicks already had momentum, but what more can you ask for from a challenge than to produce extra points for the team? Besides saving a key player from foul trouble, I think getting points on the board is the best way to use a challenge.
While I don’t think these were particularly tricky waters to navigate, Thibodeau still deserves his props. He kept his 9 man rotation tight and locked in. My only complaint would be that Obi should get more minutes when he plays this well. It would kill two birds with one stone by giving Toppin some confidence and experience while also resting Randle a bit more. But with the stretch of basketball that Julius Randle is playing, who can really blame Thibs? Tom Thibodeau’s impact scores a 3.5 out of 5 for the game.
Closing Thoughts
The Knicks are the talk of the league right now. They picked up their ninth straight team on ESPN with the commentators gushing about New York’s growth. I saw a tweet from a former KFTV podcast guest, Ariel Helwani, “Dare I say basketball is back in New York City, friends.” It made me chuckle because Brooklyn has Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden on a contending team…but the energy in NYC only changes when the KNICKS are winning. That’s New York’s team, and I’m not even sure a championship could change it.
There’s a reason the fourth seed is the talk of a town in which the top team in the East resides. It’s not just that the Knicks have exceeded expectations. It’s that this isn’t just a basketball city. New York is a Knicks city. The fan enthusiasm frustrates outsiders when our team is bad, but it’s infectious when they’re playing well.
There’s no better energy than right outside the Garden after a big win. Young heads haven’t gotten a chance to feel that magic like fans from the ’90s did. But a home-court advantage in the playoffs might change that. Just look at how our 2000 fans sound compared to any other arena in the league right now. There’s no place like Garden, and the Barclays certainly isn’t touching it. All the flashy designs and styles in the world can’t change that because the fans are so crucial to that Garden magic.
The Knicks have a daunting task to make it 10 in a row. They’ll play the Phoenix Suns, who have the second-best record in the league. It’s a duel with an elite opponent and another chance to show that New York’s legit. We’ve only got 2 more games until a daunting West Coast trip, so a big showing against Phoenix would help bring momentum across the country. Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and a tough opposition await, but I’d LOVE a statement win to mark 10 straight. I’ll see y’all after action, and my fingers are crossed we’ll be celebrating again. See you there, Knicks fam!
