Julius Randle dropped 44 points and the New York Knicks rolled to their third win in a row with a 123-112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
The Knicks got off to an early lead behind red hot shooting but foul trouble kept the Hawks within punching distance. Atlanta took hold of the lead in the third quarter, but New York got a combination of timely buckets and big stops at the rim to regain momentum. The Knicks closed strong with the vaunted Quickley/Rose backcourt joining starters Barrett, Randle and Noel to put the game away.
It was a fun victory with a superstar level performance leading the way. The story of the night will be Julius Randle who came a point shy of his career high and knocked down 7 three-pointers on a night when he couldn’t miss. But timely contributions from a myriad of rotation players played a key role as well. The Knicks executed from start to finish. Barring a lot of shoddy whistles for Trae Young, this game would have been a third straight blowout. But Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks maintained composure and closed with a hard-fought double-digit win. Let’s take a closer look at the action.
Starters all show up and produce
Elfrid Payton: After struggling through the first half, Elfrid Payton closed his night in a flurry of third quarter baskets that salvaged the performance. Payton’s quiet first half was shielded by explosions from Randle and Barrett. When the Hawks kicked up their defensive intensity on those two though, it was the Knicks’ PG that attacked the lane for consecutive baskets. He saw the openings and finished repeatedly in the paint before the second unit stepped in.
Payton played for 24 minutes and dropped 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 turnover. He shot 5/12 from the field, 0/1 from three and 2/2 from the free throw line. The veteran point was on his way to a disappointing night before taking the attack right to Trae Young. It’s a bit tough to give a point guard a pass for having the least assists of the starting line-up.
Lost in the offensive numbers is the job that Payton did on Trae Young. While Young is always going to score some, Payton and Rose really held the Hawks star in check. Refs and free throws were the only way that Young ever got room to breathe. Payton’s statistics aren’t gaudy or flashy, but he was effective in his role. Payton never got a chance to see if the seams he found late would continue to be there. But he did well enough on defense for the late scoring to keep him at a 2.5 out of 5.
Reggie Bullock: The Knicks offense seems to be asking for less from Reggie Bullock lately. He was once again relegated to almost all offense coming behind the three-point line. But that was the perfect way to maximize his value. Bullock doesn’t need to shoot much or put up big numbers to be effective. He’s back to being a plain and simple 3 and D wing and the team is better for it.
In a no frills 22-minute performance, Bullock put up 8 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds and a turnover. He shot 3/7 from the field and 2/5 from three. The two takes inside the line happened simultaneously, Reggie missed a bunny but tipped in his own rebound. Everything else was floor stretching and defense. There weren’t many opportunities to do much more, but that also meant less touches to make mistakes as well.
The firepower from the starters really doesn’t require Bullock to do anything extra. He shoots when he’s open and moves the ball otherwise. That’s not a formula for many breakout nights, but he’s not on the floor for that. Bullock’s not supposed to stand out. He’s supposed to be a glue piece. He nets a 2.5 out of 5 for being exactly that. His rotations helped the defense and his shooting spaced the floor.
RJ Barrett: Lost in the hype of Randle’s explosion, RJ Barrett had himself a highly efficient bounce back game. Barrett’s jumper was back in a big way. He knocked down his first three early and hit from midrange as well. In the fourth quarter, RJ’s teammates fed him twice for open threes and he delivered. That’s big for a player who found himself relegated to the bench in some recent closeouts.
For 33 minutes, the Maple Mamba attacked with 21 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, a steal and a turnover. That scoring came on 8/14 from the field, 3/3 from three and 2/3 from the line. With the jumper falling, opportunities to get inside opened. Defenders had to follow RJ to the perimeter, and he was able to get a step that forced them on his hip or into post-up situations closer inside. The most promising aspect of the performance is that even with his scoring back, RJ managed to create opportunities for others. He found Randle for kickouts repeatedly.
It was a really good performance, plain and simple. Barrett was extremely efficient, picked up assists and boards at a good clip and played solid defense against Huerter and Reddish. The only concern for fans is consistency in RJ’s jumper. When the sophomore is a threat that requires attention further out, he becomes almost unstoppable. But that J has had some disappearing acts and Barrett’s performance has slumped in its absence. We’ll see if he can trend toward a more reliable long and midrange game. Barret scores a 3.5 out of 5 on the night.
Julius Randle: At the end of the game, Julius Randle’s teammates stole the microphone from him for the post-game interview. They loudly proclaimed that he needs to be an all-star and anyone that witnessed his performance should understand why. Randle was an undeniable star. He hit jumpers all over the floor and still managed to pick up some pretty assists along the way. Every other player fed off the attention and performance of Randle.
Randle lit it up with 44 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists to 3 turnovers on 14/22 from the field, 7/13 from three and 9/12 from the free throw line. The free throw total is especially impressive because of how often Randle did his damage from the perimeter. He still managed to get into the teeth of the defense and draw freebies when necessary. It was a consummate performance, dominant in a way that we haven’t seen since Carmelo Anthony left town.
My favorite part about this performance was Randle’s crunch time approach. The focal point of the offense made sure to put the ball in Immanuel Quickley’s hands to start most possessions late. He trusted his rookie point guard to find him and IQ delivered. That sort of trust and leadership is even more indicative of Randle’s growth than his 40-point bombardment. The big man gets a 5 out of 5 for being an absolute star. Vote this man to the all-star game!
Nerlens Noel: In an ironic turn of events, Nerlens Noel’s best stint on the floor came about after he fumbled an easy pass out of bounds. Noel followed that dropped pass with a short jumper and then back-to-back blocked dunk attempts at the rim. It was a fun, clear glimpse at the shot blocker’s ability to impact the game even without being a major scoring threat. Noel’s interior presence was on display all night as he didn’t just block some shots but denied multiple alley-oop lobs thanks to impeccable instincts and timing. The big man was a Stocks (Steals and Blocks) machine.
With 27 minutes of action, Noel produced 6 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks on 3/3 from the field. On multiple occasions, Hawks players would get into the lane and settle for floaters or pass out thanks to intimidation from Noel. The big man absolutely owned the paint defensively, although he did give up some offensive rebounds that he could have grabbed. That said, Noel dealt with some foul trouble early and then took over defensively late. He was a shot blocking machine and also added an exclamation point put back dunk later on.
The Knicks’ vaunted defense has spent all season anchored by brilliant play from Mitchell Robinson. In his absence, Nerlens Noel has stepped up. Noel’s not the perfect doppelganger for Robinson’s freak athleticism, but he makes up for it with instincts and straight up fearlessness. Noel’s willingness to meet players at the rim was special even without the other intangibles he provided. For a great night on defense and solid contributions all-around, Noel nabs a 3 out of 5.
Bench continues the quality play
Derrick Rose: It’s nice that Derrick Rose came back down to Earth but still looked pretty good. The former MVP has been playing outstanding basketball. This was his first night with the jumper not falling and some bunnies rimming out, but Rose still didn’t look bad. He had some nice assists, a dazzling finish to close the third quarter and hounding defense on Trae Young throughout the game. I think Rose is the first player I’ve seen pick up multiple fouls with his hands behind his back. Either way, the Knicks’ new edition had his weakest night and still managed to be a net positive.
Rose clocked 8 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 turnovers in 24 minutes. He shot 3/9 from the field, 0/1 from three and 2/2 from the free throw line. The former Bull was visibly frustrated at some no-calls on his drives, possibly a reaction to the soft whistles that Trae Young kept drawing. The stats don’t really do justice to his performance regardless. The numbers aren’t particularly efficient, but eye-test showed some glimpses of leadership.
From the 7-minute mark down to 5, New York was clinging to a 2-point lead over the Hawks while both teams rushed sloppy attempts at offense. As soon as a dead ball started, Derrick Rose called his teammates into a huddle for a quick chat. Tom Thibodeau took the cue to call a timeout. IQ would feed RJ Barrett for a three-pointer after this and the Knicks never looked back. Rose’s presence in all of this is periphery but felt crucial. That sort of leadership goes beyond the forgettable numbers and speaks to the real value of trading for this vet. Rose closes the game with a 2.5 out of 5.
Immanuel Quickley: Some players are just born with the clutch gene. Immanuel Quickley’s floater wasn’t falling, but he managed to be productive behind three-point shooting. This was especially prevalent as he made two well timed three’s in a tight fourth quarter. The pair of knockdowns left the Hawks defending IQ out deep and the rookie PG responded with a series of late game assists. He shot until they wouldn’t let him, then he used the attention he was drawing to feed others.
The rookie 16 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds in just 22 minutes of action. If he was on the floor, he was putting up numbers. He shot 4/11 from the field, 4/8 from three and 4/4 from the line. Quickley didn’t have the luxury of his floater in this one but managed to score big by getting to the line and making his field goals count for 3 at a time. The real joy for me was watching those late game assists, a pick and roll kick out here and a quick swing pass there. Those are game winning plays even with one of his best weapons missing. Of course, the fact that IQ is already a knockdown three point shooter makes everything else more effective…
It’s easy to overcome a poor shooting night if you get to the free throw line and knock down some three’s. Quickley shot below 50% from the field but significantly outperformed his field goal percentage. That’s because he hit his three’s, drew some fouls, got some dimes…and by the way, he had some stand out defensive moments as well. IQ makes some rookie mistakes on defense, but his man-to-man game is advanced for his age. He’s an all-around treat to watch and appears to be gaining even more poise. Quickley gets a 3.5 out of 5.
Alec Burks: Just like Reggie Bullock, Alec Burks has found himself in a reduced role lately. He’s not getting a ton of touches and the offense only runs through his wing periodically with Rose and IQ baring most of the burden. That has predictably quelled his production, but Burks’ impact goes beyond his numbers. The guard is a legitimate floor spacer even without shooting and he’s adept at putting the ball on the floor when he must. His versatility allows him to help the team even with underwhelming numbers.
On 19 minutes of play, Burks managed just 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal on 1/3 shooting, 0/2 from the field and 2/2 from the line. It’s not the production you want from even a third option in a unit, but that hides the fact that Alec Burks has impressive gravity even when he’s quiet. Teams realize they can’t leave him open and that makes a world of a difference for Rose and IQ operating up top.
Far from perfect, but still helpful is how I’d categorize Burks’ night. He barely attempted jumpers and missed the long ones. But the scorer had a modest approach that meant plenty of opportunities for the rest of the second unit. On this night, the Knicks were better off with Burks swinging and spacing. There will be plenty of opportunities to shoot more when teams focus even more on the IQ/Rose tandem. For now, Alec Burks locked in a 2 out of 5.
Obi Toppin: For the briefest of moments, we got to see the Obi Toppin and Julius Randle front court tandem. Randle drove to the hole and drew a whole team on him, he kicked to Toppin who hit a wide open three. Obi didn’t get many minutes beyond that and his defense was the reason. Toppin got benched after a bad closeout on Danilo Gallinari, who hit a three. It was the second time that Gallo had Toppin in a face up and shot comfortably over him.
Toppin doesn’t get an impact score. He played just 11 minutes for 3 points and 2 boards on 1/2 shooting while making his only three. It was a learning type of game for Toppin, he’ll need to tighten up his defense to stay on the floor.
Taj Gibson: Maybe this is just the honeymoon period for a recently added vet, but I’m not too down on Taj Gibson despite a tough game. He didn’t have the mobility to be very effective against the Hawks and his limitations led to a slow night. In 17 minutes, Taj had just 1 point, 3 rebounds and a block with 4 fouls to boot. He didn’t log a single field goal attempt.
It’s a 1.5 out of 5 performance with the caveat being that he was just facing a bad match-up. Third stringers don’t usually need to spend too much time out there, but Taj was forced into a role by injuries. His effort was respectable, but he had a bad game.
Everything’s coming up Roses in the Garden as the coaches win again
Tom Thibodeau: When the Knicks got off to a slow third quarter start, I was ready to come down on Tom Thibodeau for being too patient. He let his starters give up a 9-0 run to start the quarter and the struggles continued. But the guy I wanted benched, Elfrid Payton, responded with a scoring barrage. The starters paid Thibs back for his faith and then the second unit came in to help the push. Thibodeau trusted his rotation and was rewarded with another win.
We’ve been programmed to watch Thibodeau’s rotation minutes and this one looked good. He played Randle for 40 minutes, but how could he not? RJ Barrett has had ample rest lately and got 33 minutes with clutch baskets to boot. Quickley could use an increase in minutes but bringing him along slowly has meant few mistakes and a mentality that drips with confidence.
I generally reflect on play trends and space for improvement when I reach the third paragraph and impact score. But Tom Thibodeau is on a 3-game winning streak, all by double-digits and all with few errors to harp on. I can’t even nitpick right now because I’m too happy. I won’t reach for a reason to complain, I like the trajectory of just about everything the Knicks are doing right now. Thibs gets a 4 out of 5 with higher scores waiting until his team is truly tested.
Closing Thoughts: The New York Knicks have got to be one of the most exciting stories of the season even outside of our Knicks fan bubble. They came into the season a virtual lock to be a bottom feeder and have done nothing but overachieve since. It helps that the East has so much parity. Right now the Knicks are a 6th seed. They’re a half game out of home court advantage in the first round but also two games away from 11th place and out of the playoffs altogether.
Every game counts and the New York Knicks play like it. Whether it’s Sunday afternoon or a primetime match-up with a rival, the Knicks show up to fight. The New York media cycle bombards fans with trade news, free agent rumors and drudged up old tweets for drama…but I’m living in the present. I love how bright the future looks but harping on it is like going to a concert and watching through your cell phone screen. We’re watching a scrappy team in the playoff hunt. The grass might be greener in the future, but it’s ripe for a picnic right now.
That’s a lot of analogies just to say, enjoy it. These games have been exciting, and this season has been fun. We can overanalyze about what direction to go and scrutinize the minutiae when the Knicks aren’t a playoff team on a winning streak. The Knicks are an NBA feel-good story, tied for the longest win streak in the conference. I’m tired of nihilism, I’m diving headfirst into the hype while I can. Julius Randle for All-NBA, Tom Thibodeau for Coach of the Year, Immanuel Quickley for Rookie of the Year and RJ Barrett for most improved…I’ll be negative when the Knicks give me a reason to be. For now, I see the New York Knicks working hard with a smile and I hope you all can join me in smiling back.
