The New York Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards 114-92 on the backs of Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley.
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The New York Knicks routed a depleted Washington Wizards team. New York took control after a close first quarter, outscoring the Wizards 71-41 during that stretch. Tank fans will cringe at the result, but the good news is that young players shined once again. The Ball movement was crisp, the defense was sharp, and the Knicks had an unstoppable scorer leading the effort.
RJ Barrett was also poised for a huge game but left early with a sprained knee. The injury left the door open for Obi Toppin to take over, notching 35 points with relative ease. Immanuel Quickley played co-pilot as the lead creator for the Knicks’ offense. The Knicks crushed a depleted opponent, as they should, but we can still take notes from how the youth handled their opportunities. So let’s dive into the performances.
Toppin’s emergence makes up for Barrett’s scare with New York’s starters
Alec Burks: 6 PTS (1/9 FG, 1/6 3PT, 3/4 FT), 5 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 33 mins
I didn’t realize how poorly Alec Burks shot in this game until I looked back at the box score. While Burks failed to hit his shots, he made up for it with effort everywhere else. There were enough dimes, rebounds, and defensive plays between the missed shots to make Burks’ shooting woes somewhat obsolete.
But the shooting woes are a bit concerning. Burks struggled to get going against a Wizards defense that was porous at best. He couldn’t rely on his jumper and didn’t attack much off the dribble. I wonder if Burks took a step back to let the younger players assert themselves.
Whether he took a backseat on purpose or not, Burks handled the role of connector reasonably well. He often received kick-outs and threw a second pass that turned into an assist. His defense and rebounding held firm as well. The microwave scorer managed didn’t score, but he made up for that with the rest of his effort. Burks picks up a 2.5 out of 5 on his impact grade for a solid night for the shorthanded Knicks.
Evan Fournier: 17 PTS (6/14 FG, 4/10 3PT, 1/2 FT), 2 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL in 28 mins
Evan Fournier didn’t get going until the third quarter. He fed off Immanuel Quickley’s creation and knocked down multiple three-pointers. The French scorer augmented his shooting by knocking down a few floaters off the dribble. It was enough to turn in an efficient scoring effort that added to his single-season long-range record for New York.
Fournier didn’t fall back the way that Burks did. Instead, he fired away for most of his minutes, but that’s a necessity for the shooter. New York needed a floor spacer with gravity to open things up for Barrett and IQ’s slashing and Toppin’s cutting. And the fact that Fournier turned around a poor shooting performance in the first half was essential because New York needed one of its vets to make some shots.
I’m always happy when Fournier contributes some defense to the effort. He wasn’t just on the hook for a pair of steals but challenged some shooters along the way. His on-ball defense is still questionable, but Fournier’s rotations have improved since an abysmal start to the year. After a rough patch early, he has rounded into form and is earning his contract. Fournier adds a 3 out of 5 for stepping up after Barrett went down.
RJ Barrett: 14 PTS (6/10 FG, 2/4 FT), 2 AST, 3 REB in 15 mins
RJ Barrett scored whenever he felt like it because the Wizards didn’t have a perimeter defender that could stay in front of the rising star. Even his misses were predominantly bunnies that usually go down. He didn’t attempt a three-pointer because he didn’t have to. Instead, he showed off a pair of midrange jumpers to get his night going, and that in-between game will be necessary for his development.
Unfortunately, Barrett got injured in the second quarter. He pumped Raul Neto into the air, and the small guard fell into Barrett at an awkward angle. The young leader stayed on the floor a bit longer but headed straight to the locker room after coming off. The third quarter began with news that he was out due to a sprained knee, which likely means his season is over.
It’s tough to see RJ pick up an injury during an essentially meaningless game. But it’s also worth bearing in mind that the 21-year old is learning to lead. He dominated early and seemed poised to have another statement game. He’ll finish the year on a trajectory that suggests he could push for All-Star votes next season. Despite leaving so early, Barrett hit fifteen minutes of quality play, which is enough to rate a 2.5 out of 5 for his impact.
Obi Toppin: 35 PTS (14/22 FG, 6/9 3PT, 1/1 FT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL, 2 TO in 38 mins
Stop everything and look at that three-point shooting one more time. Obi Toppin hit his three-point looks with confidence. He fired away without hesitation, even when the closeout was so close that it knocked him over. Toppin notched 18-points from the three-point line and still poured in his usual array of interior finishes.
Toppin was a constant transition threat. Clyde even commented on Obi’s astounding way to beat even the Wizard guards downcourt. The sophomore took off for several easy dunks behind the defense. The other side of this benefit is that he often wasn’t around for rebounds, but Burks and IQ did well to pick up his slack and find him in transition.
But 35 points on 22 attempts shouldn’t be the only story. Defensively, Obi Toppin has some warts to work on but is promising. His mobility and motor combined with Sims to make the front court’s rotations FAST. Toppin bit on pump fakes a bit too often, but he was always there to challenge ball-handlers. Combine solid defense with a dominant offense, and Obi walks away with a 4.5 out of 5 for his performance.
Jericho Sims: 6 PTS (1/4 FG, 4/4 FT), 3 AST, 9 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO in 34 mins
If there’s one gap between Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims on offense, it’s that Mitch can flush everything he gets around the basket. Sims has to pump fake or show some touch around the basket to finish around bigger bodies. This game displayed how that can be a problem when Sims’ touch is off. He struggled to finish around the basket but did everything else really well.
Sims was a force in the middle even without the scoring. He had emphatic blocks and denied plenty of other attempts inside. His rebounding picked up as the game wore on, and I was especially pleased to see him boxing Gafford out for a few tough ones. Sims’ defense might be easy to overlook in a blowout, but he was an impact player from rotations to rim protection.
Sims also added a few assists to his night. He has a knack for receiving the ball on a cut and making an immediate kick out to a free shooter. That sort of awareness is nice to see, even though he passes up some opportunities. It’s a flash of vision that most young bigs don’t have. Sims, the steal, picks up 3 out of 5 for his control over the paint all night.
The Knicks’ second unit leans on Immanuel Quickley’s leadership
Immanuel Quickley: 23 PTS (9/18 FG, 4/9 3PT, 1/1 FT), 10 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL, 2 TO in 36 mins
Immanuel Quickley carved the Wizards’ defense up and made everything look easy. He was strong in the first half but really exploded when he opened the second half with the starters. IQ took on the brunt of the creation with Barrett, Randle, and Rose all out. He didn’t just embrace the role but looked comfortable and dominant against his lesser opponents.
The sophomore looked like a vet, leading the entire team like a maestro. He mixed three-point attempts with clever drives to finish, and then he dimed to the next man when the defense focused on him. Quickley was guiding players to their comfort zones and getting them easy looks. His ten assists included plenty of transition feeds and some brilliant moments of half-court offense. He looked like a true point guard yet again.
I’ve been beating this drum for a while, but IQ’s rebounding has really added to his impact. He grabs defensive boards, and the offense takes off. His telepathic connection with Obi Toppin means that every rebound is a chance to find Toppin for a quick and easy two. Mike Dantoni would blush at how fast those two turn a stop into a basket. Quickley gets a 4.5 out of 5 for assuming leadership when RJ Barrett left.
Taj Gibson: 10 PTS (3/5 FG, 4/4 FT), 2 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL, 2 TO in 23 mins
Taj Gibson did a lot of Taj Gibson things in this one. He was a sturdy body in the middle, swinging from Power Forward to Center as needed for the shorthanded Knicks. Taj took jumpers from midrange when left open, missing one with his foot on the line but canning another from the elbow. If he had opportunities inside, Gibson flushed them.
Taj is always fun to watch work on defense. That’s because he makes the right decisions on nearly every possession. Gibson anticipates his rotations and knows when to help. He hedges the right way and rarely lets his assignment sneak too far away. He didn’t have too many challenges in this game, but he handled his role.
Despite playing over 20 minutes, Gibson still played more of a background role. He did all of the little things that compliment teammates. They pick up the flashy moments and statistics, while Taj makes it easier to play the game. It’s a quality that makes the player easy to like for fans and teammates. Nevertheless, the native New Yorker picks up 2.5 out of 5 for doing justice to the backup role he received.
Miles McBride: 3 PTS (1/5 FG, 1/4 3PT), 1 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 19 mins
Miles McBride flushed his first three-point attempt with confidence. He fired with a defender nearby but looked comfortable and in rhythm. Unfortunately, Deuce’s next couple of shots would rim out, and the two after looked like he was aiming. There’s ample evidence that McBride can shoot that rock, but he struggled again in this game.
The rookie rarely needs scoring to be effective, though. His defense will always be the bread and butter of his game. He was disruptive as ever, harassing ball-handlers and showing off a nice rapport with Quickley. They visibly communicate early in possessions, which seems to help everyone line up effectively.
The poor shooting probably precluded McBride from playing more minutes. However, I’m afraid I have to disagree with that decision. The game was a blowout, but starters came back on when the Wizards pushed the score into the teens. Deuce would have provided enough defense to protect that lead, and maybe he’d have found his rhythm. But either way, he had a solid night even with the light production. McBride adds a 1.5 out of 5, just needing a bit more production to move into decent impact score territory.
Ryan Arcidiacono: 0 PTS (0/1 FG, 0/1 3PT), 1 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 13 mins
I really like Ryan Arcidiacono’s defensive play. He got some extra minutes in this game, though not enough to warrant a full recap. The late addition provided a lot of nice hustle moments to his credit. His steal showed excellent defensive chemistry with McBride, as he anticipated ball pressure and snuck to the opposite side of the ball-handler.
Arcidiacono missed his only shot attempt, a three near the corner. But he did manage an assist and a few rebounds during his thirteen minutes. He didn’t do too much to show off, but his defense and effort were easy to appreciate.
Feron Hunt: 1 STL in 2 mins
Feron Hunt got to see the floor for the last couple of minutes. It was only enough time to show off his motor, but it was a start for the rookie.
No tough decisions as Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks’ dominate
Tom Thibodeau:
I’m not sure that Tom Thibodeau could have lost this game if he tried. He started shorthanded and had to use his young players and end-of-bench pieces frequently. His best player went down before halftime. None of that made his job any more challenging because the Knicks dominated.
Coaching decisions tend to affect the margins, adding a few points here and there, while the gameplan and players impact things in a more demonstrable fashion. So the blowout meant that there was not much to scrutinize. Of course, one might argue that RJ Barrett shouldn’t have been playing much with the season over. Deuce McBride could have played more, and I’d even give Arcidiacono some more of Fournier’s minutes. But those choices are tough to be too mad at.
This game falls in the “too easy” category. Thibodeau faced a tanking team and took care of his business. His most promising young players all showed signs of growth and development, which is a compliment to the coach. His impact on this game might have been minuscule, but signs of 80 games worth of development were showing in the result. Thibodeau picks up a 3 out of 5 for an easy but impressive win.
Closing Thoughts
Best wishes and get well soon to RJ Barrett. That was an awkward bit of contact, and it’d be the ultimate salt in Knicks fans’ wounds to find out any serious injury occurred. I think he’ll be alright, but the collective gasp from fans is enough to show how much he’s come to mean to the fans. Barrett blossomed in his third year. That’s an incredible accomplishment, given the adversity this team faced all season. Whether the fans were happy or upset, RJ’s impact was visible in how it energized his teammates.
The third-year leap seems like a good possibility for Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley. I could argue that they’ve already made their leaps (and I have for IQ before). The game has slowed down, and they’ve learned their strengths while improving their weaknesses. Those guys are ready for more prominent roles from day one of next season.
Then we’ll have the next batch of developing pieces to watch. Jericho Sims, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride have all shown promise. They all have NBA-ready strengths with clear room for growth. Rokas Jokubaitis is in Europe, turning into a rising star overseas. After those guys, we have another lottery pick entrusted to a front office that has hit on arguably every selection.
The season will end on Sunday without a playoff berth or a play-in opportunity. After such a promising season one year ago, it will broadly be considered a disappointment. But I think we’ve downplayed the growth that has occurred with the young players on that roster. That’s partially due to the front office creating log jams and the coach playing his vets. It’s also because Knicks fans are used to things going bad.
But the silver lining is that every young player they’ve drafted in the past three years is growing, and they’re developing fast. Toronto marks the end of the year, and we’ll say our goodbyes until the tip-off of a new season months later. But those months in-between will be room to clean up the roster, consolidate talent, and let the young men continue their growth into a group that can challenge the league. I’ll see you after the next one, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP and Jonathan Macri, Dean of Knicks Film School, discuss the state of the Knicks.
