The New York Knicks battled the Brooklyn Nets through all four quarters. Unfortunately, the Knicks would fall to the Nets 112-110.
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The New York Knicks fell to the Brooklyn Nets 112-110 because of last-second free throws by James Johnson. The Knicks started off strong but had to compete with the hot hand of James Harden. Harden broke twenty points before the half, but the Knicks still held onto a one-point lead thanks to clever passing and timely shooting. The Nets went on a run to start the third, but the Knicks would battle back turning the fourth quarter into a back and forth competition. Sadly, the Nets had the last laugh, with James Johnson of all people making the game-winning free throws.
Julius Randle had one of his most complete performances of the season and Alec Burks cracked 20 points again. Off the bench, it was the usual suspects, Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley leading the way. This was a tough loss, but a competitive effort that still feels like a step in the right direction. Let’s take a look at the performances of the new rotation.
More bite from Knicks’ starters, but the third quarter still drags:
Alec Burks: 25 PTS (9/21 FG, 4/10 3 PT, 3/4 FT), 5 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 39 mins
Alec Burks turned in another high-scoring performance, leading the team with 25 points. He was aggressive to the point that I felt playmaking fell to the wayside despite his 5 assists. Burks was more often getting shots up, drawing fouls, and finding ways to score. That can work as long as Randle takes on the playmaking role. But it led to stagnation during a slow start to the third quarter when Randle’s passing slipped.
Arguably an even bigger piece of the puzzle was Burks’ defense. When he gave James Harden too much space, the Nets’ star went off. But Burks just as often challenged shooters. You could catch him making sharp rotations that led to steals and a block on a Patty Mills three-pointer. His switchable game allowed for tighter contests of Durant jumpers (though it rarely matters with KD’s incredible shooting) and less blown rotation from the defense as a whole. Burks can’t solve all of the starter’s issues, but he makes a big difference for the defense.
This was a good example of Burks’ value with the starters. His shooting gravity opened up driving lanes for Randle, rim-running for Mitch, and pump-fakes to drives for Burks himself. That said, the shooting share could use more balance. Burks and Randle combined for 43 attempts and when they slowed down briefly, it sparked a 14-0 run from the Nets. But Burks produced across the board in only his second start which grants him a 3.5 of 5 for impact.
Evan Fournier: 13 PTS (5/12 FG, 3/8 3 PT), 2 TO in 22 mins
We caught the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Evan Fournier’s early Knicks tenure inside of a single quarter. Fournier started the game by making a tough jumper but faded to obscurity for most of the first three quarters. His hesitance peaked during third quarter struggles as he passed up shots only to drive into traffic and turn the ball over. He was benched after an egregious effort to chase down a defensive rebound which led to a Nets dunk. But then the big free agent acquisition came back on and canned two quick three-pointers in that same quarter, coming to life and helping the Knicks come back from a big deficit.
The third-quarter close brought Fournier confidence, and he knocked down what would have been the biggest shot of the night. The French wing came on with the Knicks trailing by three and 17 seconds to go. He caught an inbound pass and turned with no hesitation to fire up a game-tying three. Contrast that jumper with how he started the third quarter and it’s night and day from the same player.
The streaks of hot shooting for Fournier are starting to appear more frequently. But that still leaves chunks of games where he’s either uninvolved or shrinking away from the action. He’s not the lost cause that some Knicks fans make him out to be, but he has to be better to live up to his contract. His stat-line lacks anything but points and turnovers. That can’t fly! He has to produce elsewhere and turn in-game streaks into full game explosions. Fournier gets a 2 out of 5 for his performance, even the clutch shot doesn’t cover for his early woes.
RJ Barrett: 4 PTS (2/3 FG), 1 AST, 4 REB, 1 TO in 9 mins
Despite working hard and providing productive minutes, RJ Barrett was clearly laboring. He left the game early due to an illness. That’s unfortunate because he was off to a decent start and could have helped out the defense. He did have a nice dunk and showed positive signs in the limited minutes…but he also grimaced throughout.
Julius Randle: 24 PTS (11/22 FG, 0/2 3 PT, 2/2 FT), 8 AST, 9 REB, 2 STL, 3 TO in 40 mins
Don’t let a late technical foul fool you, Julius Randle turned in one of his most focused and effective performances of the season. Randle attacked inside with frequency, refusing to settle and getting downhill all game long. He rarely forced shots, kicking the ball out or finding cutters whenever his gravity created openings. The game looked easier for Randle than it has all year despite no love from the refs, collapsing defenders from every direction, and no three-pointers falling.
Though I’m saying the game came easy, that was a product of good decision-making. The Knicks’ star had to take some tough shots and finish through contact frequently, but whenever Brooklyn’s attention meant an open teammate Randle fed that player. There was one play that particularly stood out after Evan Fournier made his first three of the third quarter. Randle pushed the ball in transition, looked off one shooter, and instead set up Fournier to knock down a second shot in quick succession…that’s confidence instilling leadership from Randle.
Okay, let’s talk about the technical foul now. Randle picked up the technical foul after driving into contact with no whistle and giving up a jumper to KD on the opposite end. His defense wasn’t bad, but his jawing at the refs gave Brooklyn slightly more cushion to work with at a crucial juncture. But Randle had a point…James Harden took 10 free throws, Durant took 9, the entire Knicks team attempted 12. That’s despite an inside-out game from New York and Randle driving into far more contact than any Nets player. So technical foul be damned, Randle’s getting a 4.5 out of 5 for bringing it to KD and pushing the Nets to the brink against one-sided officiating.
Mitchell Robinson: 8 PTS (4/5 FG), 1 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK in 25 mins
Mitchell Robinson had a nice game offensively but also ran into some trouble keeping up with Brooklyn’s shooting big men. Lamarcus Aldridge kept getting separation to knock down midrange shots in the pick and pop. That’s LMA’s bread and butter play, but you’d still like to see more resistance from Mitch. He saw fewer minutes than a typical starter’s allotment and I think it was the Nets’ shooting that chased him off.
I credit the Nets’ shooters because Mitch was good offensively. He was a force inside that Brooklyn had trouble keeping off the boards. At one point the TNT broadcasters marveled at Robinson’s size as he forced a second-chance opportunity out of thin air. The big man was also a great roll threat on the pick-and-roll. Julius Randle found him multiple times early when Nets defenders cheated. Robinson also got one dunk by running the floor from a defensive rebound to a quick transition finish. He’s starting to move better overall.
That gives us a bit of a mixed bag for Mitchell Robinson’s performance. He was a force inside and had a strong impact on the offense. His rim protection remained intact but didn’t extend outside, where Nets’ centers continually shot over him. That put a lid on the shot-blocker’s impact and trimmed his minutes. Mitch gets a 2.5 out of 5, but he’s getting closer to wreaking chaos as he did at his best before the foot injury.
Knicks’ bench still potent behind the backcourt contributions:
Derrick Rose: 16 PTS (6/13 FG, 2/6 3 PT, 2/2 FT), 9 AST, 5 REB in 35 mins
With Kemba Walker out of the rotation, Derrick Rose’s playmaking became more important than it’s been all year. He came on early in the first quarter, possibly because RJ Barrett was sick but possibly to help ball movement as well. The Knicks have a lot of talented tertiary playmakers but Rose is the only player with floor-general qualities. He hit shots, broke down defenders, and most importantly fed his teammates in advantageous situations.
I focused the opener on D-Rose the playmaker, but the fun part of this performance was Rose the scorer. From putting Paul Milsap on skates with a series of crossovers to gliding past shot-blockers and switching hands on a lay-up, Rose put on a show. His game has to be among the most aesthetically pleasing of anyone in the league. The former Bull was good for an explosion every other play during his MVP runs, but his veteran approach is more refined. He can still blow by guys or fly past and over defenders, but now it’s much more measured.
Rose was great! The new rotation puts the ball in his hands a lot more often and that’s a good thing for everybody. When the former MVP isn’t scoring, he’s creating quality opportunities for other players. He has chemistry with virtually every player on the Knicks too…Rose found Obi Toppin beating the defense on the break and IQ swinging around the perimeter. He fed Julius Randle and Alec Burks in space too. Rose just helps everyone and that’s worth a 4 out of 5 on his impact grade for the night.
Immanuel Quickley: 12 PTS (4/11 FG, 2/5 3 PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 38 mins
Don’t let the slightly below-average efficiency fool you, Immanuel Quickley continued his run of quality performances. The elusive guard hit a deep three-pointer late that everyone will talk about, but it was his transition play and pace that stood out more consistently on the night. At one point, IQ outran everyone on a fast break with a speed burst that I wasn’t even sure he was capable of. He looks more athletic this year.
Quickley wasn’t just flying down the floor on fast breaks either. He routinely pushed the pace off Nets’ makes and that created early opportunities for teammates. But note only 1 turnover in 38 minutes! That’s because despite playing at a break-neck speed, IQ never forced things. He was fine with pulling back and resetting the offense by kicking the ball to Rose, Randle, or Burks at the top of the key. That meant the sophomore could take advantage when the defense was sleeping but also left plenty of touches for the other Knicks’ ball-handlers.
I want to repeat this…38 minutes. IQ played A LOT and I’m sure that some of this is the result of RJ Barrett leaving early. But Quickley couldn’t have been more deserving of the minutes. He plays some of the best perimeter defense on the team, functions both on and off the ball, and makes clutch baskets on a near-nightly basis. You know the boy’s got game when even Reggie Miller is shouting out his clutch threat (Reggie doesn’t show love to Knicks easily). IQ gets a 3.5 out of 5 for his performance and I hope he’s breaking 30 mpg frequently in this new rotation.
Obi Toppin: 8 PTS (3/4 FG, 0/1 3 PT, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 2 TO in 12 mins
The other Knicks’ sophomore played really well also, but still barely got any burn. Obi Toppin had a series of highlight value plays which is impressive for a guy that only had 4 attempts and 12 minutes to produce. Toppin did his usual thing, outrunning even the opposing guards and flying through the air whenever he got a step. Obi had one of the nicest pick-and-roll finishes of the game and it was the one time that anyone bothered to use him as a genuine screen and roll rim-runner.
This is just weird now. Obi does nothing but produce in his time on the floor and yet Tom Thibodeau seems to forget he exists. Thibs played Obi and Randle together late but pulled the sophomore in spite of some solid defense on Durant (Durant’s offense was just better). Toppin looked visibly frustrated about it and that reaction was warranted. He should be getting consistent performance scores that rate up there with his fellow bench-unit ballers. But instead, Obi got 12 minutes and showed us a world of potential without enough time to see how much of it can stick.
Nerlens Noel: 3 REB in 19 mins
Talk about a bizarre night. Nerlens Noel clocked 19 minutes and played some solid defense as usual, but barely touched the scoresheet. He visibly disrupted ball-handlers on multiple occasions and deterred some opportunities inside, but didn’t clock any blocks or steals. His entire impact was one big intangible, leaving the analytics-inclined to point at +/- for the one sign of positive play from Noel.
Don’t get me wrong though, I’m not bashing the performance. Noel did have his usual issue with bad hands. Obi Toppin whipped a pass to a wide-open Noel cutting inside, but the pass bounced right off Nerlens’ hands and out of bounds. It’s a memorable moment because the pass was nice but the result was predictable.
I’m still coming across as too negative…Noel wasn’t bad. He just wasn’t particularly good either. This was a backup big man kind of performance through and through. The Knicks’ big man didn’t get many opportunities to do much more than the dirty work. But he didn’t back down from physicality or defensive effort anyway. Noel clocks in with a 2 out of 5 for a respectable performance in backup minutes.
Quentin Grimes: 3 mins
Quentin Grimes got three minutes to start the third quarter. I didn’t think he was the source of problems because it was a rough start to the quarter for everyone. Grimes got benched after Brooklyn got off to a quick run.
Tom Thibodeau’s new rotation shows some promise, and some old issues:
Tom Thibodeau:
The new rotation got off to a promising start, but RJ Barrett’s illness cut the experiment short. That makes another third-quarter crash feel just a little bit less worrisome than it might otherwise. Despite the lull to start the second half, and a lost starter, the Knicks competed with their Eastern Conference leading opponents.
Thibodeau’s night was far from perfect though. He wasted a challenge on a foul from Derrick Rose with clear contact on the play. That meant a couple of close calls in crunch time couldn’t be challenged. Thibs also managed to find just 12 minutes for Obi Toppin which feels like a travesty, but he made up for it with IQ’s bigger opportunity.
My favorite move from Thibodeau was pulling Evan Fournier early in the third quarter. Fournier made multiple mistakes due to hesitation. Thibs pulled Fournier briefly but gave him another shot later in the quarter. The free agent acquisition responded by making threes for the rest of the night and found his confidence. Without many options but with a couple of clear mistakes, I’m giving Thibodeau a 3 out of 5 for impact.
Closing Thoughts:
This loss should probably feel worse. It was a heartbreaker at the buzzer against a cross-town rival with championship aspirations. This could have been a statement game but KD, Harden, and the refs’ whistles all played big roles in taking that away. So why was I more bummed that I didn’t get to write about the Hawks win than I am that New York lost? You probably know without me saying…
The last two games have felt a lot more like last year’s Knicks. This is no indictment of Kemba Walker, I think the Knicks’ chemistry problems fell on every starter to various degrees. But everything from the ball movement to the effort has picked up with the new rotation that staggers starters and bench players while emphasizing Rose and Randle’s playmaking more. The Knicks outplayed a tough Hawks team from start to finish and just went head to head with the leaders of the Eastern Conference despite OBVIOUS one-sided officiating. If this is the new trend for the blue and orange, then things ought to be picking up just in time for a tougher schedule.
The Bulls are next with their second-best record in the conference. This will be a rubber match after two competitive games have seen the teams split results. If the Knicks play as they did with the Nets and Hawks, I like their chances although it won’t be easy. Randle’s trending in the right direction, Fournier is flashing, and so is everyone else. We’ll see if the trends can become patterns 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. In case you missed it, catch CP and Alex on the Knicks Weekly show where they discuss Alec Burks becoming the starter and the previous week of Knicks basketball!
