The New York Knicks lose to the Toronto Raptors 105 to 120. The Knicks were shorthanded and lacked the veteran presence to compete.
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A young, depleted New York Knicks team was outclassed by the Toronto Raptors, 105-120. The Knicks are missing their three best shot creators and have played like it for the past two games. They were able to keep pace in the first quarter, but Toronto took control more and more as the game wore on. The majority of the fourth quarter was garbage time, as an explosive third quarter from Fred Van Vleet left the game out of reach.
The gift and the curse of playing without leaders are that we get a closer look at developing young players. Obi Toppin and RJ Barrett had promising starts with Quentin Grimes showing off his potential from the bench. The lack of a true number one option and rim protection proved too much to overcome, but there’s plenty to glean from bigger opportunities for role players. It wasn’t pretty, but let’s look back through the mess for what stood out from each performance.
Down three regulars, the Knicks starting unit lacks punch
Miles McBride: 2 PTS (1/6 FG, 0/4 3PT), 3 AST, 1 TO in 15 mins
It took just five minutes to land Miles McBride on the bench in his second start for New York. He slipped up on defense to Fred Van Vleet’s savvy play, but wouldn’t be the last player to struggle to defend the diminutive scorer. Offensively, McBride looked out of sync and struggled with Toronto’s pressure. That combination early meant he wouldn’t see much action until the game was out of reach.
I get what got McBride benched, he didn’t look good. But it’s still a shame because he could have used the experience chasing FVV around the floor. The Raptors guard would torch everyone else that got in front of him, leaving Burks in foul trouble and every other player looking bad. That said, McBride also has a lot to develop before he’s ready to run an offense.
The good news is that McBride showed off some crafty ball-handling even in the limited minutes that he got. He had flashes of patience when dribbling inside, but he struggled to score or manipulate the defense consistently. There are building blocks throughout his game that suggest he can develop into something more, but he’s still raw which is what landed him in the second round. McBride gets a 1 out of 5 because that’s how he looked in what few meaningful minutes he got, but he showed promise in the extended garbage time he received.
RJ Barrett: 19 PTS (6/14 FG, 2/5 3PT, 5/7 FT), 3 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 4 TO in 29 mins
These past two games have been a proper experiment for RJ Barrett in the lead role. The results have been mixed, to say the least. The biggest sign of optimism has been his success as a scorer. Barrett’s 19 points were tougher to come by than his 26 against the Thunder, but that’s expected thanks to the Raptors’ length. The long defenders stripped Barrett and made finishing inside difficult, but he drew whistles and bookended his performance with three-pointers to cover for less success inside.
On the downside, the defensive pressure reduced Barrett’s playmaking significantly. Against OKC, we saw RJ create some quality looks off kickouts that were far less likely against Toronto. Barrett was reduced to hoping for whistles or forcing up some ugly shots because he couldn’t create much for teammates. He didn’t control the defense so much as he forced the issue to middling success. That left him looking less like a first option and more like a useful second or third scorer at best.
The young prospect also looked shaky on defense. It was a rare occasion where his assignment, OG Anunoby, was able to overpower him getting to spots on the floor. Barrett chased Anunoby off with foul trouble, but his defense didn’t hold up otherwise. So just as with his offense, the prize pick failed to live up to his lead role. Barrett was solid enough to earn a 2.5 out of 5, but the Knicks needed more from their lead ball handler.
Evan Fournier: 20 PTS (6/14 FG, 4/10 3PT, 4/4 FT), 1 TO in 26 mins
If you’d like to see how 20 points in 14 tries can come across as unimpactful, check for this performance by Evan Fournier. His scoring was solid but never timely. He got into the lane for a pair of early baskets but missed his open threes in the first half. In the second half, he hit some three-pointers to slow down the blowout but they were too little, too late. The end result was efficient scoring, but nothing to carry his performance beyond contributing some points.
Look at his stats again and tell me what’s missing…everything but points. He didn’t register any assists, rebounds, steals, or blocks. If Evan Fournier wasn’t scoring, he wasn’t doing anything else. That carries over to his defense which lived down to its below-average predisposition. The big free-agent pick-up had zero impact unless he was making shots that relied on creation from teammates.
As much weight as fans have placed on RJ Barrett and, to some extent, Obi Toppin; Evan Fournier is the high-priced player on the roster. There’s some concern that his ankle is holding him back, but the end result is that he’s not living up to his contract. The Knicks needed someone to step up and who better than their highest-paid veteran on the floor? But he fell well short of having that kind of impact. Fournier gets a 1.5 out of 5 despite dropping 20 points because he didn’t provide anything else.
Obi Toppin: 19 PTS (7/12 FG, 1/4 3PT, 4/4 FT), 6 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO in 45 mins
The Knicks’ best three playmakers were all sitting out, but Obi Toppin did his best to make up for the lack of creators. We’ll talk about his scoring shortly, but Toppin’s passing was the real highlight of his game. The big man seemed to generate open looks off smart placement and quick, simple reads on every touch. The only downside was that he sometimes passed when he had a good shot at the rim, and the overpassing led him to cough the ball up a bit.
Toppin also paid dividends as a scorer, especially off screens. He could pick on smaller defenders in the post whenever he forced a switch. The big man represented a rim running threat as well, though Toronto’s length limited successful connections. Instead, he covered for the lack of success on rolls by winning foot races in transition for a few easy buckets and free throws. Leave Obi out there and he finds ways to produce points, be it scoring or playmaking.
Obi also looked solid defensively, although he’s not a rim protector by any means. He flashed patience and pressure against big men inside, to avoid fouling and provoke some misses. The biggest flaw in his game was rebounding, he doesn’t come close to covering for Julius Randle’s double-digit production on the boards. Obi’s not ready to be the guy like Randle is, but he looks like a competent piece and future starter once he hits three-pointers at a reasonable clip. Toppin gets a 3 out of 5 for a good, productive night.
Taj Gibson: 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/1 3PT), 2 AST, 7 REB, 2 TO in 30 mins
The Raptors are a rough match-up for Taj Gibson. They have the length and athleticism to make up for his edge in experience and grit. That left Gibson with virtually no success in the middle as the ball rarely reached him in an advantageous position. The big man did more with a single corner three than he did with all of his paint touches combined.
Gibson’s also not a true rim protector. That’s no slight on him, but he’s covering for Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel. Those two players erase shots at the rim just by being present, and Gibson simply doesn’t have the same intimidation factor. He lacks the size of Mitch and the mobility of Noel, which left Toronto with more opportunities to do damage inside.
That doesn’t mean Taj wasn’t helpful in his own way. He got after boards, cleared lanes for others, and was the only player visibly trying to pick up his teammates. He still sets a better screen than anybody on the team though he did get called on a moving violation. The Raptors are just built particularly well to deal with Gibson’s style of play. The former Bull’s impact was worth a 1.5 out of 5 on a tough night with no back-up to help.
Good effort, but not enough impact from the Knicks bench
Alec Burks: 11 PTS (4/10 FG, 0/1 3PT, 3/3 FT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 5 STL, 1 BLK in 27 mins
The Knicks looked poised for disaster right off the opening tip. But Alec Burks checked in and calmed the entire squad with some baskets and nice plays. His presence was crucial in the first half, and so crucial that he started the third quarter. But Burks was in foul trouble and wound up having to sit early in the second half. The game was out of reach before he even got back on the floor.
But Burks was solid while he was out there. He really got after the ball defensively which led to a lot of good, even his fouling was a result of solid effort. Burks picked off passes and swiped the ball from ball handlers on multiple occasions. He helped out on the boards and did a little bit of passing along the way. The returning vet kept true to his game, providing some scoring and a little bit of everything else.
Unfortunately, the solid outing also displayed Burks’ limitations. He got hot early and was able to keep the Knicks competitive, but it’s rare that he can turn microwave scoring into a full game’s worth of production. We saw that Burks wasn’t really built for a starting role in recent weeks, and he failed to step up in the absence of starters here. Instead, we got the usual Burks, a good piece off the bench but that’s it. Burks gets a 2.5 out of 5 for outshining most peers but not going above typical expectations.
Immanuel Quickley: 9 PTS (3/8 FG, 1/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 AST, 4 REB, 4 TO in 28 mins
The offseason work on lead ball-handling skills has left Immanuel Quickley improved, but still a work in progress. His struggles against Toronto laid that bare, as he played a sloppy game throughout his time. Quickley wasn’t particularly bad anywhere, but he failed to provide enough of any one trait to be particularly helpful. For every nice passing play the sophomore had, he would pick up his dribble or miss a read that gave the points back via turnover.
IQ’s best trait in this one was a willingness to attack. He tried to get after Toronto from every spot and angle that he could. Quickley shot threes but struggled there. He put up floaters and lay-up attempts that missed more than they fell. When all else failed, Quickley even pulled up from midrange. He probed for ways to be productive and despite some mishaps, he did manage to make things happen.
This continues a trend for a lot of players in this game. Quickley looked okay, but not ready to step up into a bigger role. His playmaking isn’t there yet and his offense doesn’t have a go-to trait to fall back on when things don’t work. His versatility means that he can always find ways to be a productive bench piece, but in order to move into a starting role, his weapons have to be more consistent. IQ gets a 2 out of 5 which is okay for a bench player, but disappointing with the opportunity dangling in front of him.
Quentin Grimes: 13 PTS (4/7 FG, 2/4 3PT, 3/6 FT), 2 AST, 1 REB, 4 STL, 1 TO in 22 mins
New York’s highest-selected rookie put up some points and fun defense in this outing. Quentin Grimes is the only Knick that goes full-steam into his double teams. His off-ball help defense was complimented by the broadcast with good reason. He’s active and aggressive in ways that slow ball handlers and help him get back to his man before they can beat the double. It’s small in the scheme of things, but no one else on the Knicks matches that effort.
Grimes wasn’t just out there providing defense though. He knocked down a pair of threes that hopefully get him back to flame-throwing like his first few appearances. The rookie also flashed the ability to get a midrange jumper off just about any time he’d like. The best part about that is his perfect shooting form was completely unchanged as he rose up off the dribble. His combination of shooting and willingness to attack off dribble led to frequent free throw attempts, though he needs to make those free points count.
Grimes belongs in the rotation at all times. He probably should have had more time in this game against Toronto. The young wing provides defensive intensity that’s unmatched by any of the vets or typical pieces on this team. He’s also a more reliable shooter than almost all of his teammates already. The kid is going to make some rookie mistakes, that’s expected, but you can live with it when he defends and spreads the floor so well. Grimes nets a 3 out of 5 for great production in limited minutes.
Kevin Knox: 7 PTS (2/4 FG, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 18 mins
I’ll commend Kevin Knox for showing no signs of the motor issues that we saw in his more youthful appearances. Knox has gotten an opportunity for minutes, and despite the mixed results, his effort has been legitimate. Knox flew after the ball when it was within reach, he took shots without hesitation and tried to make things happen off the bounce when chased off the line.
The issue for Knox is that his effort still lacked the polish that would improve his impact beyond some nice scoring. He chased rebounds, but fumbled them out of bounds and sometimes chased at the expense of boxing out. Attention to detail was lacking in his defensive play as well. The effort was there, but the results were inconsistent at best.
It’s going to take more for Knox to command a regular rotation role, but he has proven himself to be serviceable. He probably shouldn’t be playing center any time soon, but his size and shooting do make him a flexible wing. The prospect is still only 22 years old, even if his development is behind what we had hoped for. Knox gets a 1.5 out of 5, but there’s an NBA player with upside here.
Hands tied, Tom Thibodeau’s roster and system both show their limits
Tom Thibodeau: It’s hard to fault Tom Thibodeau too much for losing to a completely healthy team while missing 5 key pieces from his rotation. Thibodeau didn’t have a true playmaker to utilize or a shot blocker to anchor his defense. He trotted out what was left of his team and the players contributed what’s to be expected of them, but no one stepped up beyond their norms. That left the Knicks outgunned and Thibodeau with few options to reverse their fate.
Thibs did make some decisions that frustrated me though. That starts with benching McBride for most of the first three quarters after a slow start. I got the early hook for struggling on defense, but every other guard displayed the same issues keeping up with Fred Van Vleet. I’m also not keen on going small with an Obi/Knox frontcourt, although there were few options otherwise…I’d have preferred a small-ball group with RJ Barrett at the 4 and Obi at the 5 if we were forsaking rebounding altogether.
I’ve given Thibodeau a lot of mulligans this season. Between injuries and the health protocols, he’s rarely had a full complement of players to utilize. This team was built with enough depth not to sink outright, but they’ve been piecing line-ups together with duct tape for a lot of the action. I feel for the reigning Coach of the Year, it can’t be easy to work with little control over continuity and few options. Thibs gets a 2.5 out of 5 because it’s pretty much a default score with such a limited roster.
Closing Thoughts
I hate that the narrative of the past two games has become completely focused on Julius Randle. The Knicks are built to play off his game, so his presence is certainly missed. But making these losses about Randle completely ignores that the Knicks are missing two key starters as well as their back-ups. Kemba and Rose are the playmakers on this roster, while Mitch and Noel are the rim protectors. Those are key roles for Tom Thibodeau’s system to work, almost as important as Randle’s gravity.
But Randle’s absence does make it obvious that this team was built for him. New York will live and die with its star player’s success unless they make a drastic move. The problem I see is that Randle’s success has been far from guaranteed this year. I don’t know that this season’s version of Julius Randle is changing any of the losses in his absence, because he has been inconsistent and lacking effort half the time. I have an easier time taking a loss from young guys trying to develop into full-time players than I do from star players becoming average due to poor effort.
The Indiana Pacers are next and while they’re missing a chunk of pieces, I think they have the two pieces we’ll need to fear the most. Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner are a handful even when New York has all bigs available. Without three of our top 4 centers, I can see this game being a nightmare inside. But our young guards will face back-ups and have a real chance to make up the difference. We’ll see how it goes Tuesday night and meet back here to review the performances. I’ll see you then 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, check out CP’s interview with Elite, Dreamville’s Producer.
