The New York Knicks lose to the Golden State Warriors 105-96 and Stephy Curry claims the made three-point record.
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The New York Knicks watched Steph Curry break the all-time three-point record, then lost to the Golden State Warriors 105 to 96. The game paused to celebrate Curry’s second three of the night, a history-making shot that pushed him past Ray Allen for the record. After that, it all felt uneventful. The Knicks stayed competitive for a while, flattened in the third, and lost without much drama. The only source of interest was the bench minutes from young pieces that showed heart and effort.
Julius Randle kicked into gear for a big second-half but without any help from other starters. Deuce McBride finally got a shot and capitalized with a spirited effort while Kevin Knox was a bright spot again. The Knicks got to watch an offense hitting on all cylinders while theirs can barely kick into gear. Let’s take a look at the performances and see if a path out of the doldrums emerges.
Randle finds something but the Knicks’ starters struggle
Derrick Rose: 15 PTS (5/13 FG, 3/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 6 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 34 mins
Fading legs seemed to catch up to Derrick Rose the longer this game went on. He started with a bang, knocking down a couple of threes and finishing the first quarter with 10 points. But he would only score 5 points from then on despite playing substantial minutes. We know that Rose is more comfortable coming off the bench, and this result may hint at why. He’s a great player but fatigue can set in when he’s tasked with such a heavy load.
Rose adds a necessary element to the starters, even if his offense loses bite over time. It’s playmaking, plain and simple. His journeys downhill move defenders out of place for others to capitalize. This is especially clear when Julius Randle is knocking down his jumpers. For the second straight game, Rose created good looks for shooters that mostly rimmed out but between Randle’s hot hand and some scoring inside Rose still tallied more assists than anyone else on the team.
There’s a clear dip in efficiency for Rose, but it’s forgivable. He lost a step as fatigue set in, but the Knicks don’t have a true lead ball-handler without him. The former MVP did his job, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Randle broke his slump next to an actual point guard. A few easy looks can go a long way to help players find rhythm and Rose gets teammates those opportunities. So despite fading late, Rose still picks up a 3 out of 5 for his performance.
Alec Burks: 14 PTS (4/15 FG, 2/10 3PT, 4/4 FT), 4 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 39 mins
Alec Burks returned and his shot looked rusty, or maybe it’s just his new role. Burks shot 43 percent from the field and 44 percent from three in his role off the bench. In the eight games since moving to the starters, Burks is shooting 35 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. His looks weren’t particularly a problem against the Warriors considering he had plenty of space to fire. But Burks rarely looks like he’s in a rhythm and takes fewer opportunities to attack in isolation as a starter.
On the bright side, Burks clocked 4 assists without a turnover. Burks didn’t do anything amazing to help playmake, but he found guys like Rose and Randle when they were feeling it. Even Burks thrived when ball movement led to his jumper. It all takes me right back to that magic word: Rhythm. When things move fluidly, Burks can take advantage of openings that the ball movement creates. But if he’s forced to make something out of nothing then his efficiency will start to dip as the frequency increases.
It’s also worth noting that Burks’ defensive focus slipped. He had a tall task in chasing Steph Curry around but looked just as out of depth with taller opposition. He got sealed along the baseline, gave up backdoor cuts, and sometimes just let players blow by him. He’s been solid defensively most of the year, so I’m giving this one a mulligan but with notes to watch out for red flags going forward. Even with the struggles on both ends, I commend Burks for rushing back to the depleted Knicks right after his child is born. Burks gets a 2 out of 5 and a big congratulations.
Evan Fournier: 2 PTS (1/5 FG, 0/4 3PT), 1 REB, 1 BLK in 29 mins
Look at those numbers and then think about how long 29 minutes really is. Evan Fournier’s fifth straight game of single-digit scoring was his worst of the season. At least in some of those other games, he got close to double-digits and played shorter minutes. The French wing shied away from the ball, missed open looks, and generally provided nothing for the offense.
His defense wasn’t any better. Fournier’s lone block came on the first play of the game, and Wiggins got his own rebound to score anyway. So even the one positive mark on Fournier’s defensive box score comes with an asterisk for being meaningless. We also got a few plays in the second quarter where players cut right through the lane and Fournier pointed instead of rotating. Those poor rotations made Deuce McBride’s spirited defensive efforts stand out even more, which just makes benching Fournier feel more justified.
It really can’t get much worse than this. The big free agent acquisition could only hurt the team more by missing more shots or adding a few turnovers to top off his attrition. He’s invisible on offense and bad on defense. This isn’t just a one-game issue either, Fournier had an eight game stretch with signs of improvement but the rest of his season has been a nightmare. We’re getting beyond the he’s got to be better proclamations and fastly approaching he needs to sit or be moved. Fournier gets a 0.5 out of 5 for at least being a body on the floor.
Julius Randle: 31 PTS (10/21 FG, 5/8 3PT, 6/6 FT), 3 AST, 7 REB, 2 STL, 4 TO in 37 mins
There were signs of life in Julius Randle’s second half for the Knicks. He single-handedly stopped a third-quarter of death from being a complete disaster and piled on 25 points in the second-half alone. That said, we still got some hallmarks from his season-long struggles. That comes namely in the 4 turnovers to Randle’s name, more than he had assists.
But by the end of the game, everything was trending in the right direction for Randle. His turnovers came from slow decision-making early, but his instincts kicked in by the third. We saw Randle shooting threes without a pump fake and stepping into jumpers for a change. He drove at defenders that tried to play physical defense and created gaps to score. It’s amazing the difference a couple of shots can make, but when defenders can’t cheat under screens this is the result. It’s even more impressive because Randle was matched against Draymond Green most of the night.
Randle had a weird game defensively. I continue to see bursts of energy and impact from the Knicks’ star on defense. He’s nowhere near his level from last season, but there are fleeting signs of improvement on early returns from this season. That said, Randle’s still frequently out of place or missing rotations. He had a tricky match-up with Draymond Green and it’s hard to be mad at the times Randle left Green open or cheated toward a more threatening scorer…but it’s hard to call it good defense when the player is leaving a match-up so much space. Randle gets a 3.5 out of 5 on a night that hopefully starts some momentum.
Nerlens Noel: 3 PTS (1/3 FG, 1/2 FT), 7 REB, 1 STL, 3 BLK in 24 mins
This still isn’t the Nerlens Noel from last season. But that doesn’t mean Noel didn’t at least start to show some of what he gave us last year. The shot blocker was much better in help-defense compared to recent nights where he could barely move. Noel would slide over and pick up blocks from behind shooters off good timing and smart movement. He’s still not patrolling the paint like he did last year, but this was the first sign that he can get back to that level.
Another bit of Noel’s defense that I love and frequently reference is disruption. When Noel’s man sets a screen, the Knicks’ big hedges well and consistently finds success poking at the ball. He even managed to jar the ball loose from Steph Curry’s elite dribble a few times. This doesn’t always translate to steals or even desirable results, but it buys defenders an extra split-second to recover. That’s the difference between an open look or a contested one and a free kick out or a turnover.
Now that the compliments are made, I still expect more from Noel. We know he’s hurt and it’s clear he’s not moving as well as normal. But he has to find ways to keep the defense honest. Against the Warriors, he tried attacking off the dribble and received the ball further out a few times but didn’t succeed. His defense is ticking up, but we still need some offensive punch to keep him viable as a starter. Noel gets a 2.5 out of 5, but barely.
Young hungry players make a difference
Immanuel Quickley: 12 PTS (3/12 FG, 2/9 3PT, 4/4 FT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 22 mins
A trend continued as Immanuel Quickley mixed nice moments of patience and good reads with head-scratching decisions. He closed the third quarter with tricky ball-handling and a clever lob to Mitch. Then IQ got himself benched early in the fourth because he pulled up from three for a tough, contested shot in the midst of a decent run. The sophomore has the potential to do a lot right, but his shot selection and inconsistent shooting are holding him back.
Despite the poor shooting and some bad choices, Quickley did a lot well. He was the only guard to make good use of Mitchell Robinson’s rim-running by connecting on one lob and barely missing on a second. He got to the line with some tricky moves against Damion Lee and had a nice and-one late. While IQ’s assist total is low, he looked like a competent backup point guard outside of a handful of shoddy shot attempts. I don’t think he has to top out as a bench-scorer, but there’s a lot he needs to sharpen before becoming something more.
The elephant in the room is IQ’s three-point shot. He hasn’t broken 25 percent from three in the last 6 games despite averaging 6 attempts in that span. While one or two of those shots is a wild one each night, he’s also bricking open looks. His efficiency from the field is slipping on the whole, below 40 percent from the field and below 33 percent from three. Quickley’s got to make more shots count before his impact can be anything beyond mediocre. IQ gets a 2 out of 5 for his night.
Miles McBride: 8 PTS (3/8 FG, 2/4 3PT), 1 AST, 3 REB in 20 mins
Don’t let the forgettable numbers fool you, Miles McBride was yet another breath of fresh air thanks to New York’s youth. He got on the court and played defense like his minutes depended on it. The rookie had some of the sharpest rotations on the team, frequently boxed out bigger opponents, and pushed the pace whenever he got the ball. I especially liked McBride grabbing tough rebounds and turning them up the court for quick transition attacks.
Fearless is the first word that comes to mind with regard to McBride. From taking jumpers that most rookies would be shy about to picking up tough defensive assignments with gusto, Deuce never backed down. He took multiple defenders off the dribble which led to some pretty jumpers and fun possessions. On defense, he even got after Steph Curry although that was more of a learning experience than a positive contribution…it’s Steph.
Perhaps the biggest contribution for McBride was his energy. The team often felt listless without him, but his aggressive play on both ends seemed contagious. Even Julius Randle’s pace picked up next to the rookie. The defensive rotations looked sharper as well, maybe because Miles was covering for guys and buying them time to find the open man. Did the rookie make mistakes and press at times? For sure! Was his contribution overwhelmingly positive anyway? Absolutely. McBride gets a 3 out of 5.
Kevin Knox: 9 PTS (2/4 FG, 2/3 3PT, 3/4 FT), 1 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL in 20 mins
Speaking of young players injecting energy, Kevin Knox had his second straight positive performance. For Knox, our instant expectation is three-point shooting. The young prospect delivered in that regard, stretching the floor and cashing in his looks in space. He also dribbled past closeouts and got inside for one of his trips to the line. Knox generated offense off shooting and effort, which was nice to see from the youngster.
The scoring is expected when we watch young Kev at work. What I was surprised by, was his physicality. When shots went up, Knox was frequently looking for bodies to bump and box out. He got up after rebounds and wound up with 7 in just 20 minutes of action. That’s a stark contrast to previous years where the kid looked too weak or too shy to fight in traffic. He also shot up the floor in an Obi-inspired manner, beating everyone on a fast break that drew free throws.
I won’t linger on defense, except to point out that Knox was better than Fournier. Why? Because if Knox is eating someone’s minutes in the rotation, then Fournier makes the most sense. Knox can play SF in stints, providing shooting to go with size that no other wing options can match. He’s not a game-changing defender, but he’s looked competent in his brief but promising run over the past two games. If Knox knocks down his threes, he may be worth a real look. Knox gets a 3 out of 5 for his effort in a short time.
Mitchell Robinson: 2 PTS (1/2 FG), 2 REB, 1 BLK in 14 mins
Mitchell Robinson came off the bench and had a match-up with Nemanja Bjelica. I’d expect that Mitch would abuse a match-up with a career power forward that isn’t particularly strong and has no vertical game. I’d be wrong. Mitch did nothing to capitalize on the match-up outside of a couple of nice runs to the basket after he set screens.
Robinson had one nice dunk and an otherwise forgettable night. Forgettable if you ignore the negative. Bjelica went 4/4 from three and was wide open on most of them. Mitch barely looked bothered to try getting out and defending the shots. The mismatch went entirely to the Warriors’ undersized Center and it landed Mitch on the bench before he could qualify for an impact score…probably for the best because it would have been bad.
Young performers cause new questions Tom Thibodeau’s struggling rotation
Tom Thibodeau: There are a number of variables at play when fans ask a simple question, “why not play the kids more?” Let’s list them off…The starting line-up has been terrible in all iterations. The team’s record and points differential reflect this problem. Certain players are showing lackluster effort on defense or poor play on offense without much accountability. Finally, every time a kid gets on the floor, they show the kind of effort that this entire team is lacking.
Somehow, Miles McBride’s success feels like an additional shot in the face of Tom Thibodeau’s claims of earned roles. Evan Fournier has been terrible and two rookies have outperformed him in their only opportunities. Julius Randle finally showed positive signs, but he was taking up way too many minutes while struggling in front of a much more successful Obi Toppin. The team defense has been dreadful, but both Grimes and McBride appear ready to improve that right now. So again, we have to ask: what Tom Thibodeau is even looking at to justify his rotation?
I haven’t said a lot about Thibs’ actual decisions last night…they weren’t good either. He stuck with his usual guys for too long and then watched the players he never trusts spark a near-comeback. Even some of the highlights above come from times when players like Randle and Burks had the pleasure of playing with bench energy guys. Part of the bad for New York falls plainly on the front office, but some of this is self-inflicted by a coach that only plays youth when injuries force his hand. Thibodeau gets a 1.5 out of 5 for at least playing McBride long enough to make his case.
Closing Thoughts
Let’s run through a few things real quick. Congratulations to Steph Curry, he’s changed the NBA and how we view the three-pointer. He was a pick away from being a Knick and that sucks, but it’s cool that he got his record at the Garden. In an alternate universe, he does that in a Knicks jersey. While we’re not talking “state of the team,” best wishes to Walt Clyde Frazier and the players in the protocol.
Now, who are the Knicks and what can they become? I think that answer lies with personnel choices moving forward. This team was built with expectations that last year’s performances would stick. Randle has to be a star for everyone else to succeed, but we also need players like Barrett, Burks, and Noel to live up to their impacts from last season. I think we could help them regain last season’s identity by injecting more energy and defense into the rotation.
That’s my nice way of saying, “PLAY THE KIDS!!!” I’m not asking for 30 minutes per game for Grimes or McBride. Ten to fifteen minutes a night would be fine while they get their feet wet with less pressure. The Knicks play the Rockets tomorrow and a meaningless, out-of-conference game has never felt more like a must-win to me. The rotation might still be depleted, but that ought to mean more opportunities for McBride and Knox. We’ll see if new developments gain traction or if bad habits continue to haunt this team after the game 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 Knicks Weekly where CP, JD, and Alex discuss Randles decline and the potential of trading for Ben Simmons.
