The Knicks host the Orlando Magic, who are slumping terribly and due to injuries, are missing all of their point guards and the Knicks are also missing all of their point guards, so it is Chasson Randle vs. Frank Ntilikina.
This is going to be a hilarious game.
Luckily, for all of the Knick injuries, the Magic have even more injuries, so this should be a return to .500 for the Knicks.
This is a big stretch for the Knicks. They need to go, like, 3-1 here to stay in the clear playoff picture (but honestly, they could go 0-4 and still be in the play-in picture).
Let’s go get back to .500, Knicks!
197 replies on “2020-21 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Magic Without Any Point Guards Involved At All”
Let’s hope this won’t be the Chukwuma Julian Okeke break-out game.
(He’s shooting almost 36% from three — who knew…)
A must win game (I can’t believe I’m writing this about the Knicks in march)…
Frank vs Chasson it’s hilarious, maybe a preview of next year CSKA – Barcelona (or would Chasson go back to Madrid?)…
Let’s go Knicks!
For a few years I’ve thought teams should not even bother with a 2 guard and just try to get 4 point guards who can play together (absent a single ball dominant superstar) so this not what I had in mind
But see, once teams start doing that the point guard market will become inefficient and the new market inefficiency will be short non-point guards, so we’re really just two steps ahead of the curve, playing 4D chess with Phil Jackson for the triangle’s soul.
Looks like all the recently injured Magic players (Gordon, Fournier, Ross) will play tonight. This game is going to be alot tougher for the Knicks than initially thought.
The way Frank has been playing lately, he’ll probably foul out. I guess Burks will get a lot of minutes?
It feels like Ross always kills us, so that’s a little worrisome, let alone them having both Fournier and Gordon back too. This feels like the type of winnable game that we will inevitably lose, but I think/hope that’s just the obligatory Knicks-fan pessimism talking.
Frank and Burks starting, Bullock to the bench. Interesting move, does this mean Harper will get some backup PG minutes tonight?
Actually, starting the scoring-minded Burks with Frank makes sense. Still, poor Frank is ill equipped to start at “PG.”
Zero shot creation on the bench tonight if Harper doesn’t play,
it’ll be interesting to watch Thibs’ rotations.
Trying out a new brew tonight: Warsteiner. German pilsener.
How many I end up having will be determined by how tonight’s game goes…
This. Plus, it gives a bit more playmaking since neither is the best penetrator. I’m in favor of the move.
EB, sadly, the quote attributed to me above was by Max. I can’t take credit for his joke!
Not a bad choice Clash, a bit light for my taste but good nonetheless 🙂
I’m expecting a redemption game from Frank,
show me some nuts French Prince!
They opened up a German Biergarten here maybe 8 years ago. They had their Pilsner. I really like it, but the Warsteiner Dunkel is a dark beer I love.
Yes, it is a bit light now that I’ve started, er, finished it.. I’ve decided to drink one additional for every time Frank N drives to the hoop and gets fouled. I’m sure to stay sober that way.
lol, KB bug strikes again. Meant to quote the Burks + Frank starting backcourt
Loren Lott is pretty easy on the eyes.
Absent injury or foul trouble, I expect Randle to play 40 minutes.
If Frank makes a shot does everyone at MSG get a free taco?
RJB off to a bad start.
Knarf Knarf (to reverse Frank’s awful shooting)
Bad start,
Burks is playing alone
and with no spark available on the bench we need Randle and RJ to play like stars…
Put Randle on the point and flatten everything out.
decent chance we sign jamal crawford at halftime
If Rivers were at MSG, he would be getting 30+ minutes tonight.
I am not even a big Harper believer but now is quite obviously the time to begin the Harpsanity era
Referees need glasses
Amen
Smokes showing he belongs… on the left half of the court…
Waiting for Frank’s revival bucket!
Frank as of late is making some stupid fouls
Why don’t they build the whole plane out of RJ Barrett?
Probably true for his dad, too.
Frank is five months younger than Obi. Strangely, this does not make me feel better about Frank, only worse about Obi.
At this point I’d rather have Frank Williams than Frank Ntilikina.
Chris Duhon is somewhere sweating out his Knicks single game assist record
Foxy knoxy
Mo Bomba is the Frank Ntilikina of the Magic. Lottery pick who is so tantalizing to fans but ultimately so frustrating to coaches.
There is nothing tantalizing about Frank.
Obi with another excellent Bargs drive.
Must be painful for Brock Aller to watch Alec Burks build up legit two unprotected seconds value, knowing if he cashed in on it Thibs would hire somebody to make it look like an accident
Obi Knox and Frank going invisible mode
I beg to differ on Frank & tantalizing. When he made 6/8 3s in the two games leading to the All Star Break, I (and others) had visions of a useful 3&D wing.
Frank is not what you would call a boxscore stuffer
So Tan Gibson is half of our second unit’s offense (along with Burks)?
Frank-Obi-Knox, the Busters Three
20 minutes
0 points
2 rebounds
0 assists
0 steals
0 blocks
What an ugly game this is
Toppin and Knox made my eyes bleed…
Can we get Obi, Knox and Frank on the court at the same time so we can have a good Knickerblogger cry?
Obi is on the court but they send him to the corner to do nothing, not that he could do anything from the corner. Not sure exactly what the point of him playing is …just a breather for the starters. Nothing else
It’s hilarious how many people here don’t like Bullock yet he’s 1000X better than Frank.
“Bullock percolating and devastating”
Sure seems like Obi can’t do much of anything if he’s not having plays run for him, and also he can’t do much of anything if he’s having plays run for him
Bullock to the rescue…
We’re really short of legit NBA players tonight and we absolutely need this game
A back up PF at the trade deadline would be a good idea
drake v wichita is more intriguing than this mess…
What about giving him 3 post ups a game. Just 3. See what happens.
Frank was gifted those free throws. He turned the gift into socks.
First Frank’s point post ASG, it took only 18 quarters, 15 missed shots and 2 FT…
That’s an hour of my life I unfortunately won’t be getting back.
Great D from Frank on Gordon
Up 1p at the half with Frank’s made FT!
And i have a worst problem, if i start watching the game then i keep watching in the hope it all gets better
Frank’s defense (other than dying on screens) makes him tantalizing. His offense (when he can’t hit 3s) keeps him on the bench.
If he is on the Spurs next year, Pop might discover a useful player. Pop also might shoot him in Reno just to watch him die (apologies to Johnny Cash).
ObiKnoxious jumps on Magic pumpfakes were ok for a tv show episode’s background but was ugly bballwise
Now that Ftank saw the ball went in I’m expecting him going Kobe on offense!
More or less only RJ, Burks and Bullock have scored,
I’m trying to be positive waiting for a Randle On Fire rush…
Basically tonight the God Of Basketball is saying to us “See fellas? You need to learn how to pick 8th or 9th in the lottery…”
If only one or two of them (and Noel) could give us something, a small something on offense…
still making my way through the first half and this thread – d-mar done stopped my in my tracks with this one though….
At least Frank has hit the rim on all his misses tonight.
And that broke a 0-16 streak!
Way to go!
Frank!
Off the schneid
Frank is on fire!
FRANK ON FIRE!!!!!
Randle looking like Draymond Green tonight.
7 points on 5 shots and you people tell me Frank can’t do anything on offense
Frank to BBA: Colle ça dans ton cul!
Everyone apologize to Franc
As I wrote up thread, Frank is tantalizing. Of course, Tantalus never was able to slake his thirst.
Tuned in just in time to see Frank catch fire. Hook that shit directly to my veins.
Frank’s a zombie. Keeps coming back from the dead, but never quite totally coming back to the living.
MAX FRANK!!!!
Don’t care he still sucks lol. But I’ll gladly take the occasional made shot if it helps lead to a win!
Frankobe!
Did he ever apologize to us in the last four years?
How the hell are we winning this game with no PG, no Quickley, and Mitch out?
Putting Burks into the starting lineup was a great move because even though he’s not a PG, he can create for himself.
Paint’s very open for Julius and RJ tonight. Floor nicely spread. Quelle coincidence!!!
Julius going for another meaningful triple double with career high in assist…
I fell asleep-Julius Randle has how many assists?
Randle is shooting like crap tonight. I haven’t been watching closely, but I assume the defense has been really keying on him because he has FIFTEEN assists SO FAR!
Who needs to trade for PG when we have a perfectly capable one in Julius Randle already on the roster?
I was going to say I’m actually enjoying this game, but then I watched that botched fast break and I’m withholding my decision.
Okay Frank is back on the shit list, we’re trying to wrest the single game assist record from Chris Duhon’s hands here
Good move French Prince!
Double figure, looks like the redemption mission I asked for is accomplished…
Frank Ntilikina just…kind of posterized someone? Maybe?
Did you just see that?
i just looked up and hallucinated
Frank is the modern day Greg Anthony.
Frank took a testosterone shot at halftime!
A deal’s a deal, Frank N. I now drink another beer in your honor.
Prends cette, salopes!!!
it felt like we just saw haley’s comet….
going to be telling stories 20 years from now about the night Frank Ntilikina sort of dunked on someone
Frank dunks like once a year. It’s like Christmas!
That clip of Clyde in the NIT finals was great
Frank with a FukY haters stare at camera after the dank!
Defend Clyde at all costs
Aaron Gordon just tried to iso back down Frank and … well, no.
It’s ok our 2nd unit will come in to start the 4th and blow them out
Great end to quarter there
…….. (tear) …….
Perhaps the starters who played the entire 3rd quarter got tired at the end?
If Burks doesn’t score in the first few mins of the 4th quarter by the time Randle and RJ return the Knicks will be trailing.
I just want to announce that Frank’s point total has two digits in it.
My God…
A 16 points lead vaporized in the blink of an eye…
Laughable
This would be by far the worst loss of the season.
If I had a nickel for every time you said that…
That was a Mo Bomb-a
Isn’t he kind of good?
Bamba is actually tantalizing and shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence as Frank
Yeah this is embarrassing.
frank guards 4 guys in one play then hits a 3
This game has taken 50 years off my life.
I was wrong on Bamba, thought he was a sure-fire star…
French Mamba
He literally did that. That might be more amazing than his dunk.
If Frank gets to the line will the MVP chants start?
Yea he knew exactly all the passing lanes and where to rotate. It was pretty great actually.
Of course! 😉
i think coach has soured on nerlens a bit
Watching a game like this I begrudgingly understand why Thibs want some trades.
Randle, despite his off shooting night, couldn’t sit for one minute…
As Cybersoze said we need a backup 4 to take some of the slack, Toppin and Knox are unplayable.
“Ntilikina with the rebound is a seldom-heard phrase.
Wherein we see how Frank is eminently playable down the stretch of a playoff game.
Frank a disappointing -2 tonight
Thibs and Clifford playing chess
It really is game 7 of the NBA Finals, each play gets a timeout 😀
Nerlens has been dealing with a sore knee I hope he’s not hurt now too
“Vucavic with the good D” is also a seldom-heard phrase.
Not makin Bacon
They should give the ball to RJ on one of these possessions the Randle 20′ back downs are too predictable
Wizards just beat the Jazz.
Shades of Houston against the Heat…like actually though
Does Frank get in for this defensive possession?
Let’s finish this
Burks!!!
I used to say I missed watching tense, important playoff type games. I take that back, this is excruciating.
OOOOF
Always hated the French
Fuck the missing free throws…
Using that last TO means the Knicks cannot challenge a call.
That was a terrible toss
let’s see frank and noel if he’s healthy
He’s not going to put Frank in for this last defensive possession, is he?
Do not let Vucavic beat you.
Bullock with the play of the season!
Bullock doing a great Frank impression there.
Phew
They just milked Reggies head like a cow
Best win of the season!
Magic gave up after that steal.
Oh Thank God!
You gotta love how happy the team was for him
Bulllock takes, Bullock gives
Much needed 2 days off coming up.
hey reggie did something…
You were saying? 😉
Winning the game with DEFENSE!!! These are the Knicks I love.
Too close a game against an inferior opponent, but 3rd close game in 4 nights and short handed. These guys were gassed – you could see it on their faces. Gutsy win.
Randle with 17 assists and only 2 turnovers is incredible
that was satisfying
Pretty cool that League Pass now shows both MSG pre and post game shows.
Much needed win, I’m drained.
And as BBA said much needed two days off, today basically it was a 6,5-men rotation (hope Noel is okay).
BULLOCK STOLE THE BALL!
We’re 7th ahead of… the Celtics! 🙂
Ephus Nostradamus
Frank, Frank, Frank.
Talk amongst yourselves.
I mean, with Gordon and Fournier, the Magic aren’t that bad, so I still think it was a good win.
At this point of the season fighting for a playoff spot every win is a good win.
The Knicks won and Frank hit three 3s. No insomnia tonight.
Trade him at peak value?
I agree.
I felt like this was a very important game to stay on track with the 76ers up next. Then I saw who they had playing tonight and that Quick was out for us and I thought we were in trouble. I think putting Burks in the starting lineup was a really good move. We need for some players to get healthy in a hurry or some of these guys are going to start wearing down. We aren’t deep enough to win some of these games and cut back minutes for the key players. We don’t get anything from guys like Toppin and Knox. It’s hard to play them too many minutes unless it’s a blow out.
when mitch returns the back up 4 (when it matters) will be taj…
if you’re really trying to win a game, I don’t know how you can justify putting obi on the court…he needs a lot more time in the gym, not on an NBA game court…
I’m not sure what he was thinking, but I’m going to guess that since Frank still has too much of a tendency to foul from his aggressiveness he didn’t put him in. I’d love to ask him why, but I’m sure he had a reason.
Thibs said after the game with a straight face that he got good minutes out of Obi and Knox in the 2nd quarter.
I’m guessing he was referring to the minutes that they didn’t play.
just perfect…
I’m with you Big Blue reference the pre and post game stuff, definitely a good addition, particularly after wins – 21 and counting…
Wow, Lillard has 41 pts over his last two quarters. He’s really enjoying that pelican D this week.
thibs ain’t easy on player health, we really really really do need some young DURABLE players, but (big butt) – that dude is wired in to the game…
every minute, every second – he’s connected…
the way our organization burns through coaches, who knows if he lasts more than 3 years…
when Johnnie was speaking to rebecca after halftime my first thought was I sure hope he and kenny stay for a while…
In fairness vs Philly I called it the most devastating loss of the season not the worst loss!
Good Win!
Bring the sixers right now!
I m not thrilled by Thibs’s 60’sminiskirt-short rotation but i feel good about his high standards for rotation players.
Saying Getting good minutes from Obi/Knox tonight was an ode to diplomacy and an oscar nominee worthwhile statement for athletic documentary category.
oh yeah, most important game things:
– elf has the nicest sideline gear of any player I’ve seen…can’t shoot for shit, but, damn he’s got a nice closet…
– last year really enjoyed knick player baby pics…this year i’m enjoying the player mom (and RJ’s aunt 🙂 clips…kevin and quik’ moms had me smiling – just feed my son…
seriously, from a parent’s perspective – feeding them is a pretty big deal…years and years of work, of feeding, meal after meal after meal…
I never finished the sentence…
can you be in covid protocols and still sit on the bench?
“Good minutes” in this case seems to mean the team didn’t obviously fall apart while they were on the floor letting other players rest, not that they individually had notable contributions. I guess not falling apart is something.
Well no doubt Frank played like a legit NBA rotation player tonight. Nice to see!
So raise your hand if you predicted that the most likely player to break Clyde’s Knicks triple-double record (8) would be Julius Randle…
In other words, back up the Brinks truck…
Dame Lillard might not be peak Steph but right now he’s not far off…
Dame’s gotta get some MVP votes. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Randle pick up a third place vote or two.
Ugly-ugly game, yet I couldn’t help jumping off my couch when Bullock intercepted that pass.
Meanwhile, LaVar Ball is stirring the pot, doing an ESPN LA radio interview where he said he hoped the Pelicans traded Lonzo, because they shouldn’t be trying to turn him into a 3-and-D guy. Reading between the lines of various Berman of the Post reports, it seems clear LaVar is angling to get his eldest to the Knicks. But beyond the cost in assets (if we trade for him) and dollars on Lonzo’s next contract, which we’ve discussed here a lot over the last couple of weeks, there’s the question of how much we’d want to deal with his dad.
I’d actually heard Lonzo broke things off with his dad a while back, so maybe they reconciled or this is Lavar’s way of trying to weasel back in? (Or maybe I’m just misremembering something else.)