Knicks Morning News (2023.11.02)

New York vs Cleveland L 89-95 Record 2-3

Ouch.

+ LaVert – RJ Barrett = 24

Does an equation like this make sense?

Maybe, because the Cavs, still missing 2 of their top starters, added LaVert and trampled a too-bad-to-be-real Knicks’ team who lost our favorite canuck just a few hours before the game.

Very deflating game where Julius’ early struggles reached a new high, hence a new low.

Next: we travel to Milwaukee for the first game of the so called “NBA Cup”.
I used to think the only “cups” in NBA were those used by the players to protect their genitals and I strongly suggest to rename it the “Adam Silver – I can’t even copy things the right way – Cup” (always add “Cup” at the end please).

Thoughts:

– Game-5 of the season, It’s early, no need to panic.

– The start of the NBA season is always crazy, watch the night-by-night scores and you know what I mean.

– We wouldn’t have hit the ocean from the beach and this game doesn’t define our season or give hints of things to come.
But it must be a useful lesson to learn from, not something to get rid of with a laugh and a shrug, because but some little things are jarring.

– We missed RJ Barrett. I really do. And yes, It sounds strange even to me.

– Too early to jump to conclusions, for the Knicks and everyone else.

– At the same time, while I try to avoid too early hot takes, I humbly dare to question our roster construction (before the inevitable consolidation trade that we all swear will happen).
Forget about Obi.
I think it’s glaring we miss a player who can sub for Randle and give us 75%-80% of his (expected) production when he plays like yesterday, or get a cold or anything.
Randle has a bad day, we’re naked. Randle has the flu, we’re naked. Randle rolls an ankle (as he did in the last 2 seasons) we’re fucked.
I’m not talking %USG, defense, different styles of play, All-NBA and so on, what I’m saying is that Obi was perfect for that role because we know he can hold the fort (not “play like him” or “better than him”) on Julius’ bad days and missed games.
Donte Di Vincenzo is a good player but he doesn’t help on this subject.
Sims jumps high but he doesn’t help on this subject.
I’d like to ask Leon: ” Did we try to get a decent look-a-like for Julius?”
Correct me if I’m wrong, from a roster standpoint in the offseason we exchanged a 6’9″ forward with a 6’4″guard*… when guards were already the strenght of our team (JB, IQ, Grimes, RJ, J-Hart) and forwards weren’t (Randle, ?, ??, ???).
I know it’s my fault but I’m having a hard time coming to terms with it.

– In our “non-Iso” possessions we often have a habit of passing open “catch & shoot”** (often take more contested and “out of rhythm” ones later) as if they’re scared and eager to throw the hot potato to a teammate.
We’re not a good three-point shooting team, but isn’t this a strong reason to take all the open shots we can instead of waiting for worse ones (often with the clock expiring)?

– I love Gnomeball. The various combinations of 4 elves and a center run whenever they can, move like pinballs around the court and share the ball with visible gusto. And for different reasons Mitch and I-Hart mesh well with the short guys.

* In Lowe’s Pod just before the season started Pelton talked about coaches relatively new trend to go with speed over size with the bench unit (and keep the size for starting lineups), but I’m worried for the starting lineups. Who do we play 35 minutes if Julius miss a game?

** J-Hart and Grimes are the usual suspects but now even IQ, DDV and Randle (!!!) hesitate more. The only player who does it rarely is RJ, and one could assume he’s the worst shooter of the bunch (but always unafraid).

Play(s) Of The Game:

4th 4:38 Cavaliers Full timeout CLE 79 NY 74
4th 4:25 Georges Niang misses two point shot
4th 4:20 Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound
4th 4:03 Jalen Brunson makes 16-foot two point shot CLE 79 NY 76
4th 3:44 Donte DiVincenzo blocks Caris LeVert ‘s 12-foot jumper
4th 3:41 Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound
4th 3:30 Julius Randle misses 25-foot three point jumper

The Cavs were doing their best to lose the game, the Knicks were in one of the slowest “run” you could ever see but the momentum is shifting toward the home team and the crowd is finally getting in the game.

JB cut the lead to 3, Donte had a great defensive play…
… And then the player who should have been on the bench, the player who gave up the entire 2nd half***, took his only shot of the quarter. And missed, as he did with all the shots he took in the 2nd half (0-4).

A little bit later, after a Mitch’s FT made it a 2-points game, Spida broke a 0-10 slump, sank two consecutive basketball, including a three, and the Cavs sailed to the win.

*** In the immortal words of Ptmilo: “He checked out so hard in the second half they turned his room”

Stats Of The Game:

5-30 (16.7%). Knicks’ 3FG%.
27-62 (43.5%). Knicks 2FG%.
20-30 (66.7%). Knicks FT%.

“The best example of ‘lid on the basket”…” (thanks Raven!)

Grades:

Brunson C-
A little better in ball management (1 TO) still a tad too slow decision-making and 8-23 is really bad (8-21 2FG!).
Sometimes I can’t decide if he’s a little too selfish or he just doesn’t trust his teammates (Wildcats aside).

Randle F
I get it, ankle surgeries aren’t easy for a clerk, let alone for someone who makes a living jumping and running and there’s a good chance that even with a good recovery a player’s athleticism will never be te same.
Bad shooting games happens, alas it wasn’t just a bad shooting game.
The numbers are god awful, but is the horrible body language that scare me.
It’s impossible he’ll play another game like this, so he’ll be better.

Barrett A
The simple fact that we felt his absence makes him the honorary MVP of the game.

Grimes C-
Some good defensive sequences on Mitchell, it was his chance to do something on offense, he botched it.

Robinson A
Another strong game: 16 Reb (8 offensive) 2 blocks. Hacked and whacked mercilessly (4-8 FT). Game MVP in my opinion.

Quickley B+
He couldn’t hit a 3 but recognized it and went to work around the basket. 2 missed FT (always a surprise) but I’d take 18 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST and zero TOs from my combo guard 6th man every day.

Hart B
He started in RJ’s spot, never gave up (8 REB, 3 AST) and his energy level is tranding up.
Surprise surprise he’s not a shooter (5-14) but we didn’t get him for that.

Hartenstein B
He had a monumental 1st half and a decent 2nd. Solid on the glass (6 REB), very active on defense (3 STL) can change the game with his passing skills (2 AST, and Randle totally blew another one). I officially start to worry about his free agency.

DDV B
A sizzling offensive 1st half (12 PTS, 4-5 FG) then he went cold in the 2nd (1-5 FG, the lone basket was the last of the game, totally useless).
But his effort on defense never wavered, with quick hands and smart reads, plus he’s always in motion on offense****.

Fournier A
Because he didn’t play but he still hasn’t punched his coach (where’s Latrell when you need him?).

Thibs D-
Why?
Because 35 minutes of “this” Randle are unacceptable when you blabber constantly about accountability.
Because he gave his blessing to sell Obi without making a fuss about the absence of a dependable reserve for Julius.
And because in a day where no one can hit a shot he let Fournier glued to the bench.
Depth is a good thing only if you use it and too often with him is just a waste.

**** You can see the disdain on his face when the offensive set send him to the corner to fill Grimes’ lamp post spot.