N.Y. Knicks: Julius Randle Part of NBA's Magnificent Seven

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

22-22 (.500)

Sixth Place

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Coach Thibs and the Time Bandits Turn Last Season Into a Distant Memory

Recent losses against the Sixers and Nets were just as meaningful as any of the Knicks' twenty-two victories to date.  That's how lively and competitive they've played under Coach Thibs.  

If you bet the over on the season's projected win total, then this is hitting the jackpot.  Lest we forget the Knicks last season finished with a 21-45 (.318) record.  On Tuesday, they achieved win number 22 of the season with 28 games still to play.  Defense is clearly leading the way.  The Knicks are the NBA's third stingiest team averaging 105.3 points allowed per game.  However, they also own a +0.3 point differential, which at this moment cannot be said of two other top-eight Eastern Conference teams.

After a quiet return to action on Sunday, Mitchell Robinson was 7/9 from the floor and 2/2 from the line for 16 points in 31 minutes off the bench.  He tied for a game-high twelve rebounds and blocked three shots.  I suspect he and Nerlens Noel will switch roles shortly.  

Alec Burks was 6/12 from the field and a perfect 6/6 from the line for 20 points in 29 minutes and Immanuel Quickley scored 14 points in a brief albeit efficient twelve minutes, both also off the bench.

Timing well with Mitch Robinson's return, Elfrid Payton was also back in action.  He slashed for seven points, five rebounds, four assists, with three steals and a plus-twelve in 21 minutes.  

Meanwhile, Derrick Rose remains out under COVID protocol - nine games and counting.

Otherwise, Coach Thibodeau in customary fashion made his starters earn their pay.  Julius Randle led the floor with 37 points on 13/24 from the field, 7/10 from behind the arc, and 4/5 from the line.  RJ Barrett was next in with 21 points and a team-high five assists in 39 minutes. 

Julius Randle is averaging 37.1 minutes per game, second only behind Brooklyn's James Harden who clocks in with a league-high 38.0 minutes per game.  Of the league's top thirty scorers, Julius Randle ranks #27 with 23.3 points per game but is one of only seven players in the top thirty averaging a double-double.  The other six are Joel Embiid, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, James Harden, Nikola Vucevic, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

It is said people are largely a product of the people they surround themselves with.  

Julius is keeping good company.