Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Outlasts Knicks in Season's Opening Battle of the Boroughs

From the desks: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH & KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

EAST RIVER SHOWDOWN

I - BKN 112; NYK 110

A Decisive James Harden Leads Flatbush Against Manhattan Rival

I preface this game recap acknowledging that RJ Barrett left after just nine minutes on the floor, and Coach Thibodeau, for lack of sufficient effort on defense, essentially benched Kemba Walker.  Meanwhile, Flatbush likewise entered this game somewhat rearranged, with Blake Griffin no longer in the starting lineup, Joe Harris out pending ankle surgery, and of course the controversial missing man variable.  

Thus lay the pretext to a tightly contested one-point margin of victory.  In the final second of the game, the team that possessed the ball got off one last desperation shot, missed, and lost.  That's how closely Tuesday's first showdown this season played out between the host Brooklyn Nets and the East River traversing Manhattan Knickerbockers.

After every game, top players around the league are unavoidably confronted by media and their microphones.  They ask questions, even ones they know sometimes are circumstantial or even uncomfortably unanswerable, yet in return, expect some level of inside info.  It's part of the job.  My point is, James Harden can say anything he wants insofar as telling the media he's still learning when to distribute, orchestrate, or personally seize upon a given possession.  But I say all that is just talk for the sake of talk.  For James Harden knows precisely what he's doing.  It's about other players not named Kevin Durant following Harden's lead and finishing.

Thrust into the starting lineup by Coach Thibs, Alec Burks, and Julius Randle for the Knicks, and Harden and Kevin Durant for Flatbush are the measures of this game.  They were the only four with 20+ shot attempts and topped all other players in minutes.

James Harden led all scorers with 34 points and secured a game-high ten rebounds with eight assists in 40 minutes.  He was 11/20 from the field and a more customary 9/10 from the line.  Otherwise, Harden knows turnovers continue marring his overall performance; this time, he committed a game-high five.

Kevin Durant was 0/5 from beyond the arc but made up for it by shooting 9/9 from the charity line en route to 27 points while (importantly) tying for a game-high nine assists in 41 minutes.  Together with Harden, they accounted for 61 (54.4%) of Brooklyn's 112 points.

Alec Burks led the Knicks with 25 points in 39 minutes, and Julius Randle added 24 points and posted team-highs of nine rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes.  Together, they accounted for 49 (44.5%) of the Knicks' 110 points.

The Knicks outrebounded the Nets by four and put up six more shots than Brooklyn.  This continues to be a troubling trend for me, but the Nets bailed themselves out, again, outscoring the Knicks by a margin of eleven at the line.  And whereas the Nets were outscored in the paint, they outscored the Knicks off fast-break opportunities.

Manhattan had five players score in double-digits.  Derrick Rose scored 16 points in 36 minutes, and with 0.17 seconds left in the game, Evan Fournier tied the game at 110-110 as part of a 13 point night.  But James Johnson's free throws put the Nets back ahead by two.  Afterwhich, Even Fournier missed on a last-second attempt.

The Nets had four players in double-digits.  Cam Thomas led the bench effort with 12 points in 21 minutes.  However, the Knicks bench outscored Flatbush by a nine-point 36-27 margin.

If a 15-6 record makes me anxious ... it is what it is.  Teams nearing (or even matching) the Nets in shooting percentage are very problematic as Flatbush continually allows the opposition more possessions and overall shot opportunities.  

It's been my pet peeve all season.

Defense is the main issue with the Knicks.  They went from being elite defenders last season to the middle of the pack this season.  It's quite the conundrum when this team last season in the playoffs lacked desperately for points.

N.Y. Knicks: Bockers Slow Down Indiana's Pace

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

MONDAY

Pacers      84

KNICKS    96

FINAL

Coach Thibodeau Asks And He Receives

Talk about slamming the breaks on the Pacers ...

The Knicks entered Monday's action losers of three of their last four.  Despite a different mix of personnel, Coach Thibodeau still makes defense no less a point of contention. 

Last season the Knicks limited their opponents to a league-fewest of 104.7 points per game.  This season, the opposition has eclipsed 100 points in nine of the Knicks' first 14 games.  At present, they are allowing 109.2 points per game, the tenth most in the league and an increase over last season of 4.5 points per game. 

On Monday, the Knicks took heed and clamped down on the Indiana Pacers.  But not before Indiana took a one-point lead into the half and a 74-69 lead after three.  Afterwhich, the Knicks limited the Pacers to just ten points in the fourth quarter - one-three pointer, two points from midrange, and five points from the line.  Meanwhile, with 23 points in the final session, the Knicks overcame a five-point deficit and came away with an eight-point margin of victory.

Coming off the bench, Derrick Rose is still the backbone and effective MVP of this team.  He scored 14 points and tied for a game-high seven assists in 25 minutes.  Immanuel Quickley tied for a team-high 16 points, including 4/4 from behind the arc in 23 minutes, also off the bench. 

Julius Randle registered a workmanlike double-double with eleven points and a team-high eleven rebounds in 35 minutes.  

But here's the difference between this season and last.  Kemba Walker was 8/11 from the field for 16 points but finished with a minus-15, while Evan Fournier added seven points but posted a minus-10 in 24 minutes.  The Knicks bench averaged a +16, while Julius Randle and RJ Barrett finished -2 and -1, respectively.

 

N.Y. Knicks Upend Defending Champs at Milwaukee

From the desk: KICKIN' CAN DOWN 33rd STREET WIT' JIMMY

FRIDAY

Knicks   113

BUCKS    98

FINAL

After Woeful First Quarter, Coach Thibs Takes Knicks By The Antlers

Okay, the Buck were without Kris Middleton and Brook Lopez.  But that in no way should diminish what the Knicks accomplished Friday at Milwaukee against the NBA's defending champs.  

Without further adieu, I credit this particular victory to Coach Thibodeau.  After consecutive losses against Toronto and Indiana, the Knicks found themselves down 38-19 after the first quarter.  That's when Coach drew a line in the sand and assigned his three most trusted Knicks to protect it.

Despite missing the aforementioned players, Milwaukee still had four players score in double-digits, while the Knick had three.  But Milwaukee's quarter by quarter offensive depletion tells the story.  The Knicks held the Bucks to 25 points in the second quarter, thus cutting their deficit to seven.  Afterwhich, they held Milwaukee to 20 points in the third quarter, then a mere 15 points in the final session.  Even with 38 points in the first quarter, the Knicks still prevented the Bucks from exceeding 100 points for the game.  All the while executing a methodical comeback in handing the defending champs a decisive 113-98 margin of defeat at Milwaukee.

Rebounding was no doubt a key factor.  The Bockers outrebounded the Bucks by a glass breaking 59-37 margin.  Second chance opportunities likewise favored the Knicks, who secured 20 offensive rebounds, whereas the Bucks only grabbed seven.

Although the Knicks were a mere 10/40 from behind the arc, they made up for it with a plus-five from the free-throw line and converted eight more made field goals in 14 more attempts.

Julius Randle led the floor with 22 attempts and a game-high 32 points in 33 minutes and notched a double-double with 12 rebounds.  

RJ Barrett was the only other starter in double-digits.  He finished 8/21 from the field and 2/2 from the line for 20 points; it's his fifth consecutive game of 20 points or more.

Afterwhich, Coach Thibodeau turned to his old reliable, Derrick Rose, who was the only other Knick to receive 30 minutes, and in turn rewarded his coach with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals off the bench.  Nerlens Noel was also a factor off the bench with six points and a game-high 13 rebounds in 24 minutes.

The rest was Coach Thibodeau mixing and matching and substituting bodies like chess pieces while Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer was busy playing checkers.

Put this one in the affirmation column, like the victories against Chicago and Philly.

N.Y. Knicks: Toronto Plants Flag at MSG

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

MONDAY

Raptors    113

KNICKS      94

FINAL

Toronto's Third Quarter is a Rap for Bockers

After Julius Randle's crowd-rising first quarter, the Knicks took a 57-53 lead into halftime.  But Toronto stormed ahead in the third with 38 points for a 101-79 advantage the Knicks could not recover.

Toronto's OG Anunoby scored 36 points in 41 minutes, and Gary Trent Jr. added 26 points in 43 minutes.  Both joined together for 62 (60%) of Toronto's 103 points.  Said another way, for roughly 90% of the game, the Knicks had no answer for either player.

RJ Barrett again led the Knicks with 27 points in 39 minutes, and Julius Randle added 22 points in 37 minutes for a combined 49 points.  Which is to say, they got outscored by Anunboy and Trent Jr. by 13 points.  Not coincidentally, 18 of Randle's 22 points came in the first quarter, leaving just four the rest of the way.  The Knicks lost by nine ...

• That's how you follow up a career game.  RJ Barrett has now eclipsed 20+ points in three consecutive games (28 ppg).

Knick starters were outscored 96-82 by Toronto's starting five.  Fresh off 19-points games at New Orleans, respectively, Kemba Walker topped out at 15 points in 28 minutes, and Evan Fournier added twelve points in 25 minutes. 

Toronto owned the edge in rebounding and did a slightly better job in ball distribution, but the Bockers bench outscored that of the Raptors by a 22-17 margin.

Off the bench, Derrick Rose was only 2/8 from the field, and Immanuel Quickley was just 1/7 from the field but 4/4 from the line for seven points.

N.Y. Knicks: RJ Barrett Marches Through New Orleans

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

SATURDAY

Knicks        123

PELICANS  117

FINAL

RJ Barrett Scores Career-High 35 Points

Last season the Knicks ranked twelfth in conference scoring with 107 points per game.  With two key off-season acquisitions and newfound consistency from beyond the arc, they've not only alleviated some of the scoring burdens off the shoulders of Julius Randle, but they're presently averaging 117 points through the first six games of this still-young season.

• Defensively, the Knicks last season allowed 104.7 ppg; through six games, that number presently sits at 109.8 ppg.

RJ Barrett, drafted by the Knicks with the third overall pick of the 2019 draft, is slowly but surely becoming a star under Tom Thibodeau.  It's not absurd to imagine Thibodeau building a relationship with Barrett similar to the one he enjoyed in Chicago (and still enjoys) with Derrick Rose.

Entering his third season, the 21-year old led the Knicks at New Orleans with a career-high 35 points, including 6/8 from three, and a team-high eight rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes.  Barrett scored 25 points in the second half, of which 16 came in the fourth quarter.  Saturday marked his second consecutive 20+ point game.

Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker finished with 19 points each.  With RJ Barrett, the three joined in shooting 15/23 (65.2%) from beyond the arc for 45 points.  As the only three with double-digit attempts, they collectively shot 24/43 (55.8%) from the field for 73 of the Knicks' 123 total points.

Julius Randle was 4/9 from the field for ten points with six rebounds and four assists in a game-high 38 minutes.  It's the first time he has attempted less than ten field goals this season and the fourth consecutive game of decreased shot attempts.  After 24 attempts against the Magic, he has since tried 18, 11, and nine shots, respectively.

The Knicks were minus-five in rebounds and minus-eight in assists.  But despite eleven more field goal attempts by the Pelicans, the Knicks finished 19/33 (57.6%) from three-point range to compensate for their 81 possessions.

Taj Gibson scored 13 points in 21 minutes, and Alec Burks added ten in 13 minutes off the bench.

With their fifth win in six games, the Knicks join a crowded mountain top with the Wizards, Bulls, and Heat.  They have already chalked up victories against Washington and Chicago but have yet to play Miami.

N.Y. Knicks: Kemba Walker Leads Effort Against Bulls

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

THURSDAY

Knicks   104

BULLS  103

FINAL

Julius Randle Does Heavy Lifting

Don't look now, but the Knicks are among the conference leaders with a 4-1 record and second behind the Charlotte Hornets with 115.8 points per game.

Offseason acquisition Kemba Walker was front and center at Chicago as the Bockers handed the Bulls their first loss.  Walker led the way with a team-high 21 points, converting 5/6 from beyond the arc in 29 minutes.  At one point during the third quarter, he led the Knicks on an 8-0 run to put them up by nine.

RJ Barrett notched his first 20-point game on 8/15 from the floor and 3/3 from the line.  

With his accuracy out of whack, Julius Randle played workhorse with a game-high 16 rebounds and nine assists.  He attempted only the team's fourth-most shots, finishing just 3/11 for 13 points in a team-high 35 minutes.  

Playing before an appreciative crowd, Derrick Rose led the bench effort with twelve points in 19 minutes.

The Knicks took a 55-51 lead into the half and led 82-73 after three.  But the Bulls charged back with 30 points in the fourth quarter.  DeMar DeRozan missed a last-second attempt from midrange, and the Knicks won by one.

N.Y. Knicks Tighten Up Their Act Against Sixers

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

TUESDAY

Sixers       99

KNICKS  112

FINAL

Knicks Seize Control From Sixers in the Second Quarter and Never Look Back

 

Coach Thibs was not pleased with the second game of the Knicks' back-to-back set with the Orlando Magic.  In turn, the responsive Bockers legitimized their early season start with a convincing victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. 

After falling behind in the first quarter, the Knicks responded with a defensive effort more to Coach's liking, holding the 76ers under 90 total shots and their opponents below the century mark for the second time in four games.

Tobias Harris led the Sixers with 23 points and a game-high nine assists in 33 minutes.  He was 10/18 from the field but only 2/6 from beyond the arc.  Danny Green was 4/8 from three for 12 points.  But that's the extent of the Sixer's highlights.  The Knicks contested everything and limited the rest of Philly's participants to 6/27 (22.2%) from behind the arc.  

Joel Embiid had to labor with a bum knee for every one of his 14 points.  The Knicks held him to 2/7 from the field and otherwise forced him to earn his points at the line, where he converted 10/11 attempts.  No other Sixer had more than two free throw attempts.

The Knicks were plus-five in rebounds and broke even in assists.  Free throws were near equal, and points in the paint were a draw.  Although the Knicks were outscored 19-7 off turnovers, they still had five more possessions than Philly, and they made them count.

Propelled by a 39-16 second-quarter effort, the Knicks took a 20-point lead into the half.

Kemba Walker led the Knicks' three-point assault, shooting 7/15 from the field and 5/11 from three for a team-high 19 points.  Evan Fournier finished with 18 points, including 4/6 from three.  All told, the Knicks were 16/37 (43.2%) from the three range.  They outscored the Sixers by twelve from beyond the arc, and therein effectively lies the Knicks' 13-point margin of victory.

Julius Randle registered a quiet double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and a team-high seven assists in 36 minutes.  Derrick Rose led the bench effort with 13 points in 20 minutes.

N.Y. Knicks: Charged Up Garden Revels in Opening Night O.T. Victory Over Celtics

From the desk: KICKIN' ROCKS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

WEDNESDAY

CELTICS   134

KNICKS    138

FINAL/OT

Knicks Hustle "Four" Love of the Game

The new-look Knicks won their home opener before an uproarious Wednesday night crowd at Madison Square Garden.  This wasn't the Larry Bird Celtics, but the intensity in the building was no less palpable.

Boston's Jaylen Brown dropped a game-high 46 points, and Jayson Tatum scored another 20 points.  However, Julius Randle poured in a team-high 36 points, and newcomer Evan Fournier finished with 32 points, edge Knicks.

After being limited to 31 games last season, Mitchell Robinson tipped the scales with eleven points and a game-high 17 rebounds.  R.J. Barrett was third in with 19 points, and rounding out the starting lineup, fellow newcomer Kemba Walker scored ten points with three assists and eight rebounds in 36 minutes.

Coach Thibodeau's bench outscored Boston's by a 31-22 margin, with Obi Toppin leading the charge with 14 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes.

The Knicks trailed by four at the half, then seized an 86-82 lead after three.  But Boston wiped that out with 34 points in the fourth quarter.  The Bockers then edged out the Celtics 22-18 in overtime to complete an ongoing 138-134 four-point shuffle.

N.Y. Knicks: Game Three Exposed Coach Thibodeau's Dilemma at the Point

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

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

PLAYOFFS: ROUND ONE

GAME FOUR
Knicks

vs.

Celtics

A Rose By Any Other Role Is Still Not a Rose

And herein, we see Coach Thibodeau's dilemma...

If you start Derrick Rose, the bench has no real sustenance.  With Rose in the starting role, the bench contributed 40 points (or 42.5% of the Knicks scoring).  Nerlens Noel led a four-man effort with twelve points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes.  Alec Burks led with 23 minutes.  Otherwise, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickly contributed four points each in 13 and 15 minutes, respectively.

Derrick Rose led the floor with a game-high 30 points and five assists and tied for game-high with 39 minutes.  That's not optimal utilization of Derrick Rose.  He led all players with a minus-16, which is contrary to when he plays off the bench and usually leads the team in plus/minus.  This being said, Elfrid Payton did not play.  Coach Thibodeau would love it if Elfrid Payton of Dec-Feb can find his way back onto the floor.  Game Three proved beyond a doubt the Knicks need this.

In his first post-season, Julius Randle continues to struggle.  After averaging 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and a league-high 37.6 minutes during the regular season, Julius averaged just 14.6 points in 35.6 minutes through three games against the Hawks.

The Knicks lost by eleven and were held under 100 points for the first time since their May 11th overtime loss against the Lakers.  RJ Barrett is averaging just 13.6 points per game, and in Game Three was limited to just seven points.  In May, Barrett eclipsed twenty points in a game four times while averaging 17.1 points over the final nine regular-season games.

Scoring just 13 points and getting outscored by 16 points in the second quarter proved devastating.  The difference in the final score speaks for itself.  Atlanta also penetrated and exposed the Knicks' interior, outscoring New York 44-30 in the paint.

There's an argument that the Knicks could and should be up 2-1 in this series.  Game Four will go a long way towards supporting that theory or not.

N.Y. Knicks: Another Strong Second Half Effort This Time Secures Victory in Game Two

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

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

PLAYOFFS: ROUND ONE

Game Two

Hawks    92

KNICKS  101

FINAL

Second Half Defense Grounds Hawks

We saw this before: the Knicks get off to another slow start.  Although, I was in the car at the time listening to the radio.  

In the first quarter of game one, they were outscored by eight; Wednesday, they get outscored in the first, this time by seven.  But whereas the Knicks trailed by two at the half of game one, this time they walk off to the locker room down by a concerning 13 points.  

I'm sure Tom Thibodeau had a few choice words for his squad.  Because in the second half, the Knicks held Atlanta to 18 points in the third quarter and just 17 points in the fourth, or said another way, just 35 points in the second half.  Meanwhile, the Knicks score 32 points in a big third quarter and followed up with 25 points in the final session en route to a 57-35 second-half advantage and a much-needed nine-point margin of victory. 

Nerlens Noel was back on the floor and helped the Knicks outrebound the Hawks by a handsome 54-41 difference.  The Knicks also outscored Atlanta 42-28 in the paint.

Trae Young again leads the floor with 30 points in 35 minutes.  Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the two you would expect, led all shooters with 20 and 21 attempts, respectively.

Meanwhile, Tom Thibodeau once again throws some crumbs Elfrid Payton's way; five minutes.  While that's still worth pondering, Derrick Rose clocks in with a team-high 39 minutes off the bench, in which he leads the Knicks with both 21 shot attempts and 26 points.  This is also to say Julius Randle did not lead the Knicks in attempts as is his custom.  Lest we forget, one has playoffs experience, and the other does not.  Overall, the bench contributes 55 points thus accounting for 54.4% of the Knicks scoring.  Obi Toppin was both effective and opportunistic, with eight points in twelve minutes.

Julius Randle was an improved performer over game one.  His game numbers betray him.  Let's call him clutch, then.  Randle finishes with 15 points and twelve rebounds in 35 minutes.  His drive the lane floater with 1:13 left in the fourth put the Knicks safely ahead by a 100-91 margin.  

Reggie Bullock added 14 points, and RJ Barrett chipped in with 13 points in 26 minutes.  Alec Burks' scoring line also betrays him, eleven points in 30 minutes, but unlike the Hawks, he provided an extra measure of scoring depth off the bench.

Despite another precarious start, the Knicks finish strong again.  The challenge now is to get the first quarter under control because they've demonstrated in two consecutive games against the Hawks they come on strong in the second half.

N.Y. Knicks: Cold Start Proves Costly

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

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

PLAYOFFS: ROUND ONE

GAME ONE

Atlanta Hawks      107

New York Knicks  105

FINAL

Getting to the Point of the Matter

I'm not listening to the nonsensical Frank Ntilikina narrative about preventing Trae Young from playing to his right.  Yes, Julius Randle was there to help on the left side.  But let's not be petty ... that's not what happened.  Losing the game on a last-second shot is not what went wrong.  Instead, the results of the Knicks game-long collective efforts put them in a position to win.

Julius Randle started ice cold, and the Hawks outscored the Knicks in the first quarter by eight.  Randle remained cold, but by halftime, the Knicks deficit was only two, largely thanks to Derrick Rose, who Coach Thibideau utilized off the bench far earlier than anticipated.  Julius stayed cold, yet the Knicks led by two after three quarters.

As he should have, Julius Randle led the team with 23 attempts, the same number as Trae Young.  But whereas Young was 11/23, including 1/3 from behind the arc, and 9/9 from the line for a game-high 32 points, Julius Randle was 6/23 and 2/6 from three and just 1/2 from the line.  Despite hitting a clutch three down the stretch, Randle effectively remained cold throughout the fourth.  If he hits one more three, the Knicks win.  If Julius gets to the line more, the Knicks win.  If the Knicks score two more points back in the first quarter, they probably win.

The Knicks twice exceeded 30 points in a quarter, the Hawks just once; it just so happened in the fourth.  But Atlanta only scored 24 points back in the first; the Knicks scored just 16 points.  Instead of pointing at Young's last shot and Julius Randle's fail attempt at the buzzer, rewind and revisit the first quarter.  But before you do, first remember that Nerlens Noel was not on the floor when Young put up his winning shot.

And by the way, the Knick outrebounded the Hawks by seven.

The bench scored 64 points which accounted for 60.9% of the Knicks scoring.  Alec Burks was the big man on campus, with 18 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter.

Coach Thibodeau has a decision to make at point guard.  I agree that Derrick Rose should play off the bench.  However, necessity is the mother of all inventions.  Rose clocked 38 minutes.  Elfrid Payton played just eight minutes, which in the playoffs proved to be a major waste of Knicks' time.  So, why bother ...

Elfrid Payton posted five or more assists this season 13 times in 63 games.  Six of those episodes occurred within his first ten games of the season.  Since then, just seven times.  His best stretch of the season started on Dec. 27 against the Bucks, in which he scored 27 points with seven rebounds in 29 minutes and wound down by Jan. 10 with five assists against Denver.  Through the last nine regular-season games in May, Payton averaged just 1.8 assists in 15.1 minutes.  The Knicks simply need more in the playoffs, that is, against a singular opponent.

Me, you, everyone is expecting Julius Randle to improve his game.  Chalk this one up to an off-night.  

But what of RJ Barrett?  I hear sniveling in the background.  But I think he played a representative game for a 20-year old, with 14 points and eleven rebounds in 32 minutes.  Barrett, like Randle, only had two attempts from the free-throw line.  That must change.

So, no, all does not boil down to one failed defensive stop.

N.Y. Knicks: This Season Was Brought To You By The Letter "F"

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

((((( ( (FORTY)))))))

SUNDAY

BOSTON CELTICS

vs.

NEW YORK KNICKS

FROM

Eighth Ave Gym

No one, media, fans, or otherwise, predicted this season's regular-season win total would start with the letter F.  But the Eighth Avenue crew blew right through the letter T with continued winning through the teens, the twenties, and thirties.  

Holy F, what an accomplishment!

Moreover, no one could have imagined chanting M-V-P this season for one of their own.  But that's just what happened.  Under the tutelage of Coach Thibodeau, Julius Randle has become one of the premier stars of the league.

Against Charlotte on Saturday, Julius Randle led the floor with 33 points in 46 minutes.  It's the 15th time this season he's eclipsed 30 points in a game, and along with ten rebounds and a game-high 13 assists, Julius notches his sixth triple-double this season.

Reggie Bullock was next in with 17 points in 40 minutes.  Led by Derrick Rose's 15 points, the bench accounted for 44 points or 37.2% of the Knicks scoring.  Immanuel Quickly led the Knicks with a +18 and 13 points in 24 minutes.

On Sunday. the tentatively fourth-ranked Knicks end the season against the number seven Boston Celtics.  Today's games will greatly impact the final standings for the Knicks, the number five Hawks, and the number six Miami Heat.

POSTGAME

Celtics   92

Knicks   96

FINAL

The Knicks take the season series Celtics, three games to two, and lock up the fourth spot in the conference.  They wrap up the season on a three-game win streak and finish with a 41-31 (.569) record.  Their +2.4 point differential is fourth in the conference.  Julius Randle finishes an incredible season with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 37 minutes.  For the season, he averages 24.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and six assists, in an NBA high 37.56 minutes per game.

RJ Barrett led the Knicks with 22 points in 33 minutes.  It was the 33rd time this season he scored 20-points or more.  Last season he accomplished the feat 15 times.

N.Y. Knicks: Chris Paul's Hail Mary Finds Net

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

Chris Paul's Monday Night Miracle

Ends Knicks Winning Streak at Nine

Suns   118

Knicks 110

FINAL

As Julius Randle Goes, So Go The Knicks

There was a point in the first quarter when the Knicks led by ten.  Four minutes left in the second, they led by 13 points and took a seven-point lead into the half.  Their largest lead of the game was 15 points.  But next thing you know, the Phoenix Suns jump ahead 84-83 with 1:30 left in the third.  With 3:30 left in the fourth quarter, a big defensive play by Derrick Rose kept the Knicks deficit to a manageable four points.  But with the shot clock winding down, Chris Paul's miracle shot from the great beyond pushed the dagger into the Knicks side.  Paul's desperation three made it a 115-110 game with a minute left.  The Knicks would lose by eight; the consecutive winning streak comes to a halt at nine.

Phoenix had three scorers with 20 points or better led by Devin Booker's game-high 33 points in 41 minutes.  Chris Paul was huge down the stretch and finished with 20 points and six assists in 34 minutes.

Julius Randle was off, and as he goes so go the Knicks.  He was 6/17 from the field and 3/4 from the line for 18 points.  Reggie Bullock and RJ Barrett contributed 17 points apiece.  Derrick Rose led the Knicks with 22 points and tied for game-high with six assists but posted an uncharacteristic minus-14 in 33 minutes off the bench.

The loss knots the Bockers in a fourth-place conference tie with the Atlanta Hawks.  Sixth place Boston trails both teams by 1.5 games.

Let the countdown begin as only ten games remain in the regular season, more than half of which will be on the road.  After hosting Chicago on Wednesday, the Knicks embark on a six-game trip through the West before returning to close out the season's final three games at home.

N.Y. Knicks: Nine is Just Fine

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

Saturday Afternoon Live!

Knicks defeat Raptors; 2-1

I - TOR 100; NYK 83

II - NYK 102; TOR 96

Raptors 103

Knicks  120

FINAL

OLD SCHOOL IS IN THE HOUSE!

It goes without saying the Knicks are far exceeding pre-season expectations.  In fact, outside of Tom Thibodeau's arrival, there were no expectations, making what they're accomplishing a pure delight.

Only eight teams presently have more victories than the Knicks, who are now seven games above .500 and winners of nine in a row.  If that isn't enough, only five teams have more home wins than the Knicks. 

While the excitement level is being compared to eight years ago and winning the Atlantic Division title, this season brings me back to 1983-1984 when coach Hubie Brown demanded defensive effort from Bernard King and a similarly populated roster.  That team finished the season at 47-35 (.573), but after 61 games, they owned a 36-25 record, just two games ahead of the Knicks' present pace.  

At 27-years of age, Bernard King led the Knicks with 26.3 points per game, and Bill Cartwright was number two with 17.0 points per game.  Today, 26-year old Julius Randle leads the Knicks with 24.0 points per game, followed by RJ Barrett averaging 17.6 points per game.

That Knicks team upset the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons in the first round of playoffs, then pushed Larry Bird and Team Green to a game seven in round two.

What this team is capable of accomplishing remains to be seen.

While Julius Randle continues flourishing in the limelight, Derrick Rose remains the underlying force quietly fueling these Knicks.  The former league MVP on Saturday led the floor with a plus-26 in 33 minutes off the bench.  He was an efficient 7/10 from the field and 5/6 from the line for 19 points and a team-high seven assists and two steals.

Nine games ago, the Knicks took Memphis into overtime and won by four; Rose scored 19 points in 26 minutes.  Last Sunday, the Knicks took New Orleans into overtime and won by ten; Rose scored 23 points, his most since joining the Knicks.  Last Wednesday, he calmly helped gear up his mates for yet another extra session victory over Atlanta finishing with 20 points and a plus-14 in 30 minutes off the bench.  Over his last four games, Derrick is averaging 19.7 points and five assists in 30.7 minutes.

Julius Randle led all scorers with 31 points in 39 minutes.  With ten defensive rebounds, he notched his 36th double-double.  In fact, Julius is one of only 14 NBA players averaging a double-double for the season.  He is averaging 24.0 points for the season but is averaging 27.3 points in April and 30.1 points during this nine-game win streak.

RJ Barrett was plus-23 in 38 minutes.  He was an efficient 8/16 from the field and 6/7 from the line for 25 points.  It marks the sixth time in 13 games this month that he's topped 20 points.  Barrett also secured a season-high twelve rebounds for his first double-double since Mar. 25 against Washington.  It's his fifth double-double of the season and the sixth time he's secured double-digit rebounds.

Together, Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson are not the equals of Bill Cartwright, but they nonetheless joined for ten points and ten rebounds at the center.

For the moment, the NBA stingiest defensive team owns the fourth place in the Eastern Conference all to themselves.  It's just such a shame packed houses at the church of DEE-FENSE aren't being allowed to witness and enjoy this.

• Next up: Phoenix Suns on Monday.

N.Y. Knicks: Eight is Great

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

Midweek Thriller at the Garden

WEDNESDAY

Hawks   127

Knicks   137

FINAL/OT

Three Overtime Victories Highlight Eight Game Winning Streak

Julius Randle may be the shining star on this team, but Derrick Rose is the quiet captain since his arrival from Detroit.

Eight games ago, the Knicks took Memphis into overtime and won by four; Rose scored 19 points in 26 minutes.  Last Sunday, the Knicks took New Orleans into overtime and won by ten; Rose scored 23 points, his most since joining the Knicks.  On Wednesday, he calmly helped gear up his mates for yet another extra session. 

A two-point deficit at halftime was increased to seven points after three quarters.  But once Derrick Rose tied the game at 109-109 with 6:25 left in regulation, Julius Randle scored ten of his game-high 40 points in the remaining minutes of the fourth to send this game into overtime.  Once there, the Knicks outscored the Atlanta Hawks 15-5 for a ten-point margin of victory.

Julius Randle continues leading the league with 37.5 minutes per game.  Under Coach Thibs, he's been making the most of it.  With 10.4 rebounds and 23.9 points per game, Randle is one of just 14 NBA players averaging a double-double for the season.  He is presently averaging 27.0 points per game through twelve games in April.  Wednesday's effort was the second time in his last four games that Julius scored at least 40 points.

Derrick Rose absolutely helped facilitate the win with 20 points and a plus-14 in 30 minutes off the bench.  Immanuel Quickley also contributed 20 points in 30 minutes, but his game-high plus-29 proved the most imperative contribution of all.

Atlanta's Clint Capela led all players with 22 rebounds.  However, the Knicks outrebounded the Hawks 49-41, led by eleven from Randle and a team-high twelve from Nerlens Noel, who literally rendered blood for the cause.  

Team Thibs pulled this game out despite eleven fewer possessions.  Reggie Bullock added 18 points in 40 minutes, and RJ Barrett connected for 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 41 minutes.

The Knicks improved their record to 33-27 (.550) and move into fourth place, one half-game ahead of the Hawks in the Eastern Conference standings.  They remain the stingiest team in the league, allowing an average of 104.7 points per game, and their 20 home victories rank third-most in the conference.

And, yes, they are now winners of eight in a row!

N.Y. Knicks: Overtime Victory Over New Orleans Extends Win Streak to Six

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

SUNDAY

Pelicans 112

Knicks   122

FINAL/OT

The Only Thing Missing From This Overtime Thriller Was a Frenzied Capacity Crowd Raising the Roof at Madison Square Garden

The Knickerbockers overcome a four-point first-quarter deficit en route to a 13-point lead at the half.  But New Orleans outscores the Knicks by 13 points, tying the game 79-79 after three quarters.  

With 3:44 left in regulation, Lonzo Ball puts the Pelicans up by seven.  Derrick Rose keeps things tight with six points over the next two minutes; his three at 1:30 reduces the Knicks deficit to three.  Two free throws by Nerlens Noel bring the Knicks to within one.  But Eric Bledsoe sinks two free throws with 7.6 seconds left, giving the Pelicans a three-point lead.  With 2.3 seconds left on the clock, Reggie Bullock nails a game-tying three-pointer after a Knicks timeout.  At the other end of the floor, a Derrick Rose block of Bledsoe's last-second attempt sends the game into overtime.  The Knicks then outscored New Orleans in the extra session by a 19-9 margin for the victory.

Zion Williamson led the floor with 34 points along with nine rebounds in 42 minutes.  Julius Randle led the Knicks with 33 points with a game-high ten assists in 47 minutes.  

Eric Bledsoe followed Williamson with 22 points and four assists in 38 minutes.  But Derrick Rose trumped him with 23 points and five assists, and a plus-22 in 35 minutes off the bench.  Brandon Ingram's 19 points in 39 minutes were likewise matched by RJ Barrett's 18 points in 36 minutes.

The inside battle featured Steven Austin for the Pelicans, who posted a double-double with ten points and tied with a game-high 14 rebounds.  Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson joined forces for 18 points and 22 rebounds; Noel accounted for twelve points, and Taj tied for game-high with 14 boards.

But whereas the Pelicans had four players score in double-digits, the Knicks featured five, namely Reggie Bullock, who sent the game into overtime.  He finished with 15 points in 37 minutes.

Sunday's victory extends the Knicks' season-high winning streak to six.  They improve to 18-10 at home and 31-27 (.534) overall.  With a firm hold on the sixth spot, they are just a half-game behind the Celtics and Hawks, tied for fourth in the conference standings with 14 games left to play.

N.Y. Knicks: Striving and Driving to Fifth Straight Win

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

FRIDAY

Knicks        117

Mavericks  109

FINAL

Thibodeau's Time Bandits Corral Dallas Mavericks

Don't look now, but the Knicks are winners of a season-high five in a row.  In fact, it's their longest such streak in seven years.  The Knicks have also climbed three games above .500 for the first time this season and finish the night sixth in the Eastern Conference, a mere half-game behind Boston and 1.5 games ahead of the Miami Heat.

Julius Randle matched his season-high with 44 points; he previously scored 44 points back in mid-February against the Atlanta Hawks.  This marks the eighth time this season he's scored 30 points or more, three of which have come consecutively over the last three games.  The Knicks own a 6-3 record through nine games in April, with Julius Randle averaging 26 points per game.  Against the Mavs, Julius attempted a game-high 29 shots, converting 16 times, including 6/11 from behind the arc and 6/9 from the stripe, along with ten rebounds and seven assists in 41 minutes.  It was his 32nd double-double in 56 games played this season.

RJ Barrett was the second of three Knicks starters to exceed 40 minutes on the floor.  Reggie Bullock was the third.  Barrett scored 24 points with eight rebounds in a game-high 46 minutes, while Bullock struggled to score eleven points in 41 minutes.

Derrick Rose was the main component off the bench, adding 15 points in 25 minutes.  Taj Gibson was the only other bench player to receive significant minutes.

Playing against their former team, Kristaps Porzingis led the Mavericks with 23 points in 38 minutes, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16 points in 24 minutes off the bench.

The Knicks have 15 games remaining on their schedule.  They return home to host New Orleans on Sunday, which kicks off a six-game homestand.  After which, they go on the road for five games before wrapping up their final three regular-season games at Madison Square Garden.

N.Y. Knicks: Julius Randle Sends Ripples Through the Lakers

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

MONDAY

Lakers   96

Knicks  111

FINAL

Third Straight Victory Keeps Knicks in Top Eight

The Knicks do what the Brooklyn Nets could not just a few days ago: defeat the depleted Los Angeles Lakers.  They limited the Lakers, who were coming off a 25-point victory over Brooklyn, to 96 points; it's the 19th time this season the Knicks have held the opposition below one hundred points.  

They held Los Angeles to 80 possession, posted a plus-14 in rebounds, a plus-nine in steals, and instigated 25 turnovers while putting up a plus-eight at the stripe and outscoring the Lakers 54-38 in the paint.

Julius Randle scored at least 30 points for the third time since the All-Star break and the first time this month.  He led the floor with 34 points and tied with a game-high with ten rebounds in 39 minutes.  Elfrid Payton was second to Randle with twelve attempts and 20 points in 27 minutes.  Derrick Rose added 14 points in 20 minutes off the bench.

Their three-game homestand is a rousing success.  The Knicks win three in a row (Memphis, Toronto, Los Angeles) to get a game back over .500 and improve to 17-10 at home.

N.Y. Knicks: Team Effort Outlasts Grizzlies in Overtime

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

FRIDAY

Grizzlies 129

Knicks    133

FINAL / OVERTIME

EXTRA: The Knicks Are Playing Meaningful Games in April

When you play as hard as the Knicks have this season, and it garners a small measure of success, so too do mild expectations start creeping into the equation.  Entering Friday's game losers of five of their last seven, the Knicks needed a win in order to keep from falling three games below par.  The lowest they've been this season is four games under the .500 mark.

Enter the Memphis Grizzlies, ranked eighth in the Western Conference.  Just the kind of team against which to prove a point.  It wasn't easy, as the contest went into overtime.  But with the stakes raised, the Knickerbockers ultimately prevailed to remain a topical item in the post-season conversation.

Although he only tied for third-most shot attempts and finished as the fourth leading scorer on the team, Julius Randle still posted a triple-double with 15 points, eleven assists, and ten rebounds.  Rather, his teammates on this night were prepared to carry the load.  RJ Barrett led the starters with 20 points in 34 minutes, and Immanuel Quickley matched him with 20 points in 31 minutes off the bench.  Derrick Rose and Alec Burks contributed 19 points apiece also off the bench.  

Memphis got off to an early twelve-point lead in the first quarter and still led by nine points at the half.  But the Knicks' effort in the second and fourth quarters would ultimately force overtime.  Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks each converted a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to seal it for the Knicks.

East River Showdown: Flatbush Sweeps Season Series From Manhattan

From the desks: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH & KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

EAST RIVER SHOWDOWN 

Nets defeat Knicks; 3-0

I - BKN 116; NYK 109

II - BKN 117; NYK 112

III - BKN 114; NYK 112

No Kevin Durant, No Blake Griffin, No DeAndre Jordan, Essentially No James Harden, and No Room For Error.

Monday's Nets victory was a costly one.  Already playing on a barking hamstring, James Harden was out of the game after just four minutes on the floor.  

Yet, he somehow tied for second on the team with three assists ...

That's because Kyrie Irving took charge in a manner unlike Sunday's game against the Bulls when he finished with 15 assists and 24 points.  Irving led the team with seven assists but topped all players with 40 points in 37 minutes.  It's the fourth time this season he has scored forty or more, and it was slightly more than double Julius Randle's output, who finished with 19 points in a game-high 39 minutes.  Randle achieves the triple-double with a game-high 15 rebounds and 12 assists, albeit in a losing effort.

RJ Barrett led the Knicks with 22 points in 33 minutes, Reggie Bullock added 21 points in 31 minutes, and Derrick Rose scored 16 points in 25 minutes off the bench.

Nerlens Noel going up against LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Claxton was essentially a wash.  Noel scored six points with five rebounds, while Aldridge and Claxton joined together for eight points and twelve rebounds.  DeAndre Jordan has not played a minute since the acquisition of Aldridge.

Jeff Green's tenacity resulted in him leading the Nets with 13 attempts from the line and 4/8 inside the arc en route to 23 points in 36 minutes.  Joe Harris put up the third-most attempts behind Irving and Green while scoring 16 points in 34 minutes.  Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot played his most minutes since Mar. 24 at Utah.

Both teams scored equally fourteen points on fast breaks.  But whereas the Knicks outscored the Nets by 12 points from behind the arc, the Nets dominated the paint by a 58-40 margin.  Brooklyn was also plus-four in rebounds and plus-three in assists.

The Knicks led the Nets by ten at the half (and at one point led by 14 points) but failed to hold on.  Brooklyn outscored the Knicks by eleven points in the third.  Alec Burks tied the game at 112-112 with 26.1 seconds left in the fourth.  But Jeff Green converted two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to clinch it for Brooklyn.

Flatbush sweeps the season series three games to none.  The Knicks fall back one game under par.

Since losing at Detroit on Feb. 9, the Nets have posted a 21-4 record over their last 25 games.  Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have only played seven games together with only 21 games left in the regular season.  This team needs to get healthy and just over a month to get it done.