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: 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: 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: Back to Par With Blowout Over Pistons

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

SATURDAY

Knicks 125

Piston  81

FINAL

The Bockers' Largest Margin of Victory in Twenty-Four Years

Take about handling teams you're supposed to beat ...

The Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak and, more importantly, get themselves back to .500 with an overwhelming 44 point victory over the Detroit Pistons.

They caused 15 turnovers, including 12 steals and eleven blocks.  In turn, the Knicks outscored Detroit 16-7 on fast breakpoints, posted a plus-eleven in assists, and shot 19/39 (48.7%) from behind the arc.  The Pistons, who had just three players score in double-digits, were led by Jerami Grant with only 16 points.

Julius Randle turned his game around, leading the floor with 29 points in 30 minutes, and secured a team-high eight rebounds.  Reggie Bullock was next in with 6/10 from behind the arc en route to a 22 point game in 28 minutes.  Elfrid Payton scored eleven points and distributed a game-high nine assists.

Off the bench, Obi Toppin was 3/8 from the field for eight points in an extended 16 minutes, and Taj Gibson was a perfect 5/5 from the field and 1/1 from the line for eleven points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.  Immanuel Quickley added twelve points in 18 minutes - his most minutes in his last twelve games.

Team Thibodeau maintains their seventh standing by a half-game over the Celtics and two full games over the ninth-place Pacers.

On Monday, the Knicks and Nets square off at Barclays Center.