Haven’t we been here before?

Fifty-seven Novembers ago, the New York Knicks lost 122-108 to the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Of course they did. The gap between the two teams was more widespread than the fear of communism. The Celtics played six Hall of Famers that night, a number that doesn’t include former Knick Willie Naulls, a four-time All-Star and Boston’s eighth man that night. In a league when two-thirds of the teams made the playoffs, the 1966 Knicks would miss them for the seventh straight season, while the Celtics would win their eighth title in a row. 

There was unquestionably talent on that Knick team: Walt Bellamy and Dick Barnett starred that night. Dick Van Arsdale would go on to become a three-time All-Star, albeit after New York sent him to Phoenix. Howard Komives was All-Rookie the year before. A promising youngster named Willis Reed was coming off the bench.

But the best – Komives and Van Arsdale’s successors, couple of joes called Clyde and Dollar Bill  – was yet to come. And that promising youngster coming off the bench wouldn’t really hit fifth gear until three years later, when Bellamy was traded in the deal that put Reed in Bellamy’s place and Dave DeBusschere in Reed’s.  

Those Knicks weren’t ready to compete with those Celtics. Nothing special about the L. Just another night most who lived it have long forgotten. Like most nights.

Yesterday the Knicks lost 133-118 to the Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Of course they did. The Cs made a franchise-record 27 3-pointers, also a new Knick record for most 3-pointers by an opponent. It only took Boston 51 attempts to hit that mark, equivalent to a team hitting 80% of their 2-pointers. Both teams made more than half their looks inside the arc and comfortably better than league-average from outside it. But while the Knicks are just trying to make contact, taking 63 twos to 27 threes, the Celtics played home run derby, taking 37 twos to 51 threes. 

The gap between the two teams is more widespread than our fear of ourselves. The Celtics boast the best wings outside of Buffalo with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and plenty of other talent. In a league where two-thirds of the teams make the playoffs, New York’s missed out eight of the last nine. Boston’s made it eight years running, reaching four Conference Finals and coming within two wins of the title last year.

There is unquestionably talent on this Knick team: Julius Randle continues to shoot more intelligently and efficiently than he did last year, making most of his shots in this one, 42% of his 3-point attempts and all six free throws; Jalen Brunson started slow but finished with 22, 10 assists and no turnovers; RJ Barrett had his third good game in a row. A promising youngster named Obi Toppin came off the bench – it wasn’t his best night, but we again saw the JR/Obi pairing. Tom Thibodeau’s recovery from rigidity is no different than any addict: one day at a time, until one becomes two, and hopefully more.

The best may be yet to come. We don’t know what new faces will arrive the next few years to replace some of the current cast. The promising youngster off the bench may not hit his stride until either he’s traded away like Van Arsdale or a position becomes open, maybe if Randle is traded.   

These Knicks aren’t ready to compete with these Celtics. Nothing special about this L. Just another night most who lived it will soon forget. It happens.