The Knicks are back to start the second half of the season… against the Bucks, on the road. Tough stuff! Can New York start the second half of the season off with a bang?

Welcome back, Knicks! Hope you enjoyed your vacation, now here’s a Giannis Antetokounmpo! Hope y’all weren’t sitting on your butts this whole time!

Who am I kidding, we all know Thibs had cameras installed in all of the players’ homes so he could yell at them if they spent more than 30 consecutive minutes not watching film or getting up shots. They’ll be ready!

Both the power forwards should be coming in hungry too — it was probably a blessing in disguise that Julius Randle didn’t do much at the All-Star game and got knocked out early in the Skills Competition. Just means there’s more work to do before he gets to score 60 points from midrange in a future All-Star game and wins MVP. And don’t even get me started on Obi in the dunk contest.

Anyway, this little break was both too long and not long enough at the same time. Buckle up, it’s time for the final two months of the season. The Knicks will play 35 games in 66 days, which is oh so slightly more strenuous than their 37 games in 71 days to start the season.

Outside of the center position, the Knicks are looking alright health-wise. No Derrick Rose again due to health and safety protocols (gotta figure that false positive test before the break was definitely a true positive at this point). Bummer, since Rose has by and large given the Knicks a great spark since his arrival, but, also means Frank Ntilikina won’t get forcibly and unjustly removed from the rotation just yet. Keep stringing me along, Thibs, I live for this shit!

Austin Rivers is out due to having a baby, but also because he’s been jetted from the rotation. Mitchell Robinson remains out with his broken hand (but his 4-6 week timetable is closing in quick!) and Taj Gibson is probably a game time decision with his bum ankle.

That said, y’know who is still healthy? Elfrid Payton, baby. The Thibs-preferred starting lineup plus Nerlens Noel is definitely gonna be in full effect.

It’s OK, though. Don’t you remember what happened the last time the Knicks faced the Bucks? All the way back in the third game of the season?

Maybe Elf playing the Bucks has the same effect as RJ Barrett playing the Pacers!

Speaking of RJ, one second half storyline I’m going to be paying a lot of attention to is just how sustainable his hot play before the All-Star break was. Prez wrote about it magnificently earlier this week, and minus that extremely cold stretch to start the year, RJ is sitting at anywhere from respectable to great shooting the ball from almost everywhere on the court. If he can use the second half of this season to prove that he’s a bonafide second option on a playoff team, then it’s on.

Still, I’d probably brace myself for a Knicks loss. Just use the 2013-14 through 2019-20 method and expect a loss, and be pleasantly surprised by the win if it happens. The Bucks are still really good, and should be fresh as ever — nobody in their rotation is out for this game. They’re ready to rock.

Game’s at 8:00 tonight on MSG. Feel free to comment along here or hang out with us on Twitter, whatever you’re feeling!