Game Day: Knicks vs. Timberwolves, 2/21/21

The Knicks are well-rested and get the worst team in the NBA visiting Madison Square Garden shorthanded. Can they get back to their winning ways?

After getting Saturday’s game against the Spurs postponed due to COVID protocols, the Knicks get their home stand started by dodging a back-to-back. The time off will hopefully give the team a chance to rest and reload. With any luck they’ll have been able to get a legitimate practice in as well. On JJ Redick’s podcast, Julius Randle commiserated with JJ about not being able to get in much, if any, practice time. They both lauded their coaches’ intense amounts of preparation as a levy against the flood of opposing teams and their game plans.

Tonight’s affair should offer a little extra attention to detail because it’s Tom Thibodeau’s previous team. If the Knicks plan on digging one out for their skipper, there shouldn’t be much in the way of excuses.

Not an excuse

The Wolves start Ricky Rubio, a non-shooter at the point guard slot. Despite being a non-shooter, Rubio takes and makes a little bit more than Elfrid Payton does. He’s also dishing more effectively, getting a double the amount of assists per contest. Still, they're the worst team in the NBA so far this year. I guess that means my thought experiment of putting a better shooter who is a more willing ball mover on the floor is a failure.

No Jarrett Culver or D’Angelo Russell for the Wolves. Whatevs.

No excuses!

The Knicks have been at home stewing after dropping an absolute stinker against Orlando on Wednesday. They’ve known the whole time who their next opponent is. They knew who was missing for Minnesota. They had an extra day of rest and possibly spun that into a chance to get a full squad practice. And despite some signs of life lately, this is the worst team in the NBA. Even if the Knicks show a hint of rust, they should be able to power through it, clamp onto Wolves and force their way into enough buckets to get the win. Having said that…

Knicks by -6

Excuses, excuses

You ain’t really ruthless.