Knicks 111, Spurs 96: “RJ, keep doing your thing, man”
The Knicks thoroughly dismantled the Spurs at Madison Square Garden, entering the halfway point of the season 20-21, same as a year ago. Does this team have the second half run in it that that bunch had?
Before this recap was even a twinkle in my mind’s eye, it didn’t exist. Before I existed, Puerto Rico and New York City were home to my people. Before “Puerto Rico” and “New York City” existed, the people of those places called them Borikén and Manhatta. Before those people and lands, the sea boiled and the earth burned and life was nowhere to be found, and from then till this recap and beyond the same stars twinkle in the sky.
That’s the big-picture view, one Mike Breen made sure to remind everyone of after the Knicks’ 111-96 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The 2022 Knicks are 20-21 at the halfway point, same as the 2021 Knicks. The implication is clear, even if what it’s implying isn’t: last year’s team turned it on late; this year’s is 6-3 in their last 9; the Good Ship Knicks are about to set sail.
The Spurs, now losers of seven of eight, may not be the best bellwether by which to evaluate how good the Knicks are. But last night they outclassed their opponent, a rarity; the margin of victory tied their second-largest this season. There was an energy that hasn’t always been there. It’s dangerous to get too far ahead of yourself, especially in the time of COVID. But it’s also fun, especially after what was a fun win: the Knicks have 18 games left until the All-Star break. Two-thirds of them are winnable. The team we saw last night would win those two-thirds.
Two-thirds of the top three picks from the 2019 draft have played at an MVP level at times. The other is RJ Barrett. Last night Barrett looked like the player we know him to be when he’s at his best — a basketball player, period. Five minutes into the game, Julius Randle set up a mismatch on the left side and was about to go into a post move when Mitchell Robinson, for whatever reason, started coming toward him, bringing along Jakob Poeltl, a top-15 shot blocker. Contrast that with RJ, a few minutes later, recognizing the pressure Randle was under in the corner, getting the pass and immediately going to his right, getting to the paint and finding Evan Fournier.
Over his last six games, Barrett’s averaging 23 per on 46/40 from the field and from deep, numbers that look more like the leap the dreamers dreamt he’d take. If Rowan’s growing, the Knicks’ quest for sustained mediocrity won’t feel as doomed as Don Quixote’s. Speaking of windmills:
After scoring 30-plus just once in his first 133 games, RJ’s done so three times in just over a month. He was taking the shots he wanted and dictating to his defender: righty. Lefty. Drive. Fadeaway. Breakaway. Playmaking. Defense. There were lots of reasons for the crowd to chant “R-J BARR-ETT!” and they enjoyed each full-throatedly.
The Knick defense was in effect, with the Spurs shooting just 8-29 from deep and becoming the eighth opponent in New York’s last 11 to score under 100 points. I really hope this is a launching point. The Knicks have been pretty much between four games over .500 and four below all season. Last year they started 20-21 and ended up winning 57% of their games. To do that again they’d have to win two-thirds of their games. If the team we saw last night is the team we see the rest of the way, they can do it.
Notes
Remember how Pablo Prigioni seemed like he’d rather do hard time than take a shot? There’s unselfish and there’s unselfish to a degree that it can work against you. Randle isn’t quite at that point, but you can see some defenders recognize he’d rather drive and dish than shoot and jumping his passing lanes.
Six assists for Quentin Grimes. Nice!
This was a nice bit of trickeration and aggression we haven’t seen much of from Grimes, finding Mitch for the dunk.
Speaking of Grimes hopefully showing more playmaking chops, however rudimentary; should Alec Burks be traded? Between Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose, the Knicks have the combo guard position pretty well covered. By no means is this a knock on Burks. I’m not feening to move him. I think he’s a good player. It just seems like the Knick roster is a little ill-fitting, and Burks is someone who would bring value to a playoff team and free up more opportunity for younger guys. You keep hearing the Knicks linked to names — Ben Simmons; De’Aaron Fox; Myles Turner; Jerami Grant. How much could Burks help to push a deal through that re-settles the Knick rotations?
Jericho Sims and Obi Toppin pro’ly have the highest ratio of highlights to minutes played; it’s only fitting they bookend one now and again.
Quickley drove to the hoop, went under the basket, dribbled out baseline a little and hit a little fadeaway. What a great move if he can ever make it a staple. A welcome staple of IQ’s game this season versus last: winning defensive plays. He’s gone from a player you could live with on defense to someone you want out there.
A lotta Knicks play like someone told them baskets are worth extra points if they’re scored off jump passes. This Knick team loves loves looooves jump passes.
I went to Broadway in October and everyone had to be masked and show proof of vaccination. Since then a highly contagious variant has taken over, and yet I put on the Knicks and it’s all faces in MSG. What’s up in the city?
Dejounte Murray is fourth in the league in assists and first in steals. Did you know either of those things? I was gonna make a “Murray is Russell Westbrook without the jumper” joke, but I’m not smart enough to close that loop.
Joshua Primo is one of the youngest-looking NBA players I’ve ever seen. ¡Qué babyface!
Mike Breen took the Mike Breen version of a shot at Bob Hill for his losing record at Fordham. It was like when an angry Ned Flanders showed his anger by pouring a beer made mostly of head.
Quoth Mitch after the game: “RJ, keep doing your thing, man.” Next chance to do that thing is tomorrow night when the Knicks host the Bizarro Knicks, a.k.a. the Dallas Mavericks. Bet the crowd will have some chants that night, too.
