Knicks 115, Wizards 109: Not your slightly younger self’s Knicks

The Knicks erased a 19-point deficit behind an absolute dynamo performance by Julius Randle. This team isn’t like the Knicks you’ve known.

Wow! The New York Knicks flew into Washington for their first game back from the All-Star break and defeated the Wizards. While this result was hardly a shock to the system, the Knicks’ path to obtaining this victory was. 

Let’s dive in…

Not your slightly younger self’s Knicks

The Knicks starters came out of the gate ready to keep the momentum they had built before the All-Star break. While shots were not falling, the Knicks were certainly creating the superior looks. After going up three in the first quarter, the Knicks brought in Josh Hart, Immanuel Quickley, and Isaiah Hartenstein to extend the lead. Instead, the opposite happened, and soon enough the Knicks found themselves trailing by 19 points.

The main story of this game for the Knicks was Julius Randle. Randle was outstanding, in what could very well have been the best game of his career. With an assist from Kyle Kuzma for poking the bear (seriously, do not taunt Julius Randle), Randle appeared extra motivated to show anyone watching who the true All-Star in the game was. By halftime, the Knicks’ deficit had been cut to just four, and Randle had a sore back from carrying the team for so long.  

I wrote recently about RJ Barrett’s struggles and what he would have to do to turn it around. The lowest hanging piece of fruit for Barrett was his defense. As some of his teammates have proven, nothing about Barrett’s offensive performance should mutually exclude him from playing defense. If last night was any sign, we are back headed in the right direction. Barrett gave his best defensive effort in months. He was fighting over screens, making the offensive player feel him anytime they tried to take him one-on-one, and even staying active off the ball, looking for spots to help his teammates. 

When Barrett checked out for the last time midway through the fourth quarter, a 19-point deficit had turned into a 6-point lead. You never want to overreact to one game, but if Barrett starts making these kinds of defensive efforts look routine, suddenly more doors open up for him as we begin to project forward.

There were other heroes as well. Quickley continued his streak of refusing to play a bad game. Mitchell Robinson returned from injury and reclaimed his spot in the starting lineup. Robinson and fellow center Hartenstein combined to dominate the offensive glass. Quentin Grimes played All-NBA level defense on Bradley Beal, and Josh Hart made several hustle plays that were recorded nowhere but Knicks fans memory bank. 

Most importantly, this was a game the Knicks of the NBA past would not have won. When Washington threw the first punch (they were up 19 in the second quarter), old Knicks teams would have simply rolled over and died. But these Knicks are different. They fight for every minute of every quarter of every game. They play like their coach wants them to — as if there is no tomorrow. 

Which is why, when Josh Hart rebounded his own missed free throw and dribbled out the clock, adulation was mixed with a more unique feeling. Satisfaction. Knicks fans know this team has a chance to be special, and last night was just more evidence confirming it. 

A quick rant

A common response to impressive Knicks wins is to downplay their significance. The collective fanbase is so used to the world shitting on them, sometimes they decide to simplify the process by cutting out the middleman. To diminish this victory because of the mediocre record (28-31) of the opponent is, frankly, lazy analysis. For starters, the Wizards, currently at full strength (a rarity for them), are better than their record.

But even that is not the full story. Because the Wizards weren’t just full strength last night. No, they were full strength and shooting at a level they hadn’t reached all season. Averaging 11 made 3-pointers per game on the season, the Wizards hit that mark midway through the second quarter. Some blame to the Knicks defense for that may be warranted, but many of the shots they made were simply outlier-level shooting.

These things happen on occasion. The Knicks aren’t the first, nor the last to run into a buzzsaw. But it’s important to understand when a team is playing above their heads so you can adjust your analysis accordingly. This wasn’t just a win over a lowly 28-31 team fighting for an underdog play-in seed. This was a win over a team that hit over 70% of its first half threes and built a 19-point lead early in the second quarter. Wins in this league are tough, especially with parity as rampant as ever. Don’t take them for granted.

A dilemma that refuses to die

You may have noticed that as the Knicks attempted to close out their fourth straight victory, a certain former No. 3 overall pick was not on the court. Instead, head coach Tom Thibodeau decided to close with Brunson, Quickley, Hart, Randle and Robinson. This lineup is one of the frontrunners to be the Knicks’ best 5-man unit, it should come as no surprise that Thibodeau has begun to rely on it. But, after a rough first half offensively, Barrett was starting to finally find it early in the fourth quarter. Despite starting the game one for his first five from the field, Barrett finished with 14 points on 5-10 shooting in just 28 minutes. Quentin Grimes, who defended Bradley Beal admirably, played just 21 minutes.

This is what Marlo Stanfield would have referred to as, “one of them good problems.” The Knicks have a rotation full of guys who can stay on the court in big moments. All it does is increase the pressure on Thibodeau to mix a little creativity into his rotations to ensure each mouth is fed. Because as long as the foursome of Grimes, Barrett, Quickley and Hart continue to play well, Thibodeau is going to have a legitimate decision to make each night.

There are ways to mitigate a potential conflict. The most obvious solution is to cut back on Brunson’s minutes. Right now, with Randle, Toppin, Robinson and Hartenstein playing all 96 big man minutes, there are 144 available minutes for the remaining five members of the rotation. The more point guard minutes absorbed by Brunson, the less minutes available for Quickley, Grimes, Hart and Barrett. 

Tonight, despite finishing the game 6-20 and generally struggling with Washington’s aggressive defense, Brunson played 39 minutes. That leaves just nine minutes available for Quickley to share the court with two of Grimes, Barrett and Hart. Thibodeau’s first step in keeping everyone happy needs to be loosening on the grip. Each empty possession with Brunson on the bench can’t scare him into rushing back his starters. 

Of course, this is all predicated on these Knicks continuing to play well. Sometimes these dilemmas are overblown and destiny inevitably takes over. Maybe one or two will make a meaningful leap and separate themselves from the pack. I don’t know. What I do know is that the Knicks don’t win this game without Hart’s energy in the fourth quarter. Nor without Barrett’s hot start to the fourth quarter. Or Quickley’s two-way contributions and Grimes’ individual defense on former All-Star Bradley Beal. 

I have no dog in this fight. I only want what’s best for the Knicks. It is with that in mind that I say I hope the Knicks continue to make Thibodeau’s job difficult. The harder Thibodeu’s job, the better that means these four are playing. And, with the playoffs right around the corner, the Knicks need all hands on deck.