Knicks 121, Pistons 112: Just another team — in a good way

The Knicks won a game they should. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Last night at Madison Square Garden the New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 121-112. Everything you’d expect to happen in a 121–112 Knicks win over the Pistons happened. RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle handled the lion’s share of the scoring and creating for others. They were arguably the three best players in this game, with Cade Cunningham out nursing a sore left shin. Even if Cunningham were healthy, the Pistons are a team the Knicks should beat, so beat them they did, for the second time this season. No big deal.

Only that’s the big deal, though. In addition to beating Detroit twice, New York’s bested Minnesota without Rudy Gobert . . . Philadelphia without Joel Embiid and James Harden . . . Charlotte without Lonzo Ball . . . and Orlando. Their losses have come against Memphis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Atlanta, Boston and Kevin Durant exploring the space at the Barclays Center. The Knicks, made in the image of the bearded furor who created them, are predictable: 84-82 since Tom Thibodeau took over. No longer can teams see the Knicks on their schedule and pencil in a win; on the other hand, the Knicks are no closer to their white whale – a title – than when dreams of Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson danced in our heads. They are, outside of their vast fan base, just another team – in a good way. 

Don’t forget where we’ve come from. Where we were just a few years ago, when even stabilizing to “just another team” felt as likely as winning the Powerball. The Knicks have achieved the dream of teenagers, offensive linemen, and referees the world over: invisibility. Forever some false messiah’s formless future, for once the Knicks are a solid. That lent a bit of fun to the win over Detroit. The Knicks were the heavy and looked loose, like they knew it. When they went up 17 the win felt secure. Even as the Pistons cut the lead to four late, it never felt like the Knicks were in trouble.

This was one of those nights where your team is just plain better than the other guys, the bad guys. Obi Toppin hit a big three late to stem a Piston run. Randle grabbed a rebound that felt more important than all that preceded it. Immanuel Quickley hustled to save a ball from going out of bounds, leading directly to the Knicks scoring. Alec Burks made his Pistons debut, scoring 17 and smilingly catching up with his ex-mates after the final whistle. The crowd went home happy. The Knicks are .500 and have won four of six at home. This game sparked joy in me, because not too long ago and more often than not the past 20 years, the Knicks don’t play games they’re supposed to win.

What’s the point of treating every game like a referendum for a team that’s found its level? The Knicks aren’t a good team struggling out of the gate or a lousy team that caught a lil’ lightning in a bottle. They don’t play to the level of the competition, neither up nor down. Gasses dissipate before our very eyes. Liquids slosh and churn. New York is solid. Once upon a dream, this was the dream.

Dreams change along with our waking lives. As stability has taken root, so has discontent, among some. Thibodeau shows flexibility, though neither far nor fast enough; Evan Fournier plays too much; Obi plays too little; and anything and everything Randle does bothers somebody. 

I am not blessed with the Xs and Os knowledge of Tom Piccolo or the draft wisdom of Prez. All I have is a simple heart and eyes that have seen the Knicks win 60 games and lose 65, seen them a quarter away from winning a championship and a hot night in Atlanta away from winning the most ping-pong balls. One thing I never grow tired of is this team winning games that they should. That’s a solid foundation, whether you expect to win 60, 50 or 40.

Next game is a Sunday matinee versus Oklahoma City, after which the Knicks head out west to take on Utah, Denver, Golden State and Phoenix before ending the trip in Oklahoma City. Dunno how many of those they “should” win – the Thunder are competitive when their front office isn’t benching players for months to tank; the Jazz have been the West’s best so far; the Nuggets, Warriors, and Suns all have title aspirations. Maybe the Knicks aren’t supposed to win any. That’s cool, ‘cuz then when they win a couple, it’ll feel really nice. That’s not nothing as a sports fan. It can feel really nice just to feel really nice.