Knicks 129, Thunder 119: See the light
The Road Trip of Death ended as it began: with an encouraging Knicks win.
When a team is historically steeped in dysfunction like the New York Knicks have been for decades, what to make of nights like last, a 129-119 controlled demolition of the Oklahoma City Thunder? Is it wise to treat every game like a referendum? Is it sustainable? It’s exhausting, is what it is. But what else do we have to go by, when years of gray skies are only occasionally ribboned with light? The world of addiction recovery may hold an answer.
Most are familiar with the AA model, where one must acknowledge they are powerless in the face of their addiction, and where there is a spiritual component required for healing. Rational recovery is another approach that’s been helpful for many. In rational recovery, the focus is on an external voice/self that craves the addiction, separate from the self; if I struggle with alcohol, it’s not me who thinks “I want that drink,” it’s the addictive voice that does. It’s been a godsend for many who struggle but can’t get with AA’s emphasis on a higher power.
Knick fans could be forgiven for losing faith in a higher power years ago, unless that deity is a trickster god or a sadist who can’t stop messing with them. Put on your rational recovery lenses, though, and last night was the most encouraging win New York’s posted pro’ly since Game 2 of the playoffs vs. Atlanta two years ago. We saw signs of growth and change that highlight if not a separation between their addictions and their best selves, then a struggle to cleave from their usual bad habits.
Four starters played 33-37 minutes, yes. But this wasn’t RJ Barrett sickening himself, his club and ourselves drudging through another anti-MJ Flu Game, or Julius Randle playing all night despite bringing nothing but inefficiency to the table. The four starters – JR, RJ, Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes – all played well. Grimes started his second game in a row and played 30+ minutes both times, showing blasts of quickness we haven’t seen before. The Knicks Big Sinister (“sinister” = “left-handed” in Latin) of JB, JR and RJ combined to shoot 33 of 52 for 84 points. Please, sir. I want some more.
As important as that was what happened with the fifth starter’s spot. Mitchell Robinson only played 13 minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims played 16 and 15. A house divided may not stand but the pivot seems to hold up just fine, as that trio put together 11 points and 17 rebounds. All five Knicks off the bench played more than Mitch, including Miles McBride, who played 14 minutes for the second straight game, something he hasn’t done in eight months. With McBride and Grimes both seeing healthy playing time, the Knicks had a point of attack defender on the floor most of the game. Give. More.
The Knicks outscored an opponent from deep for the first time in what feels like ages. The aerial assault was led by Immanuel Quickley, who continues to look looser and better game by game. Playing IQ alongside McBride gave him the chance to play off-ball more, and Quick reminded everyone that that is a good look for him. The success of their dive bombers plus the team making 64% of their 2-pointers was a rare happy medium night for New York, succeeding at Thibodeau Ball while also showing some sense of the modern trends in basketball, like adding some uppercut to their swing recognizing the rest of the league’s playing home run derby.
That’s a lot of talk about offense, which is fair given the Knicks and Thunder each averaged 132 points in their two meetings. By that standard, holding OKC to 119 would’ve made the Riley Knicks proud of the defense. The last time these teams met, the Thunder made 17 of 31 3-point attempts; Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose combined to play 37 minutes. Last night a younger, quicker defense held the Thunder to 8 of 24 from deep. Rose and Fournier both sat. That’s not scapegoating, but neither it is coincident.
New York won by doing a lot of things they should do more. Maybe Thibodeau is learning to recognize that the voice of his compulsions isn’t the only one speaking. If he’s fired before turning the Knicks around, he’s likely done as a head coach in the NBA. Whether the light you see is above you or in you, desperation drives us to see what our comfortable selves dismiss. If the Knicks continue to play like they did last night, whether the wins come sooner or late, their opponents will be the ones left desperate and discomfited.
