KAT Shows He's Got Some Dawg in Him
In the nearly 25 years I've been watching Knicks games since the franchise traded away Pat Ewing, this was the first time I thought, "Wow, that big man in a Knicks jersey sorta reminds me of #33."
Final Score: Knicks 116 - Heat 107
Record: 2-2
"It's on me as a teammate to make sure we're all on the same page and that everyone's eating." - Jalen Brunson.
After New York's disappointing loss at home to the Cavs on Monday, I wrote that the Knicks had two primary objectives: create more three-point shots and get Karl-Anthony Towns far more involved offensively.
Mission accomplished.
The 'Bockers attempted a season-high 40 three-balls in Wednesday's victory over Miami, converting a season-high 18. And the star of the show this evening was the newest Knick.
After getting up just eight shots vs. Cleveland, KAT was 17-of-24 from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul line en route to a monstrous final stat line: 44 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, and four 3-pointers in 38 minutes.
You could almost hear fans on their couches throughout New York saying to themselves, "Oh, this is why we traded for this dude!"
Yes, this was the optimized version of Towns that Leon Rose and company envisioned when they pulled the trigger on the blockbuster deal that brought him over from Minnesota. KAT scored at will against one of the league's premier defensive centers, Bam Adebayo. Towns scored on the low block, from behind the arc and got to the line. It was a brilliant offensive performance showcasing his incredibly versatile skill set. The only other player in Knicks franchise history to tally at least 44 points, 13 boards and four treys in a single game was Carmelo Anthony in his legendary 62-point explosion at MSG.
Once Wednesday's contest commenced, it was clear that KAT's point guard would ensure he got plenty of touches.
Surprisingly, Brunson and Towns didn't click over the team's first few contests. Over New York's first three games, JB passed to KAT a combined total of 22 times (just 15% of Brunson's total passes). Brunson assisted on only two of Towns' made FGs.
Unsurprisingly, The Captain took responsibility. "As good as Karl is, no one can really take him out of a game. It's just on us, it's on me as a teammate, to make sure we're all on the same page and we're all making sure that everyone's eating," Brunson told reporters Monday night. "I've got to be better when it comes to that. I've got to adjust, and I've got to see."
Also unsurprisingly, Brunson adjusted in Game 4.
Of KAT's 17 made FG's on Wednesday night, Brunson was credited with five assists. JB passed to Towns 20 times (32% of Brunson dishes).
There was far more high pick-and-roll action between the Knicks' two cornerstones. KAT scored rolling to the rim and hit two three-pointers via JB dimes after popping back behind the three-point arc.
"I think we did a good job of just feeding the hot hand," Brunson said after Wednesday's win. "He was hot, and we were just playing through him. He was making the right reads, and when they doubled, he either got fouled or made the right play. We trust him. We trust him."
Towns' ability to hurt you from inside or out and impact the game on both ends sets him apart.
There are just two players in the NBA currently averaging more than 11 rebounds and 2+ three-pointers per game: Nikola Jokic and KAT.
Thus far this season, 195 players have attempted at least ten three-pointers. Only one is shooting above 70% from downtown: Karl-Anthony Towns.
While the smooth shooting stroke is nice, KAT did more than hang out on the perimeter all evening. He protected the paint and crashed the boards on both ends. Towns provided the final knockout punch in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter when he grabbed a rebound in traffic, pump faked, and extinguished the Heat with a tough And-1.
If you squint long enough, doesn't this look just a little, tiny bit like Patrick over Zo Morning??
In the nearly 25 years I've been watching Knicks games since the franchise traded away Ewing, I think this was the first time I thought, "Wow, that big man in a Knicks jersey sorta reminds me of #33."
Those who know me understand that's as high a compliment as I can give another human being. Now let's see if Towns delivers that effort every night for a decade and eventually earns the right to have his name mentioned in the same sentence as The Big Fella.
Other Takeaways and Knicks Notes:
🏀 While KAT's performance will dominate the headlines, the Knicks don't win this game without Josh Hart and everything he brings to the table.
Remarkably, Hart nearly missed this contest, as he was technically a "game-time decision" due to a nasty-looking shin injury suffered on Monday. But we know that if there is even a remote chance to suit up, Hart will be out there. Not only did he play Wednesday night, but he logged a game-high 42 minutes, finishing with 10 points (4-of-7 FGs), 14 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers.
"That's what you love about him," Tom Thibodeau said after the game when asked about his swiss-army knife. "There's no other agenda other than winning. So whatever you ask him to do, he's going to give you everything he has."
Hart is one of only four players averaging more than ten rebounds, three assists and one steal per game this season. The other three are Alperen Sengun, Nikola Jokić and Jalen Johnson. Joker and Hart are the only two who are also shooting above 50% from the floor.
Really can't say enough about this dude and his importance to the franchise's turnaround.
🏀 The Wingstop Duo of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges again looked sharp. OG finished with 11 points and three boards, but as Thibs noted in the postgame presser, Anunoby's immense impact is not often reflected in the box score. Bridges racked up 17 points (6-of-16 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks, and four 3-pointers in 39 minutes. And his defensive versatility was on full display. Per NBA tracking data, Bridges was the primary defender for 10+ possessions on four different players (Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Jaime Jaquez Jr.) That's remarkably rare.
🏀 It looked like Ariel Hukporti might have jumped ahead of Jericho Sims in the rotation Monday night, but that was not the case in Miami. Sims was the first/only big off the bench, logging nine minutes, while Hukporti was hit with a DNP-CD.
"We're looking at different things. Jericho has done a really good job. Ariel has done a good job. We want to get a look at all our players, and we're doing that," Thibs said after the game. "But it's not about an individual player, it's about the team. And prioritizing winning. Play to win. So wherever you can contribute to winning, that's where I want the focus to lie."
🏀 Deuce McBride chipped in 10 points, three boards, and two assists in 25 minutes off the bench, but he was the only reserve to make an impact. Cam Payne dished out five dimes but was scoreless in his 12 minutes of action.
The Knicks starters rank first in the NBA in Offensive Efficiency, averaging 92.2 points per 100 possessions.
The Knicks bench ranks 25 in the NBA, averaging just 49.6 points per 100 possessions.
Thibs going to an eight-man rotation this early in the season certainly isn't shocking, but it's something to keep an eye on. All five Knicks starters logged 37+ minutes Wednesday. Jimmy Butler was the only Miami starter to play more than 35 minutes.
🏀 Precious Achiuwa, who is rehabbing a hamstring strain suffered late in the preseason, traveled with the Knicks to Miami last night. That could be a good sign that he's inching closer to returning to action.
🏀 New York had 30 assists on their 40 made FGs last night, which speaks to the team's offensive flow.
Thibs' response when asked about an increase in three-pointers: "We're a work in progress, it's going to take some time. But we're shooting a good percentage. I want us taking good shots. I think we're third in offensive rating. We're shooting a very high field-goal percentage. We're shooting a high percentage from 3. But the volume needs to go up so we share in that responsibility."
🏀 The Knicks only play the Heat three times this season. The next matchup between the two clubs doesn't take place until March.
🏀 Next Up:
New York plays at Detroit on Friday night (7:00 pm tip)
The Pistons lost their first four games this season before beating the Sixers in Philly last night. Tobias Harris had a big game (18 points and 14 rebounds) in a revenge spot vs. his former club, while Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey each scored 20+ points. Detroit has some promising young talent, but this is a game the Knicks would really like to win, as their next five opponents are at Houston, at Atlanta, vs. Milwaukee, at Indiana and at Philadelphia.