Let's Get it! Knicks Open The Person With a Win

We're back, baby! After months of being forced to debate trade rumors and free agency speculation, we have an actual basketball ball game to discuss. It may only be a preseason contest, but at least it's a game…

With the Celtics resting their top six rotation players Monday night (this was the second night of a back-to-back for the C's, so Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Derrick White all sat out), the Knicks cruised to a 114-107 victory at the Garden. (And, no, I have no idea why the NBA is scheduling B2B's in the preseason.)

Immanuel Quickley led the way for New York, pouring in a team-high 21 points (on 8-for-14 shooting) to go along with three assists, three steals, and two made three-pointers in 23 minutes. Rocking a beard and some added muscle, IQ looks in mid-season form already. With the clock ticking towards a deadline on a potential extension (I'll have an extended look at what the Knicks should offer him in tomorrow's post), Quickly reminded the front office just how impactful he can be off the bench. 

Jalen Brunson scored 10 points in the first six minutes of the first quarter but did not check back into the game. Julius Randle logged 13 minutes, racking up 11 points and four boards. Like Brunson, he sat out the second half. 

The Knicks are off until Saturday night, when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at MSG for their second of four preseason contests.

Knicks Notes:

🏀 The bad news for RJ Barrett was he shot just 1-of-6 from the floor, including 1-of-5 from downtown on Monday. The good news is he nailed all nine of his free throws. If Barrett can boost his FT percentage into the upper 70s (he is currently at 71% for his career), that would dramatically increase his scoring average. The other encouraging aspect of RJ's game on display vs. Boston, which we saw a bit at this summer's FIBA World Cup, was Barrett driving into the paint and kicking out to an open shooter. 

Here we are early in the first quarter, and the Knicks run "pistol" action to get RJ the ball at the top of the key going left. RJ heads downhill off the Mitch Rob brush screen before finding Brunson below the break for a triple. 

If RJ can get a foot in the paint and keep his head up, he'll rack up plenty of easy assists this season. That, in combination with finishing better at the rim and knocking down his free throws, will unlock the best possible version of Barrett.