Pivot Point?
The shorthanded Knicks need to make a stand, starting tonight.
The Knicks' thrilling double-overtime victory on opening night (in which Evan Fournier poured in 32 points) and the 5-1 beginning to their 2021-22 season seem like a lifetime ago.
The upbeat, optimistic vibes engendered by New York's sizzling start have given way to dread and despair. And for good reason.
The Knicks are just 7-15 over the 22 games they've played since November 1. That's the third-worst record in the NBA over this current stretch, with only the lowly Pistons (who are currently riding a 12-game losing streak) and Magic (who've notched just three fewer wins at MSG this season than the Knicks themselves) racking up more losses.
New York has been pretty much putrid on both ends of the floor over the last six weeks, ranking 27th in Defensive Efficiency and 20th in Offensive Efficiency.
Still, it's worth noting that the Knicks (currently 12-16) were four games under .500 at around the same point last season (11-15 thru 26 games). As we know, that Knicks squad got red hot and went on to win 30 of their final 46 contests. So, does this Knicks crew have a chance to replicate that type of turnaround?
If there is hope for a resurgence, it has to start soon. Not only because the uber-competitive Eastern Conference is greatly improved, but the Knicks are entering a rare soft stretch in their schedule.
The 'Bockers play the Rockets in Houston tonight, and although the Rox (shockingly) recently reeled off seven straight wins, they've lost three of their last four and were blown out by 35 points in Cleveland last night. In the humbling defeat to the Cavs, Houston was forced to play without their top-four leading scorers. Christian Wood (left knee tendinitis), Eric Gordon (tight groin), Jalen Green (left hamstring strain), Kevin Porter Jr. (left thigh bruise) and Danuel House Jr. (left ankle sprain) were all unavailable. Even their head coach, Stephen Silas, walked off the court late in the first quarter and had to be treated for dehydration. And, of course, Houston's highest-paid player, John Wall, has yet to suit up this season. Wednesday night in Cleveland, the Rockets' five starters (Garrison Mathews, Jae'Sean Tate, Armoni Brooks, Daniel Theis and D.J. Augustin) scored a combined 25 points on 8-of-32 shooting. It seems impossible they could play any worse, but they'll be on the back-end of a back-to-back Thursday night.
Yet, the Knicks, like many other teams in the league, are dealing with a Covid-19 outbreak that will leave them shorthanded as well. Unfortunately, the team announced Thursday morning that Kevin Knox II (health and safety protocols) won't be available to play tonight. Knox joins RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin, who have also been ruled out. It's a bummer for Knox, who had taken advantage of increased playing time this week by scoring 27 points, including seven made 3-pointers, over NY's past two games (and disappointing for the front office as well, who were undoubtedly hoping Knox would boost his trade value). Nonetheless, Vegas has installed New York as a heavy favorite.
Coming into the season, we surely didn't expect to characterize a random Thursday night game in Houston in mid-December as a "must-win," but if the Knicks hope to turn things around, this is an undeniably important contest. New York has lost four in a row and seven of their last eight. They need to get off the schneid and start building some positive momentum.
After Houston, the Knicks travel to Boston on Saturday before beginning a three-game homestand on Monday vs. the Pistons. NY embarks on a four-game road trip after Christmas, but all four games are against teams at least two games below .500.
Incredibly, over the next month, the Knicks play just one game against a team that currently has a winning record. And that one contest is a home game against Washington, who are 15-14 and have lost six of their last seven. Six of New York's next 13 opponents are at least six games below .500.
So, if ever there was a prime opportunity to quickly and emphatically get back on track, it starts tonight in Houston.
This next month will not only determine the course of New York's 2021-22 campaign, but it could also have an outsized impact on the direction of the franchise moving forward. By late January, the trade deadline will be on the immediate horizon. Will the Knicks be buyers or sellers? Their record four weeks from now will obviously play a significant role in how president Leon Rose views the core players on the roster.
We will, of course, have plenty of time to discuss a myriad of trade possibilities in this space (I hope you come along for the ride!). Yet, zooming back in on the immediate future, it will be fascinating to see how coach Tom Thibodeau distributes minutes tonight in Houston and over the next few games.
Knox logged 48 minutes over the Knicks past two contests. Who will inherit his playing time? Unfortunately, Luka Samanic, who has been tearing up the G League for the Westchester Knicks (he's second in the league in scoring at 28.1 PPG while also averaging 10.0 RPG), is sidelined by a left foot injury and unavailable to be called up. While not a wing, could Jericho Sims re-enter the rotation in some capacity tonight?
Also, will Thibs revamp his backcourt rotation? In a move aimed at jumpstarting a sputtering first unit, Kemba Walker was bumped to the bench in late November. The decision has not produced the desired results.
New York is just 2-7 in the nine games since Kemba was forced to walk to the plank. That's a troublesome number, considering the Knicks are 8-4 this season in the 12 games Walker has logged at least 20 minutes. While Kemba's chronic knee injury has dramatically diminished his quickness and agility, which has led to undeniable struggles on the defensive end of the floor, Walker was shooting over 41% from downtown before being benched. And Alec Burks, who thrived as a reserve early in the season, has been unable to replicate that production as a starter. Over NY's last seven games, Burks is shooting just 31.3% from the floor and 25% from 3-point range, while dishing out fewer than three assists a night.
And one of the few bright spots in Tuesday's loss to the Warriors was the play of Miles "Deuce" McBride. In his first significant minutes of the season, the 36th pick of the 2021 draft tallied eight points, including two made treys, and four rebounds, while providing tenacious on-ball defense. Deuce was the one and only Knick who posted a positive plus/minus Tuesday night. Fans are starting to clamor for more McBride, and their demands will only become more boisterous.
We'll get some answers to the above questions tonight (the game tips off at 8:00 pm EST) and discuss the outcome and potential ramifications right here in the "What's on Tap with Tommy Beer" newsletter tomorrow. Hope to see you then!
A Look Around the League
Scores from last night:
Rockets 89, Cavaliers 124:
Riding a five-game winning streak, the Cavs are rolling. There were some questions about Darius Garland heading into the 2019 draft (he was selected two spots after RJ Barrett), but Garland has been a beast this season. He's averaging 19.0 points, 7.4 assists and 2.6 made treys and is a frontrunner for the league's Most Improved Player Award. As an aside, the Cavs success this season without Collin Sexton, who will miss the entire 2021-22 campaign after undergoing surgery on his torn left meniscus last month, will only increase the chances of Sexton finding a new home via free agency next summer. If you remember, the Knicks were rumored to be interested in Sexton back in July.
Pelicans 113, Thunder 110:
This game featured the wildest ending of the season. In fact, it was one of the most insane finishes in the history of the league. First, OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nailed an off-balance 30-footer to tie the score with 1.4 seconds remaining. So, of course, Devonte' Graham responds by banking in a 61-foot heave at the horn.
The only thing better than the buzzer-beater was SGA’s reaction:
According to Basketball-Reference, there have been 793 game-winning buzzer-beaters in NBA history. Graham's is the first-ever shot from beyond 60 feet. After the game, Graham was asked if he called bank. His response: "Yeah, I called bank on that one. You know today's the 15th. We got paid today. Took it to the bank."
Grizzlies 113, Blazers 103:
A tale of two teams headed in opposite directions. Memphis has won four in a row and, incredibly, are 9-1 since Ja Morant went down with a knee injury last month. Desmond Bane poured in 23 points last night and is averaging 19.1 PPG over his last seven games. On the other end of the spectrum, the Blazers' season is slipping away. Portland has lost seven straight and 10 of their last 11. Dame Lillard is averaging fewer than 23 points per game for the first time since 2014 and is shooting a career-worst 38.4% from the floor and 30.5% from downtown. Meanwhile, CJ McCollum is currently sidelined with a collapsed lung, although the team announced Wednesday that McCollum had a CT scan on Tuesday and is improving.
Lakers 107, Mavericks 104 (OT):
LA has three Hall of Famers on the floor, so of course it was rookie Austin Reaves who knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left in overtime.
Four games on the slate this evening:
Pistons at Pacers, 7 pm
Sixers at Nets, 7:30, NBA TV
Knicks at Rockets, 8 pm
Wizards at Suns, 9 pm
Stat of the Day:
Sitting at 18-12, the Cavs are six games over .500. Why is this notable, you ask? Well, it's the first time Cleveland has been more than five games above .500 without LeBron James on their roster since December 22, 2000, when they were 15-9. The team's leading scorer that season was Andre Miller, and their leading rebounder was Clarence Weatherspoon.
Trivia Time!
Only two players in Knicks franchise history scored more than 25 points and dished out more than five assists in an NBA Finals game. Name both players. (Hint: the Knicks play in Houston tonight)
I will send an autographed 8x10 photo hand-signed by Bill Bradley to one subscriber who responds with the correct answer. To enter, send me the proper response to the trivia question and proof of subscription to the newsletter to earn a chance to win the signed photo - which includes a Certificate of Authenticity and matching hologram from Beckett Authentication Certification.
