The New York Knicks are currently 4-3 to start the regular season, and I understand that it is too early to say anything but are the Knicks figuring out how to win basketball games?
With Julius Randle leading the way, averaging 22.1 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game, and 7.4 assists per game, which is almost a triple-double as of right now. Randle is on a tear at the moment, and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon. This is because Randle is playing like an all-star right now and also an MVP with the way he is leading and carrying his team to victories.
RJ Barrett has made some remarkable strides so far in the seven games he has played so far in this early season with it being his second season in the NBA season as well. In the Knicks’ first game of the regular season against the Indiana Pacers, Barrett dropped 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, along with going 3 for 3 from the three-point line, 11-15 from the field as a whole. Now, this of course, didn’t come without its ups and downs for Barrett as he had some not so great scoring nights and really poor shooting performances in a few games this season. In the games where Barrett shined, he shot so efficiently from the floor.
Let’s not forget about the coaching. Tom Thibodeau and his coaching staff have made sure that defense is one of their top priorities for this team. According to lineups.com, for defense, the Knicks are currently ranked first in opponent’s three-point percentage, third in opponent’s field goal percentage, and sixth in points allowed. The statistics speak for themselves.
The Knicks have won four out of their last five games, and they are coming off a four-game road trip winning three of the road games they played. Keep in mind, in the seven games the Knicks have played, they played against teams that are expected to be in the playoffs or at least that were expected by many to beat the Knicks. The Knicks first half of the regular season’s schedule, in my eyes and by the eyes of many, their schedule is by far the toughest, with many of the games being on the road and against formidable playoff-bound teams.
Yet so far, the Knicks are stepping up to the task and playing against their opponents with no fear and competing every single night. On the offensive end, the Knicks need Alec Burks back on the court, and who was their second-best scorer before the injury he suffered. This is because Randle and Barrett are handling the scoring load and leading the team. Barrett and Randle lead the league in minutes played per game, so they can use some more help on that end of the floor.
In the Knicks last game they played, they went against the Atlanta Hawks, who were 4-2 going into that game and were second in the league in scoring. The Knicks were in the game for quite a while until towards the third quarter where they faced a fifteen point deficit at one point in that quarter. Eventually, the Knicks were able to cut into that lead and make it a close game once again going into the fourth quarter. Thibodeau played rookie point guard Immanuel Quickly the whole fourth quarter because of the way he was able to lead the offense and become a huge x-factor for the Knicks in that quarter. Austin Rivers played a huge role for the Knicks in the fourth quarter, hitting a huge three-pointer down the stretch as he did the game prior. River’s three-pointer gave the Knicks a four-point lead with under a minute and a half in the game remaining, which was like the dagger right there for the Hawks. The Knicks ended up winning the game by five, and they almost blew the lead that they had in the final twenty seconds of the game.
The New York Knicks look to keep it going home against the Utah Jazz, who are another tough team the Knicks have to face. The Knicks’ future is looking bright for the franchise, if they keep the young pieces they have and continue to build with them, the sky’s the limit for where this team can be in the next five to ten years.
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