![]() Josh Hart, who could see extended minutes at the power forward position, will have plenty of opportunities to showcase everything he does well. A strong showing by Toppin, which would entail a lot of rim running, knocking down open shots, and playing improved defense, could even lead to some more minutes in the playoffs. Obi Toppin, who should see the biggest increase in minutes and expectations, finally has the opportunity to turn this season around. ![]() RJ Barrett has to be more consistent overall and take a step in being the shooter and the playmaker that the team so badly needs. ![]() Immanuel Quickley, who has been very good as of late, must continue being a masterful orchestrator of the pick and roll, a capable shooter, both off the catch and off the dribble, and a threat to drive and get to the lane. In other words, everybody else will have to pick up the slack. But hopefully, we see just slight upticks in his overall responsibilities as the Knicks will need Brunson, who has been dealing with a few minor injuries lately, to be as close to 100% as possible for the playoffs. With the offense running through Brunson more, he may be in for some really big nights a kin to his playoff series against the Jazz in which he averaged 27.8 PPG on 21F GA/game. We should expect a couple more isolation opportunities, a couple more pick and rolls, and should see his 17.3 FGA/game and his usage rate increase as well. However, Randle carried a lot of the offensive burden, and with him out, Brunson will have to do more for the Knicks to finish strong. The point guard is currently averaging 23.6 PPG and 6.1 APG on 48.8% shooting amidst an incredible season. The Knicks will obviously rely heavily on Brunson. Who will step up and lead the Knicks into the playoffs? The logical first name that comes to mind is Jalen Brunson. Realistically speaking, the Knicks should go 3-2. That being said, this is also a team that has lost games to a Timberwolves team without Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, and a Hornets team without LaMelo Ball, both within the last month. The Cavaliers game may be difficult to pull off, but all the other games are incredibly winnable, especially for a Knicks team that has often done the unexpected. It’s not even impossible for the Knicks to win out. 500, while the Pelicans are just one game over. And the both the Wizards and the Pacers are under. They aren’t playing any of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference, and they aren’t playing any of the top six teams in the west either. That may not be a cake walk but it’s also not too bad of a schedule. So there are different things, like I said, we can learn from, get better at, but that would be the explanation because we just tried to focus on getting back and transition.”Įven New York coach Tom Thibodeau was impressed with their offense in their first game without Randle, their leading scorer (25.1 points) and rebounder (10.0 rebounds).Knicks say Julius Randle will be re-evaluated in two weeks due to ankle sprain.- Ian Begley March 30, 2023įirst off, how will the Knicks compete with Randle out? New York closes out it’s regular season with games against the Cavaliers, Wizards, Pacers, Pelicans, then the Pacers again. So that was the focus - getting back, and then we still didn’t get back enough. “It’s a different case with Julius (Randle). That group played on a 101.2 pace with a 216.7 offensive rating and 114.3 defensive rating for an impressive 102.4 net rating. Their best lineup of the night in terms of net rating was composed of Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein. The Knicks are 13th in scoring, averaging 115.6 points per game. It was only the 10th time this season that they reached 130 points. The Knicks played with a dizzying pace and space, which led to their scoring spree. So you have to prioritize and shift your priorities at that point. You have Quickley, who’s pushing the pace, and you got to get back. Now, you have Obi Toppin at the four who’s running in the transition, and you gotta run back. He pushes the pace, but you have a kind of a mismatch with those two-Julius kind of. So, not having Julius Randle changes the pace of their group. “I’m not making an excuse here,” Mitchell said. Mitchell pointed out Randle’s absence when asked to explain how they lost the rebounding battle, especially on the offensive glass where the Knicks had a staggering 16-3 advantage. That wasn’t lost on Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell after his 42-point effort fell short amid the dizzying pace of a 130-116 Knicks victory Friday night. That’s how the New York Knicks transformed overnight in their first game without their All-Star forward Julius Randle, who is out for at least two weeks with a sprained left ankle. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle of the New York Knicks.įrom a battering bruiser to a fast cruiser.
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