kemba walker

Knicks have a situation boiling between Tom Thibodeau and Kemba Walker

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knicks, kemba walker

If not for the COVID-19 situation the New York Knicks are currently dealing with, it is likely that veteran point guard Kemba Walker wouldn’t have played for the rest of the season. Despite the Knicks losing the majority of games that Walker was benched for, Tom Thibodeau didn’t think twice about bringing him back.

That is made clear because Walker stated that he and Thibs didn’t have any contact during the nine-game stretch in which he sat on the bench rooting for his teammates.

Reporters asked Kemba Walker if he had spoken to Thibodeau during the nine-game stretch after the benching:

“No sir.”

When a player and coach are clearly at odds, you can sense a bit of hostility in the air.

Walker’s refute to being exiled came across as a bit hostile but with a positive twist. It’s clear the veteran point guard is there to support his teammates, but it was evident that he lost some respect for Thibs during the process:

“Was I confused?” Walker said. “No. I’m not starting, I ain’t playing,” Walker said. “So I’m here for my team, I’m here for my teammates. I can’t say it enough. Whatever’s asked of me that’s what I’m here for.”

Due to the massive number of Covid cases within the team, Walker was asked to play against his former team, the Boston Celtics. Walker had something to prove, and he had arguably his best game of the season, scoring 29 points and recording three assists and six rebounds. He shot 45.5% from 3-PT range.

This is the Kemba that we saw earlier in the season, though, a monster performance offensively and then a disappearance the night after. He would go from double-digit scoring to earning just two points in the blink of an eye, something the Knicks saw as unsustainable.

On the season, Walker is averaging 12.6 points, 41.7% shooting from three-point range and 42.6% from the field. The major reason Thibodeau elected to bench him was because of his defense.

Walker hosts a 115.9 defensive rating, the highest in his entire career. His -11.9 net rating is also the lowest of his career, indicating either a massive shift in a strategy that does not conform to Walker’s strengths or a big drop off in quality. In addition, his assist numbers are down a few percentage points.

The Knicks had a justifiable reason to move away from Walker and begin relying on some of the younger pieces, notably Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes. However, with Walker clearly frustrated about his lack of playing time, the Knicks should try to move him at the deadline.

Reports have indicated that nobody is interested in acquiring Walker, so he might have to be considered an add-on just to relieve his contractual duties for the future. The front office struck out big time in this acquisition, and Evan Fournier also seems to be a liability.

With animosity growing, the Knicks are going to have to make a few big decisions at the deadline in a few weeks, hopefully pairing Julius Randle with a top player.

Kemba Walker fights for spot not only with Knicks but entire NBA

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Kemba Walker poured out his pent-up energy and emotions on the TD Garden floor, his home for the last two years before a feel-good New York homecoming that has turned sour.

It took a COVID-19-gutted Knicks roster and a Derrick Rose ankle injury for Walker to get out of the doghouse. And he seized the moment like it was his last.

Walker had a season-high 29 points, but in the end, a sacrifice foul robbed him a ‘Cardiac Kemba’ moment.

Evan Fournier, Walker’s teammate from Celtics to Knicks, tweaked his ankle after pushing the Knicks within five, 109-104, with over two minutes left. Walker made a duty foul to stop the clock that allowed them to check in on Fournier. But to his surprise, it was his sixth foul, unceremoniously ending his electric return to the court after nine games at the end of the bench.

“I was told to foul,” Walker said via ESPN. “I’m not gonna lie: I didn’t know I had five. But I heard them on the sideline, they told me to foul. Very, very unfortunate situation, but that’s what I was told to do.”

It was an emotional return for Walker in Boston — after the Celtics unceremoniously shipped him last summer that signaled the start of Walker’s downtrodden year — and to the Knicks rotation — after eight straight CD-DNP (did not play due to coach’s decision).

The Celtics fans’ gave him an ovation during the pregame introduction but sarcastically waved him goodbye when he fouled out. That, in a nutshell, summed up Walker’s career in the last two years.

Walker had a great start with the Celtics, earning his fourth All-Star selection until knee injuries robbed him of his time and his athleticism on the court. The Knicks took a flier on him after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Walker signed a two-year worth $17.9 million deal, trumpeted as a great value pickup for a Knicks front office looking to bolster their offense around first-time All-Star and All-NBA forward Julius Randle.

It looked like a fairy tale run as the Knicks raced to a 5-1 start. But it was short-lived. The Knicks went spiraling, and Walker became the scapegoat though advanced metrics and numbers supported it.

Tom Thibodeau, a defensive guru, opted for more size, elevating 6-6 Alec Burks for the 6-0 Walker. But the Knicks were 2-7 since Walker’s demotion, though some of those games were competitive, and the last four, they were shorthanded with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Six players are under health and safety protocols, including Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride, two defensive-minded rookies who impressed Thibodeau and pushed for their case to make the rotation.

Walker knows he’s only a placeholder despite his scintillating return to the court.

“I hate it,” Walker said of not playing in the last nine games. “I want to play. “It is what it is. Guys went down. I got to fill in. Do what I can until they get back.”

Without directly saying, Walker knows his future is somewhere else.

But history hasn’t been kind on injury-riddled, pint-sized guards as they age.

Another former Celtic point guard Isaiah Thomas is a cautionary tale. While Thomas has recently hooked up with the Los Angeles Lakers, the harsh reality is, teams around the league aren’t high on small guards who can be a liability on defense.

Four days since Walker became trade-eligible, there has been no traction on the trade market. That speaks volumes on how low Walker’s value has dropped around the league. Last summer, the Celtics attached a first-round draft pick to get rid of his max contract in exchange for Al Horford.

“It’s definitely been a rough couple years, to be honest,” Walker said via ESPN. “But, you know, when you get a chance to kind of slow down and think about things, myself, you know, I think it’s just some adversity. At some point in life, everyone goes through tough times.

“I’ve had a great career thus far, and a lot of things went my way. It’s a tough time right now, so it’s really about just showing my character, showing who I really am. I’m so mentally tough, I feel like I’m built for any situation, and I’m going to handle it the best I can. I’ve got a great support system, great family, great friends who help me stay humble and stay grounded, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do. Just try to be unbreakable and continue to put my work in and just stay ready for anything that comes my way.”

Walker showed he can still be explosive in spurts as he did in an electrifying third quarter. He led a Knicks 17-2 run to overhaul a 15-point halftime deficit.

“He played really well,” Thibodeau said of Walker. “Really well. That’s what he’s supposed to do. He’s a pro, great character and played well.”

When his shots are falling, and he’s attacking the rim with reckless abandon (he had a season-high 8 of 10 free throws), Walker provides value exceeding his current contract. But there’s always a question mark about his health that drags his consistency to make an impact.

In his return, Walker finished with +5 plus-minus, meaning the Knicks outscored the Celtics by five for the entirety of his season-high 37 minutes on the floor. But in the fourth quarter, where the Celtics regained control, he was 0 for 3 from the field and a -7 in his final 10 minutes on the floor. His sacrifice foul robbed him to atone for that and make one more ‘Cardiac Kemba’ highlight.

But that’s who Walker is. He’s the ultimate pro, as Thibodeau and his Knicks teammates described him. Walker has always been about the team, not himself. But as his career is winding down with limited opportunities, it’s time for Walker to look out for himself.

The dogmatic Thibodeau turned diplomatic when asked if he would reconsider bringing Walker back into the regular rotation following the point guard’s inspiring performance in Boston.

“We’ll see, we’ll see like you gotta look everything in totality,” Thibodeau said.

For what’s it worth, this rare opportunity to get back on the floor, born out of dire circumstances, was Walker’s audition for the rest of the league.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

The Knicks have a tough question to answer with Kemba Walker after dominant outing Vs Boston

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knicks, kemba walker

When the New York Knicks initially signed veteran point guard Kemba Walker to a two-year contract, fans and analysts alike gushed about the addition. The supposed injection of elite scoring potential projected to be a major catalyst for the Knicks’ success heading into the season, but Walker’s lackluster defense and spotty shooting forced head coach Tom Thibodeau to make a change in late November.

Walker, who was well received by New York fans, has been benched since his last performance against the Phoenix Suns on November 26. In that contest, Walker posted 17 points over 23 minutes.

Walker’s return to the spotlight against Boston was the last resort, though, representing a cry of desperation for Thibodeau, who lost six players this past week to Covid health protocols. The team entered Saturday night against the Boston Celtics, Kemba’s former team, without Kevin Knox, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Miles McBride.

McBride woke up on Saturday expecting an opportunity of a lifetime to string together a third impressive performance after dominating in his first two major assignments with the Knicks. Nonetheless, it was Walker that ended up taking the spotlight, posting 29 points on 45.5% shooting from three-point range, six rebounds, and three assists.

Despite the Knicks dropping five of their previous six games, Walker’s performance offered a  glimmer of hope into his value, even after being exiled.

“I want to play,” Walker said. “I don’t know. So it is what it is.”

He added: “I don’t know what the future holds, you know? I do feel like I have a lot to give still. I don’t know. That’s up to these guys.”

The future is undoubtedly murky for the former All-Star, who represents a professional scorer that simply disappears on defense, leaving his team vulnerable. After all, that was the primary reason Thibodeau elected to bench him in the first place. When Kemba was on the court, the Knicks ranked dead last in defensive efficiency per 100 possessions.

“I know I should be playing, so no question. It feels great,” he said. “But whatever situation I’m in, I’m gonna stay locked in, stay prepared. Whatever the team needs from me, I’ll be there for them.”

With multiple players still on the Covid list, Walker has a solid opportunity to justify his worth for the remainder of the season. Reports have indicated that teams aren’t interested in acquiring him via trade, so the Knicks may have no choice but to either dump his salary or continue to utilize him in specific scenarios.

Ideally, his only value doesn’t come as a last resort due to Covid overload.

Report: Knicks’ Kemba Walker gaining ‘no interest’ on trade market

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knicks, kemba walker

With several Knicks players being ruled out due to Covid health and safety protocols, there was potential for head coach Tom Thibodeau to activate Kemba Walker off the bench and utilize him this week.

However, Walker has remained motionless, as Thibodeau relied on rookie Miles McBride over the veteran who signed a two-year, $17.9 million deal this past off-season.

The Knicks once viewed Walker as an essential piece in their starting five, contributing elite offense to help take them to the next level. After November, that consensus has been forgotten. The analytical masterminds behind the scenes decided he was too much of a liability on defense to continue utilizing him. He shot just 29.6% from three-point range and 39% from the field. The Knicks featured the worst defense per 100 possessions with Walker on the floor. Without him, they had a top-five unit per 100 possessions, showcasing his polarizing style of play.

With McBride dominating in his past two performances after being called up from the G-League, the Knicks will likely try and trade Walker in the coming weeks. The trade market doesn’t seem to be interested in Walkers’ services, noting his troublesome knees.

According to Matt Moore of The Action Network, the Knicks are having trouble finding a suitor for Kemba Walker:

There is no interest league-wide in taking on Kemba Walker according to multiple sources. Walker was benched to try and kickstart the Knicks, a move that has failed, but the league consensus is that Walker’s knees represent too much of a risk even if his play with New York and Boston was more about situation.

Given New York have him on a two-year deal, letting him ride the bench for the majority of his contract is problematic. They would likely try to dump his salary on a needy team, just as the Boston Celtics did with the Oklahoma City Thunder before they ultimately released him.

The Knicks have been connected to a myriad of players this off-season, including Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers and Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers. Walker will not be the focal point of any prospective trade given the value differentials, but finding a way to trade him and his contract allocations would be ideal.

In fact, the contract Evan Fournier earned this past off-season from the Knicks’ front office is also seeming like a net negative. He inked a four-year, $73 million deal.

Fournier has been extremely inconsistent on both sides of the ball this season. This month, the French native shot 31.4% from the three-point range, a spot he is supposed to be proficient in. The Knicks have played eight games during the month of December, and Fournier has produced single-digit point production in five of those games.

It is seeming like the front office struck out in agency this past off-season, meaning they will try to make up for their mistakes at the trade deadline, which is risky business.

What a Ben Simmons trade could look like for Knicks

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knicks, julius randle

The New York Knicks have emerged as one of the several teams interested in trading for disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons.

Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the latest intel on Simmons on Monday.

The Knicks are struggling to perform to expectations following their first playoff appearance in eight years. Their offseason acquisitions — Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier — have not panned out well. They will be eligible to be traded starting Wednesday along with several players the Knicks re-signed last summer.

The 25-year old Simmons would fit Tom Thibodeau’s defensive style. But his character, especially his mental toughness, is questionable in the aftermath of his falling out with the Sixers organization. Add to that a shaky perimeter shot that hasn’t improved since his rookie season. But a fresh start in a new environment could reinvigorate Simmons.

However, the big question for the Knicks is if Simmons could not stand Philadelphia’s tough love, how much more in New York where pressure has driven executives, coaches, and players out of the city in the past?

Can Simmons thrive under Thibodeau’s culture of accountability?

The next question is, how can they meet 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s stiff asking price?

Morey is reportedly still eyeing an All-Star caliber player and/or multiple first-round draft picks for Simmons.

The Knicks have plenty of draft capital to move in a potential Simmons deal. They own all their future first-round picks plus future first-round picks from Charlotte (top-18 protected in 2022, top-16 protected in 2023, top-14 protected in 2024), and Dallas (top-10 protected in 2023).

But the Knicks have only Julius Randle as their All-Star. But he is not eligible to be traded until February 3 next year. Walker is two years removed from his last All-Star. But his current benching isn’t helping his value.

The Sixers, though, would be an ideal landing spot for Walker. His veteran leadership and still potent jump shot could spur a better dynamic with Joel Embiid than Simmons. That is if Walker’s balky knees cooperate. Walker has missed two games in a pair of back-to-back sets before his demotion.

Simmons landing in New York is a long shot unless the Knicks find a third team or the 76ers are amenable to getting Walker, one of the Knicks’ young players, and a combination of salary fillers plus future first-round pick/s.

The Knicks have stiff competition from the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, per Charania’s report.

Most of their rivals have a surplus of All-Star caliber players in their current roster. But the Knicks have the advantage of having a deeper draft capital.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Is it time for the Knicks to bring Kemba Walker back from exile?

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kemba walker, knicks

The New York Knicks face an uphill battle after three consecutive losses, including a Sunday afternoon blowout against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite rookie guard Quentin Grimes having the best game of his career, posting 27 points, New York simply couldn’t maintain pace with a Bucks team consisting of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

However, with inconsistencies and injuries plaguing the team at the moment, head coach Tom Thibodeau may think his strategy, especially within the starting five. They have lost six of their last seven games, and ever since relegating free-agent acquisition Kemba Walker to the bench, the entire team has been in disarray. Moving Alec Burks to a starting spot has disrupted the chemistry with the second team, a unit that had been floating the starters for the majority of the still-young season.

The Knicks were still inconsistent before Walker was benched after a 17-point performance against the Phoenix Suns on November 26, shooting 50% from three-point range. Despite his scoring efficiency, the Knicks had won three of their last six games and heading in a difficult direction. However, since New York decided to sit a player they are paying $8 million per season over two years for, they have won just two out of eight contests.

Some negative voices are beginning to creep in, as one NBA agent claimed the decision to bench Walker was a “catastrophe.”

“When you think about the hype, it’s a catastrophe,’’ one NBA agent said about the Knicks’ benching of Walker, according to the NY Post.

Walker had been averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 assists, and 43% shooting from the field over 24.5 minutes per game. It wasn’t necessarily his offensive production that found him on the bench, it was his inept defense, which severely limited the Knicks. Prior to Walker’s exile, the Knicks had the worst defensive rating in basketball when he was on the floor per 100 possessions, compared to a top-five unit when he was off.

While the analytics point toward Walker being a liability, the Knicks have only gotten worse in the meantime. It seems as if disrupting the second team and taking Burks out of rotation has done more harm than good, especially after an 0 for 7 performance against the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

The question is, is it time for Thibodeau to consider reinstating Kemba back to his normal role, or should he stay the course and skirt around embarrassment after a failed attempt at resurrecting his team?

It is clear they lack a true leader, as Julius Randle is more of an introvert, but is being paid to be an outspoken captain. Nonetheless, Walker could’ve been that guy if given the chance, but it may be too late for Thibodeau to turn the tables with the trade deadline coming up in a few months.

Do you think the Knicks should give Kemba Walker another chance? Comment here!

Knicks’ Kemba Walker opens up about being benched, unsure what the future holds

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knicks, kemba walker

The New York Knicks got a bit too excited this past off-season, adding offensive playmakers, but they completely forgot how dominant their defense was during the 2020–21 season, which created a new identity for the team.

They elected to spend big money on acquiring Evan Fournier on a four-year, $72 million deal and landed Kemba Walker on a two-year, $17.9 million contract. However, both Fournier and Walker have been awful contributors on defense, failing to get into proper positioning and guarding the perimeter.

This led to head coach Tom Thibodeau pulling Walker from the rotation, especially after an abysmal November, where he shot just 29.6% from three-point range and 39% from the field. He posted more single-digit production games than double-digit scoring, shooting over 33% in just four contests.

However, the benching didn’t derail Walker’s attitude and confidence, indicating he would always be a team-first guy and support in any way he can. It’s not a bad gig for a player to earn $8 million to hang out on the bench and remain healthy for his next opportunity.

“I’ve always been a team guy first,” Kemba said. “It’s not about me, it’s about the team. So if he feels that’s what’s going to make the team better, then so be it. I’m just going to be here for my teammates. I’m here to help in any way, shape or form that I can.”

“I love being around my teammates,” he said. “I’m going to cheer them on until I can’t anymore. That’s what it’s about.”

Ultimately, the Knicks haven’t been much better in the absence of Walker, losing their last three games against Brooklyn, Chicago, and Denver. They will look to turn things around against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, but the squad has to find a new home for Walker at some point this year, which could come in a potential trade.
Kemba indicated that he is not sure what the rest of the season holds, but it is possible the Knicks need him down the line if injuries begin to mount. However, Thibodeau seems to be more reliant on Immanuel Quickley and even Miles McBride in a worst-case scenario rather than pulling walker back into the mix.

Evan Fournier relishes first taste of Knicks-Nets rivalry: It felt like a home game

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Evan Fournier almost ended up as the hero for the New York Knicks when he sank a game-tying triple with 17 seconds left. But unheralded Brooklyn Nets’ forward James Johnson had other plans.

The Nets drew the first blood in the Battle of New York this season with a gut-wrenching 112-110 win over the Knicks Tuesday night before a sellout crowd of 18,081. It was the largest attendance to a Nets’ home game in franchise history. Thanks, in large part, to the Knicks fans who invaded the Barclays Center in Atlantic Avenue.

“That was my first time playing Brooklyn as a Knick. It was fun. It felt like a home game,” Fournier said after Wednesday’s practice. “The atmosphere was great. It’s too bad we couldn’t get a win.”

It was jarring to watch Kevin Durant and James Harden, two of the league’s superstars, getting booed at their homecourt. But the Knicks fans made it happen, drowning the Nets’ fans at times. Even Julius Randle got MVP chants in his lone trip at the line.

“It was cool,” Fournier said. “We would have won like nobody cares when you lose.”

Fournier said they were all upset they lost a big game. But they were encouraged that it was just a one-possession game against the preseason title favorites.

“So the difference between winning and losing in a lot of games is very, very small. In a lot of games, we were up 15 and blew up leads. So, I think we can be really good and you know, I’m talking about elite, but we have to do it for 48 minutes,” Fournier said. “And when we start doing that, we’re going to take off.”

Inconsistency had been the Knicks’ biggest woe this season. But 20 games into the season, Tom Thibodeau made a drastic change to the lineup, dropping the 6-foot-1 Kemba Walker from the rotation in favor of the 6-foot-6 Alec Burks. After two games, the Knicks look more like last season’s team that grinded out wins with Thibodeau’s signature defense.

They held the Nets to just eight triples on 28.6 percent shooting. But Durant took over down the stretch with 11 points in the final 5:45 of the game. The Nets entered the game averaging 12.9 3s on a 37.5 percent mark. The Knicks perimeter defender is much improved with Burks in the starting lineup. In Burks’ first starting gig, they limited the Hawks to only nine triples on a dreadful 24.3 percent clip.

One of the upsides of the Burks experiment is his size which gave them versatility on switching defense. It threw off Trae Young and the Hawks over the weekend. But the Nets posed a different challenge.

“We didn’t get to switch much really because just the way [Brooklyn] played,” Fournier said. “They played so much isolation and that they don’t really screen so much so it didn’t really have an impact [Tuesday night].”

Their third showdown with the Chicago Bulls this season Thursday night at home will offer a different challenge to the refurbished Knicks’ defense. The Bulls have more weapons offensively than the Nets, with the trio of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic. Add defensive-minded guards Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso to the mix, who can also hurt on offense.

“They give you a different challenge because DeMar is such a unique player. He operates out of the midrange which is a lost art nowadays. Zach is extremely explosive. They’re just a well-built [team],” Fournier said.

“They have Vooch, who is back, that can really stretch the floor as a big. And they play hard. We owe them one and [Thursday’s game] will be interesting. The first two games in Chicago were intense, hard-fought battles and I expect that [on Thursday].”

The Bulls will be without key reserve Coby White, who has entered the health and safety protocols after testing positive for Coronavirus. White had 14 pts, hitting big shots in the fourth quarter, against the Knicks in the Bulls’ 109-103 win last month.

The Bulls and the Knicks enter Thursday night’s showdown with a winning record after at least 20 games for the first time since 2013, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

It will be a defensive slugfest as the Bulls currently sport the fourth-best defensive rating in the league (105.4). On the other hand, the Knicks are starting to regain their defensive identity after the recent change. It’s one of Thibodeau’s primary considerations when he made the bold move to yank a well-respected and accomplished player like Walker. 

Fournier said the chemistry of the starting lineup is fine. Except for a lackadaisical start in the third quarter where they dug a 16-point hole against the Nets, the starters looked more compact and engaged for the most part since the lineup change.

“I thought we started the game well. You know, AB is a really good player. He’s smart. We’re basketball players. We know how to make plays for each other. We’re gonna get a feel for each other and keep growing.”

Burks is an instant hit with the staring lineup recording season-highs in scoring in two consecutive games. Over the last two games he started, Burks is averaging 24.0 points and four triples on a 42/47/73 shooting split along with 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.

Perhaps in respect to Walker, whom he shared a bond dating back to last season in Boston, and with just a couple of games in, Fournier deferred giving his judgment on the new makeup of the starting lineup.

“It’s kind of hard to answer because you need to see a bigger sample and get lessons from it. Kemba and Alec are different players. They bring different things to the table,” Fournier said. “So it’s a wait-and-see, really.”

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Julius Randle, Knicks left fuming as Nets escape in rivalry game

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In a rivalry game that had a lot of twists and turns, James Johnson emerged as the unlikely hero.

The defensive-minded forward Johnson canned a pair of pressure-packed free throws with 2.2 seconds left that allowed the Brooklyn Nets to escape with a 112-110 win over the New York Knicks Tuesday night at Barclays Center.

Kevin Durant wisely milked the clock and found a wide-open Johnson who drove to the basket and fished a foul from Knicks center Mitchell Robinson. Evan Fournier missed a prayer at the buzzer as the Knicks’ first game without Kemba Walker in the rotation had a promising start but ended in heartbreak.

Randle charged at the official fuming after the loss.

“I’m not going to talk about [the officiating], I’m going to talk about the game, what the players are out there doing,” Randle said. “I’m not going to talk about [the referees] because they clearly don’t understand the game.”

The rest of the Knicks points guards — Alec Burks, Derrick Rose, and Immanuel Quickley — took turns in guiding the Knicks’ offense. After a hiccup in the middle quarters, the Knicks looked poised for a win when they stormed back from a 16-point third-quarter deficit.

An Obi Toppin dunk gave the Knicks a three-point lead, 98-95, midway in the fourth quarter. Then Kevin Durant carried the Nets on his back, firing 11 points down the stretch.

After the game, Durant said he wanted to take Randle one-on-one for the last shot, but Rose who came to double him, scuttled his plan. Luckily for Brooklyn, Johnson was up to the task.

Durant started the game with an ugly 2 for 9 shooting from the floor. He came back with a vengeance in the second half. Durant had 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting, mainly against Randle, who was hit with a crucial technical foul with 1:36 left.

Durant sank the bonus free throw to extend the Nets’ lead to three. After a Randle-Durant back-and-forth, Evan Fournier fired a game-tying triple with 17.7 seconds left off the Knicks’ final timeout. It turned out to be the Knicks’ last stand.

Burks led the Knicks with a new season-high 25 points, eclipsing his 23-point game in his first start in Atlanta two nights ago. Rose dropped a 16-point, 9-assist gem off the bench in his return from sickbay while Quickley added 12 points.

The trio’s production negated James Harden’s 34-point performance that came with 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Harden went 9 for 10 from the line. Durant was a perfect 10 for 10. The Nets took 25 free throws, 13 more than the Knicks, which had New York coach Tom Thibodeau also upset during his postgame interview.

“My thoughts overall, we did a lot of good things. We didn’t close it out. I want to take a look at the film,” Thibodeau said. “There’s a big discrepancy in free throws. I can tell you that. Julius is driving the ball and he gets 2 free throws?”

Even with Randle taking only one-fifth of Harden and Durant’s free throw rate, he still came up with 24 points on 11 of 22 shots.

If there was another silver lining from this loss, it was Randle’s return to his All-NBA form.

Randle flirted with a triple-double as he added nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.

With 3:30 left in the second quarter, Randle held the ball at the right elbow. He sized up Durant.

A day earlier, Randle proclaimed Durant is the best player in the league.

“Have you even seen a 7-footer with that skill? He can do anything on the court,” said Randle after Monday’s practice. “No weakness.”

Hyped up in their matchup, Randle poked a hole in Durant’s armor.

Randle took a jab step. And in one quick motion with little hesitation, he lost Durant. Randle attacked the basket with Durant trailing. LaMarcus Aldridge came to help. It was too late.

Randle completed a three-point play off Durant’s foul. He added two more baskets off Durant.

The Knicks held a 61-60 lead at the half after blowing an eight-point lead in the opening quarter.

Randle dominated Durant in the first half. But Durant had the last laugh. And Randle went home fuming.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks: Tom Thibodeau explains why he pulled the plug on Kemba Walker experiment

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kemba walker, knicks

Former four-time All-Star guard Kemba Walker has been dropped from the New York Knicks‘ rotation.

In a stunning development, New York coach Tom Thibodeau pulled the plug on the Walker experiment two nights after the Knicks put together one of their best defensive efforts this season in Atlanta without their erstwhile starting point guard. Walker rested on the second night of a back-to-back schedule, the second time it happened this season.

“We’re gonna make a change. Alec (Burks) will gonna be the starter. I like the way we played like that,” Thibodeau told reporters on Monday. “I’d just don’t like the way we’ve been trending, the inconsistency of our team. We’re gonna make a change. I want to get bigger, our defense to be more intact. So, basically, that was it. We got to do something different.”

Burks was an instant hit in his first start this season. He gave a jolt to the starting lineup that has been floundering more than often in a roller-coaster start.

The bigger Burks, a 6-5 versatile guard with a 6-10 wingspan, dropped a season-high 23 points and collected seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals against only three turnovers in 39 minutes.

More importantly, Burks’ comfort level playing either on or off the ball has created synergy with the rest of the starters.

RJ Barrett broke out of his 10-game slump with 15 points on 6 of 11 shots. Evan Fournier waxed hot with 20 points on an efficient 7 of 13 shooting and 4 for 6 from downtown. Though he missed some good looks in the early goings, Julius Randle looked more comfortable on the floor after adjusting in the second half.

Thibodeau was effusive in his praise after the Knicks’ impressive win over Hawks and hinted at a permanent starting role for Burks.

“What Alec gives us is size and his ability to contain the ball and also his playmaking ability and shooting. When you add all that up, it adds a lot,” Thibodeau said after the Knicks held the Hawks to a season-low 90 points on 35.5 percent shooting.

On Monday, Thibodeau once again drilled that concept as the primary consideration to his decision.

“The size is the big thing. He makes us bigger,” Thibodeau said.

With the 6-foot-1 Walker as the starter, the Knicks have been outscored by a staggering 122 points, the worst plus-minus by any player on a winning team. He’s averaging 11.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 24.5 minutes, all career-lows.

Thibodeau sounded like he had been contemplating this decision, with the Knicks’ win against the Hawks serving as the last straw.

“I want to tighten up the rotation. I like the way the team functions so it will be similar to what we did in the Atlanta game,” he explained. “It’s a tough decision to make but you always have to do what you think is best for the team.”

Perhaps this stunning decision to drop Kemba Walker out of rotation is another proof that Thibodeau is evolving and has learned from his past mistakes. Last year, he was stubborn about keeping Elfrid Payton as a starter until the playoffs rear its ugly head. Now, he’s dropping the dead weight that has been keeping the team from taking off.

Thibodeau said he’d told Walker of the tough decision he made.

“I view Kemba as a starter. It will be tough to play three small guards together. I give it consideration. And I’ve got great respect for who Kemba is as a person, No. 1, and all that he’s accomplished in this league. But I have to do what is best for the team.”

Burks was previously part of a three-guard lineup in the second unit alongside Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley. With Walker dropped from the rotation, rookie Quentin Grimes, who played a season-high 14 minutes in Atlanta, has an opportunity to carve a meaningful role with the second group.

As for Walker’s future, it is unclear if he will seek a buyout or if the Knicks plan to deal him to another team.

Burks will start on his new role against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.

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