New York Knicks

Knicks lose 6th players to Covid measures, this time it’s Miles McBride

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miles mcbride, knicks

New York Knicks rookie point guard Miles McBride woke up with the opportunity of a lifetime on Saturday morning, but it took just a few hours before he entered Covid health protocols as well with five other teammates.

McBride has been on a tear in the last two games, providing stellar offensive production and adequate defensive efficiency. In his first legitimate assignment against the Golden State Warriors, McBride posted eight points, hitting 2 of 4 shots from deep and recording four rebounds.

Against the Houston Rockets, McBride posted 15 points and nine assists, displaying not only productive offensive playmaking but also facilitation for his teammates. He helped snap a four-game losing streak that had been haunting New York.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau was excited to continue utilizing McBride in a more prominent role, but after testing positive/coming in contact with someone who did with Covid, he will be placed on the 10-day list retro-active on December 28 at the very minimum.

McBride will join Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, who were also placed on Covid reserve due to health protocols. With a thin team gearing up to take on the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, they are at a massive disadvantage. Boston has lost four of their last five games but given their depth compared to New York, things are getting a bit murky for the Knicks’ outlook.

The loss of McBride is a big one, especially after posting back-to-back stellar performances on both sides of the ball. The Knicks needed a leader at point guard with some energy, and his loss will be felt with the only other capable point guard being Alec Burks on the roster. Veteran PG Derrick Rose is day-to-day with a sore right ankle, so there’s no guarantee he will be available for the game either, leaving the team extremely shorthanded.

Proposed new hardship exception may force Knicks to add player

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The New York Knicks are down to nine healthy bodies in the rotation after Immanuel Quickley tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday. Meanwhile, Derrick Rose (sore ankle) is still questionable to play in Saturday’s game in Boston.

The Knicks have yet to add additional players via the hardship exception. But they may be forced to if the NBA Board of Governors’ new proposed plan gets approved.

The NBA Board of Governors convened Friday and they proposed a new plan that would curb the postponement of games, according to an ESPN report. Two Chicago Bulls’ games have already been postponed in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 surge around the league.

Under the new proposed plan, teams would be required to add a 10-day player via the hardship exception after a second, third and fourth COVID-19 case.

In the proposed plan, after the first case of COVID, a team would be permitted to add a 10-day player, league sources said, but after a second, third and fourth case, teams would be required to add a 10-day player. Teams would be limited to three replacement players, but the new plan would, overall, require teams to maintain enough depth so that the league wouldn’t be forced to cancel or postpone games because some teams didn’t have the league-required eight healthy players.

Under the plan, the additional replacement players also wouldn’t count against that respective team’s salary cap or luxury tax, league sources said.

Previously, the hardship exemption was solely under the discretion of the teams. Some teams have already availed. But some, like the Knicks, have yet to use the exception rule. The hardship exemption under the CBA rules allows teams to exceed the 15-man roster limit in times of need (when multiple players are out because of injury or illness).

The league and the National Basketball Players Association still have to agree to the new proposed plan before it takes effect.

If the new plan gets approval, the Knicks would have to add players even if Rose and the first few Knicks under protocols return to the lineup.

Obi Toppin, their first player to test positive, could clear health and safety protocols two days from now. Under the current health and safety protocols guideline, players who test positive should be sidelined for at least 10 days or record two negative COVID-19 tests in a 24-hour period before they can resume basketball activities.

Toppin entered the health and safety protocols last Dec. 10 after their game in Toronto. The infection quickly spread around the team. RJ Barrett, rookie Quentin Grimes, Kevin Knox are the other three Knicks players in the health and safety protocols. At the same time, MSG analyst Clyde Frazier and sideline reporter Rebecca Haarlow also tested positive.

The NBA and NBPA have also agreed to stricter measures amid the spike of COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, the league issued a memorandum that requires players and Tier 1 personnel to wear masks at all times with only two exceptions: during on-court basketball activities for players and head coaches during games.

The league will also ramp up testing during the holidays. From Dec. 26 to Jan. 8, players and staff will be tested on game days except for those who received their booster shot 14-plus days earlier or recently recovered from the virus.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks’ Miles McBride is being gifted the opportunity of a lifetime

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knicks, miles mcbride

Energy, effort, intensity. Those are three factors that rookie point guard Miles McBride brought to the New York Knicks on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets. After spending the majority of the season working with the G-League team in Westchester, McBride was suddenly elevated to a prominent role with Covid ravaging the Knicks’ lineup.

Losing RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Quentin Grimes, and Obi Toppin this past week, McBride found himself suddenly playing 20+ minutes in back-to-back games, showcasing fantastic scoring capabilities and defensive energy.

One thing the Knicks have lacked severely this season is effort, as the starting team has echoed one another with an emphasis on being out-hustled and outpaced.

However, Tom Thibodeau found his team running the floor effectively and with unmatched energy after the installation of McBride and the presence of Immanuel Quickley. Quickley has since been placed on the Covid list for the next 10 days at least, despite his best efforts to evade the virus.

McBride has been ready to take on a bigger role this entire season, averaging over 25 points with Westchester. He simply wants to have an impact, and he did just that with 15 points and nine assists against Houston.

“Every time I step on the court I just want to impact winning,’’ McBride said before Thursday’s win over Houston. “That means on the defensive end I’m always going to bring it. Offensively I’m just going to read what the game gives me.”

Watching McBride play, you can see his poise and comfort on the floor. He doesn’t overthink, and he rarely makes mistakes, providing efficiency beyond what the Knicks have experienced this season at the point guard position.

“He played a great game,’’ Knicks veteran Taj Gibson said. “He was real patient, he does everything he needs to do early in the mornings, the early group, he’s a student of the game.’’

With Kemba Walker still riding the bench after being exiled from the team due to defensive deficiencies, McBride seems to be in line for a massive increase in playing time. If he continues to dominate, Thibodeau will have no choice but to continue relying on him as a primary player.

“You look at his development and he’s a strong two-way player,’’ Thibodeau said. “He plays with great energy on both sides of the ball. He plays multiple positions. He’s unselfish. He sprays it out. If you sag off him, he’s going to shoot. He can make it and can finish. And he’s a great worker.’’

Knicks lose 5th player to Covid protocols, Quickley ruled out Vs Celtics

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immanuel quickley, knicks

The New York Knicks are coming off their first win in five games against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. They’re gearing up to take on the Boston Celtics on Saturday evening, looking to string together another victory.

With the team already ruling Kevin Knox, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, and RJ Barrett out due to Covid health protocols, the team was already considered extremely thin.

However, the Knicks have ruled out another young player, Immanuel Quickley.

Quickley has been a fantastic player for New York this season, averaging 10.2 points, 2.6 assists, and 21.8 minutes per game. He’s shooting 39% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range, but his recent numbers have been far more impressive.

Over the past three games, Quickley has posted double-digit points in each, including a 24-point performance against Houston, where he tallied four assists and four rebounds, hitting 70% of his shots from deep (7 of 10).

Head coach Tom Thibodeau rolled with Quickley and Miles McBride as the primary depth guards on Thursday, and they produced a combined 39 points and 13 assists, powering the Knicks victory.

Against Boston, they will continue to depend on McBride, who posted 15 points against the Rockets in the win. With so many players going down, Thibodeau may have no choice but to activate Kemba Walker off the bench, a move he’s been avoiding the past few days.

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.

Knicks’ Thibodeau may have stumbled upon electrifying guard duo

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immanuel quickley, knicks, miles mcbride

The New York Knicks snapped a four-game losing streak on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets, courtesy of young guards Miles McBride and Immanuel Quickley.

Scoring 116 points has been a difficult reality for the Knicks over the past month, but seven 3-PT shots from Quickley led the team to victory. However, his partner in crime, McBride, recorded 15 points in a career-high 36 minutes of action.

Against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, McBride seized his first significant assignment by the basketballs, playing 20 minutes and garnering eight points and one assist. However, he unleashed his facilitation capabilities against Houston, recording nine assists as the team’s primary point guard off the bench.

With veteran PG Derrick Rose leaving the game with a sore right ankle, McBride picked up his playing time and ran with it effectively. Not only was he a phenomenal offensive threat in this game, but he played lockdown defense, posting a +19 +/-.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau might have stumbled across an electrifying duo of guards in this contest with Quickley and McBride. They played well off one another and created opportunities for the players around them, something the Knicks struggled to do in recent days without a true and tried starting facilitator.

After the victory over Houston, Quickley dropped a few words of leadership, not only indicating he’s growing on the court but as a leader behind the scenes.

“We needed it big. Through the tough times, I feel like we’ve stuck together pretty well”

Thibodeau went on to provide a mode of confidence with his young players, stating he sees it every day in practice and that once the opportunity came to fruition, they would be ready to take advantage.

“They’re killer workers, I see it every day in practice. I always feel that when they get their opportunity, they’re gonna be ready to roll.”

It was quite easy to see that McBride was ready to make the jump to the big leagues after dominating in the G-League. McBride averaged 26.8 points per game with Westchester, shooting 40.5% from three-point range and 48.2% from the field. The West Virginia stand-out has proven he can dominate from range but also contribute inside driving to the rim.

Pairing all of these positive attributes with vision and facilitation makes him a viable prospect to be the Knicks’ long-term starter at point guard down the line (or at the very least a great depth piece).

The question is, when McBride hits a wall and has a poor game, can he bounce back and shake off the negativity without skipping a beat? That is what separates good from great, and so far, he’s justifying more minutes alongside Quickley, with the pair combining for 39 points and 13 assists on Thursday.

McBride, Quickley power Knicks past Rockets with 39 combined points

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immanuel quickley, knicks

Despite the loss of RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, and Kevin Knox due to COVID-19 health protocols, the New York Knicks still powered past the Houston Rockets on Thursday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Despite a thin bench, the Knicks’ second-team stepped up big in the win, with a pair of young guards showcasing fantastic defense and even better offensive production. Rookie Miles McBride played 36 minutes compared to 12 from Derrick Rose, posting 15 points, nine assists, three rebounds, and shot 6 of 11 from the field.

It is clear that McBride is becoming a bright young player for New York and is well-deserving of more minutes after a stellar first performance against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. McBride has now strung together two productive outings, meaning head coach Tom Thibodeau will likely keep him in the rotation even when their injured players make a return from the Covid list.

However, McBride wasn’t alone in his quest for success, as second-year guard Immanuel Quickley matched his efficiency and then some. Quickley posted 24 points, four assists, and shot 70% from three-point range, hitting 7 of 10 shots. The duo combined for 13 assists and 39 points, leading the way for New York, who had two starters post zero points.

Aside from the young guards, Julius Randle added 21, and Evan Fournier contributed 23; however, both posted a negative +/-.

The Knicks needed their youngsters to step up and play well, and the emergence of McBride is yet another sign of optimism for a team that continues to rely on their youth to pick up the slack. Luckily, they were up against a weak Houston squad who had dropped three of their last four games heading into Thursday night.

As a team, the Knicks hit 47.2% from deep and 47% on the field, contributing 40 rebounds and 25 assists. They held the Rockets to 34.4%, shooting from three-point range, 24 rebounds, and 29 assists. They out-rebounded Houston by 11, including 10 added offensive rebounds.

This was the high-energy performance Thibodeau needed from his team to get back in the win column, and they can look ahead to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night with a hopeful return of some of their impact players.

Extra Butter and Mitchell & Ness to drop limited edition Knicks collection

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Are you looking to update your wardrobe for the New York Knicks games?

The hunt is over this Friday.

Extra Butter, the premium and progressive New York boutique and independent lifestyle brand, has partnered with the New York Knicks and Mitchell & Ness to release a limited-edition capsule collection in celebration of the basketball franchise’s 75th anniversary season.

Extra Butter and Mitchell & Ness Knicks collection

The collaboration will be exclusively available on December 17 at Extra Butter’s Long Island City location.

“To kick off this partnership, we felt it was important to look back at where the Knicks started,” said Extra Butter Creative Director Bernie Gross. “The team has been around just as long as the NBA itself. There’s some serious heritage to honor here — most notably, the Knickerbockers origin of the team name and the character itself. The collection features vintage graphics and type treatments from the Knicks iconography. We’re very excited to continue working closely with the Knicks organization to keep bringing stories relevant to the die-hard fans of New York.”

Extra Butter will highlight the Knickerbockers collection at its Long Island City store with a pop-up space that will feature a Pop-A-Shot for customers to shoot hoops and decor courtesy of vintage collector Mr. Throwback. Extra Butter has also partnered with Chase, a marquee partner of Madison Square Garden, to elevate the experience for fans. They will offer a complimentary commemorative enamel pin set for every purchase with their Chase credit or debit card.

commemorative enamel Knicks pin set

After the Friday exclusive drop at the Extra Butter store, the capsule will also be in stock online at Shop.MSG.com and extrabutterny.com on the next day, December 18 at 11 am EST, and at the MSG Team Store inside Madison Square Garden beginning on December 21 when the Knicks host the Detroit Pistons.

The collection will feature hats, sweatshirts, tees, shorts, and hoodies carefully crafted by Mitchell & Ness, who, for over 100 years, has been pioneering the resurrection of authentic jerseys and headwear significant to sports history.

Extra Butter unveiled the collection Thursday night in a private event at their Long Island City store.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Knicks need ‘aggressive’ Julius Randle as COVID-19 continues to strike

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The New York Knicks are down four men as they embark on a two-game road trip in Houston and Boston to end the week.

Kevin Knox joined RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, and Quentin Grimes in the health and safety protocols, the team announced on Thursday morning, less than 12 hours before tipoff against the Rockets.

With Knox out, it’s almost certain that Julius Randle’s playing minutes will reach the 40s. New York coach Tom Thibodeau will have to break the glass and pull out emergency backup big Taj Gibson to spell Randle some breather, especially when the Rockets play rookie power forward Usman Garuba off the bench.

Garuba played 17 minutes in the Rockets’ 124-89 loss to the Cavaliers Wednesday night in Cleveland.

Coming off a 31-point explosion in the Knicks’ latest loss to the Golden State Warriors at home, Randle is looking to have another big night. He should have an easier time against 6-4 Jae’Sean Tate and 6-6 KJ Martin, the two Rockets’ undersized forwards.

Randle regained his shooting touch in the second half against the Warriors. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Knicks forward scored 25 of his game-high 31 points in the final two quarters. He went 5 for 6 from deep, catching rhythm as he abandoned his pump fakes and fired without hesitation.

“I just locked in and said I’m going to be aggressive,” Randle said after the loss. “I think when I overthink, naturally I try to be unselfish and try to kind of think the game and get everybody going and stuff like that. But I just said I’m going to be aggressive and kind of let my instincts take over.”

According to NBA’s tracking data, Randle hit 50 percent of his catch and shoot attempts, including 4 for 7 from the 3-point zone. In the eight games before the Warriors’ game or since Kemba Walker was out of the rotation, Randle only shot 25 percent off catch and shoot, including 26.1 percent from the outside.

“When I’m naturally just myself, I naturally do those things,” Randle said. “I’m hesitant and overthinking and I got an open shot and I don’t shoot it or whatever it is or I’m trying to play the right way and get other people going, it kind of takes me out of rhythm. It takes away from my aggressiveness.”

“It’s crazy because then I start to get turnovers and stuff like that. When I’m naturally aggressive and playing with force, everything falls into place. I get in a rhythm and I start not overthinking, open and shoot it, if they close out, then get into the paint and find people.”

Randle was prolific in the second half, hitting 7 of 12 shots, and only had one turnover in 20 minutes against the Warriors’ league-best defense. He also attacked the rim and made 6 of 6 free throws. In the first half, he had zero attempts from the stripes.

Overall, Randle made 4 of 7 shots within 10 feet from the basket, on par with his average attempts during the eight-game stretch entering Tuesday’s game. His attacking threat gave him some open looks from the outside. He had 12 open shots (4 to 6 feet from the closest defender), and he sank five of them. In the last eight games before Tuesday, he was only hitting 38.5 percent on 4.9 open look attempts.

“When he’s aggressive like that, it makes us better. And I love to see him when he’s attacking the rim,” Thibodeau said. “That puts a lot of pressure on people and it opens up things for us. And then I think he got into a good rhythm doing that. But we need everyone.”

Randle only had three assists, one in the second half. But it wasn’t like he did not try to move the ball and find his teammates. According to the NBA tracking data, Randle made 62 passes, resulting in 15 field goals for his teammates. Unfortunately, his teammates only hit 4 of 15.

Randle is still trying to strike a balance between when to pass and when to take over. But with their roster gutted out by COVID-19, the Knicks need an aggressive Randle to charge up their flailing offense.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Knicks rule out 4 players ahead of clash with rising Houston Rockets team

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new york knicks, rj barrett

The New York Knicks are staring a significant challenge right in the face as they prepared to take on an elevating Houston Rockets team on Thursday night. On the back of four consecutive losses, the Knicks are desperate for a win, watching their record drop to 12–16, good for last place in the Atlantic standings behind Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn.

If the postseason started today, the Knicks wouldn’t even be a play-in team, but they have plenty of time to make up ground and string together a few wins to build confidence.

However, their matchup against Houston got a lot more difficult on Thursday, as the team announced reserve forward Kevin Knox will be out due to health and safety protocols.

The Knicks will roll on without Knox, RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, and Obi Toppin. Barrett and Toppin are expected to make a return in the coming days as they inch toward the 10-day minimum for Covid related suspension.

In the Knicks’ most recent lost Golden State, they heavily relied on reserves like Miles McBride and Knox, who posted 20 minutes in the loss. They may have to bring Kemba Walker back into the lineup with so many players out, despite head coach Tom Thibodeau trying his best to avoid that situation, given the optics.

However, giving Walker a chance to redeem himself and showcase better efficiency could be a reasonable way to spark the team and provide a different element that Houston isn’t entirely expecting.

Houston is coming off a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, allowing 124 points. Their primary players are Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, and rookie Jalen Green.

The last time Houston faced off against New York, they fell 106–99, watching Alec Burks post 20 points and hit 6 of 7 three-point shots off the bench. They will have a far more advantageous situation given the Knicks’ depth situation at the moment. In addition, since they lost to New York, Houston has won eight of their last 11 games but have dropped three of their last four. Their most recent victory against the Atlanta Hawks was a masterclass of offensive production (132 points).

Despite New York’s inept defense this year, Houston ranks even worse in defensive rating at 25th compared to New York’s 23rd. In addition, they are the 21st ranked three-point shooting team and 24th ranked team in field goal percentage.