New York Knicks

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 rookie Quentin Grimes auditions for rotation spot with career game

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quentin grimes, knicks

With the New York Knicks‘ season unraveling with mounting losses and COVID-19 cases, rookie Quentin Grimes stepped up and made the most out of a rare opportunity.

Grimes, the 25th pick of this year’s draft, provided the silver lining in the Knicks’ wire-to-wire 112-97 loss to defending champion Milwaukee Bucks Sunday noon at Madison Square Garden.

After Obi Toppin entered the health and safety protocols on Saturday, RJ Barrett joined him Sunday morning. Starting point guard Alec Burks also took a day off reportedly to attend to his wife, who gave birth to their child.

Grimes was thrust into a starting role alongside Derrick Rose with the three key players out. The rookie out of Houston did not disappoint as he shattered two Knicks rookie records with a career-high 27 points and seven triples.

“I really didn’t expect it [to start],” Grimes said. “I found out about 90 minutes before the game when we knew RJ couldn’t play that I was going to start. I just needed to keep my mind right and do whatever I was doing in college to prepare myself for moments like this. It was definitely a surreal moment, and I was just trying to soak it all in.”

Grimes started tentatively and turned the ball over for his first play of the night. But a couple of minutes later, he set up Evan Fournier for a pullup jumper. Then he sank his first shot — a three-pointer — off a Julius Randle feed nearly seven minutes into the game.

“Once I kind of let my first shot go, I got comfortable,” Grimes said.

Oh boy, he did.

Grimes pumped in eight points in the Knicks’ 15-4 run in the second quarter as they trimmed the Bucks’ 21-point lead to 10, 58-48. He was hotter in the third quarter with four three-pointers. At one point, he drained three consecutive triples that woke up the silent sellout Garden crowd of 19,812.

“[It was] my first time really feeling the crowd. It was definitely something I take in for sure, but hopefully, we can come out next time with the [win],” Grimes said.

The rookie’s explosion was not enough to lift the undermanned Knicks, who fell to their sixth loss in the last seven games and moved three games below .500. But for what it’s worth, it was a positive development for the organization, which had more than their fair share of misses in the draft and questionable player development program in the past.

“Well, it could [impact his minutes]. It starts with practicing well, which I see every day,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said of Grimes. “He comes back every night, comes in early every day, works extremely hard, very good in practice.”

“So we were confident when he got his opportunity that he would play well, which he did. One game doesn’t make a huge difference, but it’s a very positive step because of the way he approaches things. He’s a great competitor. It’s important to him. He studies. He’s prepared himself extremely well.”

Grimes credited his father for advising him to stay in phenomenal shape, Thibodeau for always preaching the ‘stay ready, next man up mentality,’ and assistant coach Darren Erman for their daily workout.

READ: How Quentin Grimes became a quintessential Thibs guy

Despite only playing 39 minutes in 10 of the Knicks’ first 26 games, Grimes kept himself in tip-top shape by logging in two to three 10 rounds of running around the court at the end of his nightly shooting routine. He asked the coaches to record his running time during the pre-conditioning test as his base and motivation. Sometimes, he adds two more minutes on the clock and runs as fast as he can around their Tarrytown practice facility. He does extra lifting in the weight room and takes good care of his body to prepare for moments like Sunday.

“I can’t be ready to be able to play only 12 minutes,” Grimes said.

Grimes ended up playing a game-high 40 minutes in his first career start and filled the stats sheet with his defensive grit and shot-making. He made 9 of 17 overall and went 7 for 13 beyond the arc. He added three rebounds, three assists, and three steals, with the five turnovers the only blemish, aside from the loss, to his sterling performance.

With Barrett expected to miss at least 10 days unless he yields two negative PCR test results from samples collected at least 24 hours apart, Grimes has a real shot at going on a nice run.

If Grimes keeps up this solid play, that could push Thibodeau to figure out minutes for him once the team returns to full strength.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Bucks 112, Knicks 97: Quentin Grimes explodes with expanded role but not enough to stifle Bucks

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quentin grimes, knicks

The New York Knicks never stood a chance against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon, with RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin missing the contest due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Both players were exposed to a positive case of Covid, leaving them inactive for the game, leaving New York shorthanded.

However, to make matters worse, starting point guard Alec Burks missed the contest due to personal reasons, forcing rookie Quentin Grimes into a more prominent role with the starting five.

Of course, there was no chance New York was going to extract a victory in this game, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton at the top of their games. Giannis posted 20 points and Middleton 24, combining for 18 rebounds and 15 assists.

Once again, the Knicks allowed every starter for the opposing team to hit double-digit points, and even two of their reserve players, Pat Connaughton and Rodney Hood, landed 10+ points in the game.

As for the Knicks, Julius Randle contributed just eight, recording a -17 +/- on the game, including seven turnovers. Randle has been a shell of his former self this season, failing to dominate offensively and presenting a liability on defense at times due to a lack of communication.

Veteran point guard Derrick Rose replaced Alec Burks in the lineup, recording 18 points and seven assists. However, it was rookie Quentin Grimes that stood out as the team’s scoring threat, keeping the game from getting out of hand.

Grimes posted a career-high 27 points, shooting 9 of 17 from the field and 7 of 13 from three-point range. His 40 minutes were his highest of the season and represented more combined than his previous three games.

This showcases Quentin’s shooting efficiency, and given his on-ball defense, head coach Tom Thibodeau may be more reliant on him in the future, especially against strong three-point shooting teams. Milwaukee only shot 34% from three-point range, meaning the Knicks played solid perimeter defense but unfortunately missed some of their more prominent defenders, putting them at a disadvantage.

The Knicks are now on a three-game losing streak and have lost six of their last seven games. They will look ahead to a dangerous Golden State Warriors team at MSG on Tuesday night.

Knicks lose RJ Barrett due to COVID protocols, leaving team shorthanded Vs Bucks

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new york knicks, rj barrett

The New York Knicks were already gearing up to face a formidable competitor in the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon, but things aren’t getting any easier with RJ Barrett being placed in protocol for coming in contact with a positive Covid case.

The Knicks will be incredibly shorthanded on Sunday, with Barrett being ruled out at The Garden and second-year power forward Obi Toppin joining him on the COVID-19 health and safety protocols list. Starting guard Alec Burks was also ruled out due to personal reasons. That makes three impact players OUT for New York against arguably the best team in basketball.

Toppin has been earning significantly more minutes in recent days, posting a season-high 24 against the Toronto Raptors in the team’s most recent defeat. Toppin contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, both career highs up to this point.

Losing both Barrett and Toppin will force head coach Tom Thibodeau to supplement their losses with reserve talent. Expect to see a smaller floor with additional guards like Immanuel Quickley and even Quentin Grimes.

Players that could see added minutes include Quickley, Kevin Knox, Miles McBride, and Grimes. Considering Barrett’s spot as a primary shooting guard in the starting five, replicating his 6’4″, 214-pound frame is rather difficult off the bench. Knox is the closest at 6’7″ and 215-pounds, but he is a poor shooter and features as a small forward.

Against Milwaukee, the Knicks don’t stand a chance, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo dominating this season, averaging 27.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Since the Knicks last played Milwaukee, they also gained back Khris Middleton, who is adding 18.2 points at 5.1 assists on average.

This is a Bucks team with all of their firepower and the Knicks losing two essential pieces, so if you’re a sports bettor, smashing the over on Milwaukee might be a strong move.

Things don’t get any easier for Knicks as they host red-hot Milwaukee Bucks team

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knicks, derrick rose

The New York Knicks are coming off consecutive losses, one a blow-out against the Indiana Pacers and a nail-biter Vs the Toronto Raptors. On Friday night, the Knicks were unable to stifle Toronto, despite a career-night from Obi Toppin, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Toppin’s transition game has become a catalyst for the Knicks’ offense, but his 19.6% 4-PT shooting this season has dragged his minutes down, despite Tom Thibodeau increasing his totals gradually in the month of December.

New York won’t have an easier time on Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Bucks, who currently stands 2nd in the Central Division and have one 11 of their last 13 games, including a victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday.

Milwaukee, of course, is led by perennial All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.6 points this year, including 11.8 rebounds, 53.4% shooting from the field, and about 30% shooting from three-point range. Giannis is not only a prolific scorer, but he is a monster in the paint and is averaging 5.7 assists per game, showcasing his facilitation.

For the Knicks, stopping Giannis is simply impossible, but if they can take away Milwaukee’s alternative playmakers, they can give themselves a chance at victory. However, that is easier said than done, as the Bucks have gained Khris Middleton back after a bout with COVID-19, who is averaging 18.2 points and 5.1 assist the season. In addition, role players Bobby Portis and Jrue Holliday have also displayed efficiency.

Portis is a solid 3-and-D role player, averaging 15.4 points this season with 40.6% shooting from deep and 9.0 rebounds per game. He fills their center spot, but as a modern-day big man, he’s also capable of shooting efficiently. The Knicks severely lack a scoring Center, which is why they have been connected to Pacers star big man Myles Turner in recent days.

For the Knicks to stifle Milwaukee, they will need impeccable defense from Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. Tom Thibodeau’s squad currently ranks 24th in defensive rating at 110.2. If they maintain that same success rate against the Bucks, they will have no chance of picking up their first win three games.

Stellar perimeter defense is a necessity for New York, but they will need more from point guard Alec Burks, who had an awful night against Toronto, finishing with one point on 0 for 7 shooting. Expect to see heavy doses of Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, who both played 24 minutes in the close loss to the Raptors.

A more productive game for Randle should be in store since he hasn’t reached 20 points in three consecutive games. After posting at 40% clip from three-point range last season, Randle has regressed to 33% but hasn’t leaned on his shooting lately, rather playing isolation ball. His one-man approach and turnover totals have severely hurt the efficiency and communication of the starting five.

Knicks: Obi Toppin enters COVID-19 protocols after career game in Toronto

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After his career game in Toronto, New York Knicks‘ second-year forward Obi Toppin returned home and was quickly greeted with bad news.

The team announced Saturday afternoon that Toppin had entered the health and safety protocols. The dynamic reserve forward became the first Knicks casualty of the still ongoing pandemic this season.

Based on the league-mandated health and safety protocols, Toppin will miss 10 days unless he could yield at least two negative PCR test results from samples collected at least 24 hours apart.

Toppin will miss the Knicks Sunday matinee game against the rejuvenated defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.

It’s a dampener as Toppin has started to carve an integral role with the second unit that crescendoed Friday night in Toronto. He played like the lottery pick he was projected to become in the Knicks’ 90-87 loss to the Raptors. Toppin scattered 19 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes, all career-highs, as he energized the Knicks, who almost completed a comeback win from a 20-point deficit.

Toppin played longer than usual as the Knicks centers Nerlens Noel and Mitchell Robinson only combined for 35 minutes, leaving 13 minutes for a small-ball lineup.

New York coach Tom Thibodeau was effusive in praising Toppin’s performance, but he made it clear that he’s not ready yet to give him an expanded role.

“He’s worked hard. He’s always been a confident guy,” Thibodeau said of Toppin. “There’s still a long way to go. But his progress has been steady. Overall, I’m very pleased with him.”

Toppin is primarily serving as Julius Randle’s backup. Randle is averaging 35.3 minutes. But Toppin’s infectious energy off the bench and confident play has earned him spot minutes next to Randle in small-ball lineups.

“[Obi’s] got to work at being an all-around player. And I see that work every day. I see how he approaches it. He’s a great worker, a great kid. So I’m not surprised that he’s improving. If he plays well, he plays more. It’s that simple. You have to earn what you get,” Thibodeau said.

Against the Raptors, Toppin dropped eight points in the second quarter, where the Knicks quickly wiped out Toronto’s 20-point lead. In the second half, he played from the final 2:12 of the third quarter up to the 3:40 mark of the fourth quarter. He scored nine and grabbed five rebounds during that stretch.

Asked about his decision to pull out Toppin and play with only Randle as the big man down the stretch, Thibodeau said it was a tactical adjustment.

“It was basically [because] they were playing zone [defense] and so we thought we got behind a little. We wanted to add more shooting onto the floor. But overall, I thought [Obi] did a lot of great things. That’s how we got going — running the floor, hustling, his all-around play. I thought he really did a good job for us.”

Toppin doesn’t have any issue at all with the short leash. His mindset, he said, is to give 110 percent every time he steps on the court and inject passion and energy into the team.

“Whatever happens with minutes, with playing time like I said coach Thibs is a great coach. He’s been doing this for a very long time,” Toppin said.

[Thibodeau] knows what he’s doing. He knows who got to be in the game at what time. He has a different feel for the game than we do so because he’s a lot more experienced.”

After the team’s light practice on Saturday and before the bad news broke out, Thibodeau expounded on Toppin’s playing time situation despite the online clamor from the fanbase to give him more minutes. Toppin’s play with the second unit has been one of the few silver linings amid the team’s recent struggles.

“[It’s] very good offensively. Defensively, we lose the rim protection and rebounding. So you’re sacrificing that part of the game which is critical but I like the speed and the way they’re playing. I thought that group really played well together. Our bench came in and gave us a big lift,” Thibodeau said.

While he’s not ready yet to give Toppin an expanded role, Thibodeau reiterated how he values the 2020 eighth overall pick.

“He’s young and he’ll continue to get better. So there are still things he needs to improve upon but he’s made great strides. I’m very pleased with him. He adds a lot to the team. He’s a very important part of the team. I expect him to continue to improve,” he added.

Last season, Toppin played well in significant minutes during the start of the preseason until a calf injury caused him to miss six games. His confidence dipped, and he looked lost when he returned. It took him until the second half of the season to find his footing, and he has never looked back since last year’s All-Star break.

If Toppin misses an extended period, Taj Gibson is expected to step into his role with the second unit. It remains to be seen how this setback will affect Toppin’s situation when he returns.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

 

Knicks’ tough loss to Raptors magnifies one of their weakest links

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Forget about Julius Randle’s missed three-pointer. Forget about RJ Barrett’s miss at the buzzer.

The New York Knicks could have completed their 20-point comeback if only they secured the long rebound, which led to Gary Trent, Jr.’s backbreaking triple.

That shot swung the momentum and the lead back to the Raptors as they escaped with a hard-fought 90-87 win against a Knicks team that showed great resolve after another poor start.

“The second shot hurt us,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was a shame not to come out of here with a win, but the way we started the game really hurt us.”

The same issue plagued the Knicks at the start of the game. They dug a 20-point hole in the first quarter as they gave up five more rebounds to the Raptors and four turnovers. Toronto took advantage and cashed in with a combined 11 points on transition and off turnovers. It didn’t help that the Raptors shot 5 of 9 3s and took seven more free throws.

“So we got into a big hole and had a fight,” Thibodeau said. “And then we downsized to get more shooting onto the floor and then the rebounding hurt us in the end.”

After Obi Toppin missed two consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter, Thibodeau decided to pull him out. By the time Evan Fournier subbed Toppin, the Knicks’ energetic second-year forward had already logged in his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes, all career-highs. But his missed shots were a sign of exhaustion after playing straight from the final 2:12 of the third quarter up to the 3:40 mark of the fourth quarter. That was more than 10 minutes straight of running up and down the court.

Thibodeau’s tactical adjustment to counter the Raptors’ zone defense down the stretch backfired as the small-ball lineup on the floor got outrebounded in the most crucial time. The Knicks’ closing lineup of Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, Barrett, and Randle outscored the Raptors, 10-6, but gave up two crucial offensive rebounds in the most pivotal play of the game.

“You can’t take off, you can’t stand and stare. You got to turn and check,” Thibodeau said. “Because of the way people shoot, there are going to be a lot of long rebounds. That’s your guards’ responsibility but oftentimes you see offenses are inverted where the big guys are out. And so you have to find a body. That’s what we didn’t do. That has to be corrected.”

But the film tells otherwise.

Rose, Burks, and Barrett all found a body to box out after Trent, Jr.’s first three-point attempt hit the back iron. But they could only do so much against 6-8 Pascal Siakam, 6-7 Scottie Barnes, and 6-9 Chris Boucher. Randle missed the rebound because he went too deep, and Siakam tapped the ball out to Fred Van Vleet, who missed another 3-point attempt. Barnes got the long rebound from the left elbow and passed it to Van Vleet, who quickly swung it back to Trent, Jr. for his redemption shot.

The Raptors grabbed the lead, 89-87, and never relinquished it.

“We outrebounded them but we gave up costly ones when it counted the most,” Thibodeau said.

The Knicks won the battle of the boards overall, 55-48, and had two more offensive rebounds than the Raptors. Two offensive rebounds cost them the game. Even if Thibodeau can correct the Knicks’ gang rebounding deficiency, it will just be a band-aid solution. It’s not that the Knicks guards lacked the effort and awareness to box out. But the reality is, the Knicks’ inability to field a rebounding big man who can also be a threat against the zone defense is the biggest weakness of the current roster.

Even with Nerlens Noel and Mitchell Robinson not at full health, the Knicks are still among the top 10 rebounding teams in the NBA. Last season, they finished tied for eighth with 45.1 per game. After Friday night’s loss in Toronto, the Knicks are ninth with 45.7 rebounds per game.

Noel and Robinson only played a combined 35 minutes and 15 seconds on the floor against the Raptors due to lingering health and conditioning issues. They produced 10 points and 10 rebounds combined. But even when they are healthy, they don’t possess a decent outside shot or even a midrange jumper that can keep the defense honest.

Toppin can grow into that role if he develops a consistent outside shot. But until that happens, they need outside help.

If the Knicks are to salvage this season, point guard won’t be the priority at the trade deadline. A big man who can space the floor on offense and be a decent pick-and-roll defender and rim protector should be their top target. That way, they can optimize Randle as a bully point forward next to Burks. A floor-spacing center will unclog the paint for Randle and even for Barrett to attack the rim rather than settle for long jumpers.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau details how Obi Toppin can earn more playing time

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obi toppin, knicks

With just moments left in the contest against Toronto on Friday evening, New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau pulled Obi Toppin from the game.

The second-year forward had a career night up north, recording 19 points and 10 rebounds. He was undoubtedly the team’s best player during the game, justifying his presence in the final moments.

Some might say it was unreasonable that Toppin wasn’t involved in the final play, which ended up being a three-point shot from RJ Barrett that careened off the rim.

After the game, Thibodeau details how Toppin could enjoy more playing time in the future, after spending 24 minutes on the floor against the Raptors, a high this season, excluding the double-overtime win against the Boston Celtics to open the year.

“If he plays well, he plays more, it’s that simple. You have to earn what you get.”

Clearly, Toppin is earning more action on the floor, posting back-to-back double-digit point games with 12 combined rebounds and just two turnovers.

The Dayton product has become electrifying in transition, especially with fellow draft mate Immanuel Quickley leading the offense down the court. His abilities to find open lanes and drive the baseline have become a focal point for the Knicks on offense, but his shooting still remains a liability, connecting on just 19.6% from three-point range this season.

However, that’s not for lack of practice, as Obi has been extremely proactive with his work off the court.

“I see that work every day, I see how he approaches it. He’s a great worker, great kid. I’m not surprised that he’s improving,” Thibs said.
The reality for Toppin is simple, his 15.6 minutes per night on average are a result of Julius Randle hosting the top power forward slot. Thibodeau has been trying to get Randle and Toppin on the floor at the same time to maximize their skill sets, which are vastly different, especially in transition and isolation.
While Thibodeau clearly didn’t roll with Toppin in the final moments, the second-year player responded positively, indicating that his head coach knows all.

“Coach Thibs is a great coach. He’s been doing this for a very long time. He knows what he’s doing. He’s a lot more experienced and he knows a lot more,” Toppin shared.

Nonetheless, coming off what are the best games of his career, Thibs has no choice but to feature him in a more prominent role moving forward, especially if the Knicks want to be a more fast pace team relying on energy and effort rather than Randle posting up in isolation and trying to carry the load.

Have the Knicks finally cracked the code with Obi Toppin?

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new york knicks, immanuel quickley, obi toppin

Despite an unfortunate loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday evening, the New York Knicks enjoyed a career night from second-year forward Obi Toppin.

Toppin, who has been relishing more minutes as of late, posted 19 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat over 24 minutes, his highest total in the month of December. In fact, 24 minutes was the most he played since opening night against the Boston Celtics in the Knicks’ double-overtime win.

It is clear that head coach Tom Thibodeau is factoring in Toppin more frequently due to his incredible athleticism and fantastic stamina. Toppin exerts maximum energy and effort whenever he’s on the floor, chasing down loose balls and being proactive with his runs to the basket. Against Toronto, he shot 43% from the field but once again struggled from deep, hitting on just 20% of his shots.

This season, Toppin is shooting 54% from the field and just 19.5% from three-point range, a disappointing number that needs to improve moving forward. However, New York has finally cracked the code on his usage and production, focusing on transition basketball.

Luckily, the Knicks’ two best players in transition are Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, who work splendidly off one another. Quickley has become a fantastic facilitator for Toppin and his electrifying dunks.

Quickley has also enjoyed significant minutes with the second team, earning 20+ in every game this month, including a 38-minute outing against the Chicago Bulls on December 2. Whenever Quickley is on the floor, the Knicks have more energy, but Thibodeau has also looked to pair Toppin with fellow power forward Julius Randle.

As the team continues to build confidence with one another and develop chemistry, it’s clear they are experiencing deficiencies with communication and positioning. They simply lack the fundamental flow on offense and find themselves crashing to the basket or falling back without any attempt at an offensive rebound. Toppin showcased his utility in the paint, with his eight defensive and two offensive rebounds against Toronto.

Not only was Obi’s 19 points a season-high, but his 10 rebounds as well, hopefully turning a new chapter on his dominant transition play. Nonetheless, until he can improve his shooting abilities and efficiency from beyond the arc, he will remain a one-tool player that makes up for a lack of defensive efficiency with a high work rate. In the meantime, the Knicks may have cracked the code on curating an impact, but he still has a lot of developing left to do.

Raptors 90, Knicks 87: Obi Toppin’s career night not enough to stifle Toronto

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obi toppin, knicks

The New York Knicks dropped their second consecutive game on Friday evening, despite a phenomenal effort by second-year forward Obi Toppin. The Knicks were recently blown out by the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, but a stellar defensive effort wasn’t enough to stifle the Toronto Raptors, who entered the game with a 4–9 record at home.

The Knicks scored just 87 points in the game, finding themselves down by double digits in the second quarter after recording just 14 points in the first while Toronto posted 31.

By all accounts, this game was well beyond reach in just the first half, but the Knicks held Toronto to just 19 points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Their resilience still wasn’t enough to record a victory, shooting an awful 26.5% from three-point range and 35.8% from the field.

Overall, this was another inconsistent offensive performance for New York, gaining just one point from Alec Burks over 37 minutes, as the starting guard shot 0 for 7 from the field and 0 for 3 from three-point range.

In fact, only two starters recorded double-digit points, including Julius Randle with 13 and RJ Barrett with 19. The entire Toronto starting five scored double-digit points, including 24 from Gary Trent Jr. and 17 from Fred VanVleet. VanVleet posted 11 assists in the game, acting as a primary facilitator, while Scottie Barnes and Pablo Siakam combined for 27 rebounds.

The Knicks, on the other end, relied on Julius Randle and Obi Toppin as their primary rebounders, combining for 24. Toppin enjoyed a career night, posting 19 points over 24 minutes. The transition game with Toppin was lucrative, especially with his draft buddy, Immanuel Quickley taking the ball down and giving Obi opportunities for electrifying dunks.

The New York Knicks can’t find their shooting from down-town:

However, it was their three-point shooting that doomed them from the beginning, as Evan Fournier posted the best numbers, hitting 3 of 7 shots from deep. Ultimately, the absolute dud from Alec Burks proved to be the difference, representing an anomaly over his past few games.

Burks has scored double-digit points in six consecutive games before Friday night’s loss to Toronto. He’s still shooting 42.5% from three-point range this season, so he should bounce back in the short term.

Nonetheless, this was a winnable game for New York against Toronto, especially holding their opponents to just 90 points. Tom Thibodeau will be disappointed about this loss, as the Knicks have now dropped five of their last six games. They have a tough matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks coming up on Sunday afternoon, who are currently on an impressive winning streak.