Knicks fans have been calling for Obi Toppin to get more playing time, but he put up disappointing numbers Friday in his first career start, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Replacing Julius Randle, who is in health and safety protocols, Toppin scored just five points in 27 minutes in a loss at Oklahoma City.
“The second unit, those guys play well together,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau said. “The big part of it is (Toppin) running the floor. When you have Alec (Burks), Derrick (Rose) and (Immanuel) Quickley throwing the ball ahead and getting those easy buckets, it gets you into a rhythm and easy scores. It’s his first game starting. You have to be ready to go. That intensity, you can’t ease into the game. You (have) got to go.’’
Toppin has shown improvement in his second NBA season, with his averages of 8.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game roughly doubling what he did as a rookie. He has been part of a bench unit that has frequently outplayed the team’s starting five, and he believes he can succeed as a starter if given more time.
“This is the first time all of us have played together on the court, the stating five,’’ Toppin said. “We had to find a rhythm. With everything going on, with new people starting, new people coming off the bench, we all haven’t played with each other a lot.’’
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Kemba Walker was a late scratch for Friday’s game after experiencing pain in his left knee, Berman adds in a separate story. Berman notes that the decision to hold Walker out was made during pre-game and it comes after he played both ends of a back-to-back this week. “He started his warm-up, and then he stopped,” said Thibodeau, who isn’t sure how long Walker might be sidelined. “And then (trainer) Anthony (Goenaga) was looking at him and just felt, let’s get him examined, and then we’ll go from there.’’
- The loss of Walker led to the first career start for rookie Miles McBride, who learned of the assignment about an hour before game time, Berman notes in another piece. “I wanted to step up and do the best I could,’’ said McBride, who exited the protocols earlier this week. “I’m still trying to get in a rhythm. The whole team is — with guys going down. It just happened like that. I couldn’t do a lot of thinking or reacting. I had to go with the flow.’’
- The Knicks currently have two starters and three assistant coaches in the health and safety protocols, and Thibodeau tells Steve Popper of Newsday that the team is doing its best to adjust. “There’s nothing you can do other than follow the guidelines,” he said. “You want everyone to be healthy. You want them to be safe. That’s your first concern. Forget the basketball part of it, take care of it yourself.”
Obi is a talented role-player. Next to a Star Center, he’d accentuate very well. Other than that, he’s best where he at – off the bench
If that’s his ceiling… might as well move on from him and Knox use their salary to net a better player + picks.
knicks would be including the picks.
If he keeps shooting 22% from 3 I’m not sure he’s even a great bet to start, regardless of who plays center.
Both McBride and Obi blew this chance. To me it’s Thibs offense that needs help. He should of looked out for both of them. Thing is Randle even though having a somewhat bad season. Does create offense by having the D concentrate on him. Others play off of that. That’s been a big part of offense for us. Which I’m not a big fan of. I’d rather see a PG run offense more. It was just disappointing to see them both play bad. They shouldn’t lose to Thunder that bad. Thibs has to take some blame too.
This is part of schedule we are suppose to take advantage of. If Walker is out for awhile. Which is looking like he will be. Thibs better make the offense more friendly to McBride. I believe in him and like his game. Hope he keeps him in starting rotation.
“True fans” wants to talk about “blown chances” off of one game? Seems a little nonsensical. Seems like some people here don’t even know ball.
Toppin is maxing out as an energy guy off the bench until he can either A) hit league average from 3 or B) block shots.
What’s hurt us — well, it might actually be easier to speak of what hasn’t. Derrick Rose has been really good off the bench again. That’s nice. McBride at least has potential to get there, one day.
Other than that, it’s almost all been horrendous. I wasn’t exactly a Randle optimist coming into this year, but his regression to date is noteworthy. Barrett and Quickley are both young players everyone valued more highly LAST year. I was a full blown Fournier pessimist, and even he’s worse than even I thought he’d be.
Kemba is garnering the headlines, but he is what most of us thought he is — a former all star on the decline who was worth a shot for $8m/per. The issues stem from almost everywhere else—including the guy with the scowl at the end of the bench.
It’s the buttholesurfer with the obvious. Just state the obvious like surfing in the bathroom lol. Real ballers know when you get a shot. And you don’t perform. It’s a blown opportunity. Not the end of the world as you would want us to think. Haven’t you learned by now. How much game I got.
Knicks offense is part Thibs fault. I’ve said it since year ONE. About Randles iso plays. Randle still has time to make this right. Obi is not Randle. He has to work of a PG driven offense. Considering the pressure to make playoffs this yr. Thibs is not going to wait on players to get better. He is going with who he trusts. No matter what we think. Time for Knick fans to accept that. That’s a NY thing. And why it’s so difficult to rebuild here. McBride is for real and so is Grimes imo. I wanted both during draft. But all new players need time to adjust their gm to NBA. Time is not exactly a friend in NY.
If Kemba is going to sit for awhile. It will be real interesting to see who Thibs goes with. He listens to me. I go with McBride as starter and let Quickley back him up.
Al — there is still one thing I haven’t learned about you yet: where do you coach middle school basketball? Have you been promoted to head coach yet?
Keep it up and forget about Thibs listening to you—you could BE the next Thibs!
Not easing into the game means don’t save players for the second unit when they should be starting.
It means not waiting until your down 20 before you wake up every game.
It means to stop bringing in Quickly when there is a gigantic hole without ever giving him a chance to see if he can keep the hole from being created by the starters.
It does not mean to let the starters figure out how to take an infantile game plan and win anyway.
It does not mean play harder until a bad system finally works.
It does not mean the players are lazy or stupid when they always seem to play better somewhere else.
It doesn’t mean all of your players stink and only looked good in the past because they fooled people.
If last year was fools good why did we double down?
You guys blaming players when the coach is failing so badly and when the team doesn’t believe in point guards need to study the game.
It’s not an individual sport. If you break it down into one by going iso all the time you’ve already lost.
No blame on my part lol. I said blown opportunity. Been saying Thibs offense needs help. Remember last yr Knicks offense. Also ran off their D. They made stops and went the other way. Their bad D this yr. Has turned them into a three happy team. It starts with solid D and rim protection. That’s the heart of this team. Team D will lead to team offense. Still plenty of time to right this ship.
The Knicks had a chance to get Chris Paul and blew it.
Man the double OT thriller against Boston on opening night seems so long ago at this point. Opening night might be the best the Knicks looked all year. So sad, they should be a fun team to watch
CP3 was never leaving Phoenix unless by some miracle Booker was coming to NY with him.
Knicks are still a rebuilding team. We don’t need a 39 yr old PG. And why would Chris come to NY. Come back to reality.
No real Knick fan thought Kemba was the answer. We all hoped he’d give us depth and good mins. His problems are not all his fault. Since his D has been more exposed cause our team D suxx. That’s the real issue. For Kemba to help us here. We need to play team D like last yr. Mitch needs to be the force he was. I rather have Kemba run offense. Than watch Randle be a ball stopper. Randle and Mitch both are not playing like they were last yr. That has to change for Knicks to improve.
I feel like you’re the right guy to ask this question to: is Mitch the answer at the 5 for NY? And by that I mean, is Mitch the starting center for the next 4 years minimum?
Where’s all those Obi doubters today?
He put up 19-6-6 shooting a cool 7-12 today.
Albeit in 45 minutes in a blowout loss but he played his part. Was efficient shooting the ball, lead his team in assists, was 1 point off leading his team in points and was 1 rebound behind Taj Gibson also.
Toppin just needs time and some consistency.
Deuce! Deuce!