The Knicks have found tactical methods to survive without the services of shelved starting forwards Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, writes Petter Botte of The New York Post. Randle is done for the rest of the regular season with a left ankle sprain, while Barrett is dealing with a non-COVID illness.
In their most recent game Sunday night, the Knicks were able to beat the Wizards at home sans Randle or Barrett, 118-109, with a balanced offensive attack that featured four 20-point scorers.
“The ball was moving. We were just out there, just having fun, moving the ball and just playing freely,” Randle substitute Obi Toppin said. “It feels good, but I just got to come back here and do what I gotta do every single day to help the team win.”
There’s more out of Madison Square Garden:
- The win against Washington officially allowed New York to clinch its second playoff berth in three seasons under head coach Tom Thibodeau, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “It’s a great accomplishment, because it’s one of the goals,” Thibodeau said. He also mentioned that he would not consider resting his top players until New York was officially locked into a seed in the East, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (Twitter link). “There’s still some things at stake,” Thibodeau noted. At 46-33, the Knicks are currently three games behind the fourth-seeded Cavaliers and 2.5 games ahead of the sixth-seeded Nets, so they’ll likely finish at No. 5.
- Bontemps adds that players are looking beyond just making the playoffs this year. “It’s a good accomplishment,” reserve wing Immanuel Quickley said. “But I think we want a bit more for ourselves.” As Bontemps writes, New York has only made it out of the first round once since 2000.
- Knicks starting point guard Jalen Brunson is making a convincing push to secure Most Improve Player honors this season, thanks to his major contribution to the club’s on-court performance and his role as a team leader during his first year in New York, Bondy writes in another piece. “It’s a unique award,” Brunson told Bondy. “It’s not something I’m really focused on 100 percent. I don’t really think about it but if it’s something I win or achieve, I’ll be very thankful. But it’s not on the forefront of my mind.” The team has already improved its win-loss record by nine games, and still has three left to play. Brunson is having by far his best season as a pro statistically, averaging 24.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.5 RPG, and 0.9 SPG in his 68 healthy games.
An interesting time for the Knicks. This off-season is going to be difficult depending on how the show progress during the playoffs. Lots of players looking for playing time, deservedly, however not enough rotation slots or time in a Thibs system. If the right star is made available (speculating) I can see an all in offer of players and picks to slide in with the others. IQ has raised his value quite a bit I would say and others like Grimes and Toppin should be attractive as well. If the Knicks could pull a Beal type player, and they have the assets to do it, it would be interesting. Zack Lavine is another (although not my personal preference).
My prediction, in the offseason the Knicks will trade for Jaylen Brown.
RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and 4 firsts.
Money works perfectly, Knicks want a big name star and will be even more desperate after another taste of the playoffs. It’s looks as if Boston is questioning a Jaylen extension. He was recently asked about if he will stay and said didn’t exactly endorse wanting to stay.
I think the Celtics will again fall short in the playoffs this time to the Bucks. That and Brown needing a new deal will prompt them into wanting to retool. After they make this deal they then flip RJ, Obi and Horford for Bradley Beal, Deni Avidja, a first and 2 seconds.
They will then bring back Grant Williams at 15mil a season. Leaving them to line up
Marcus Smart Bradley Beal Jayson Tatum Grant Williams and Rob Williams as the starting 5.
Derrick White Malcom Brogdan Deni Avidja Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala as the bench 5.
They’ll then add a more rim protecting 5 in FA for the vets min, and maybe another wing.
Everyone will think the Celtics have only gotten worse giving up Brown and Horford for Beal and Deni but they would’ve also added 5 first round picks and 2 seconds. They will sell the story we didn’t feel we could get over the hump with Tatum and Brown and hence didn’t want to comment long term money to that. Now hopefully Beal can do that for them and push them that little bit further but either way you’ve added a bunch of picks for the future in case he doesn’t deliver also. Tatum and Beal and long time friends, Beal I believe is a better ball handler, bigger offensive threat and has come up big in clutch time previously.
Knicks do amazing with Brunson Grimes Brown Randle Robinson. Brown is perfect as a 20-30 points per game guy in combination with Brunson and Randle. He can play second fiddle having done so his whole career but can occasionally be the guy and have a big night. I think he sets the Knicks up to be a playoff calibre team every season and compete with the Sixers in the second tier of top teams in the east.
Washington also I think love this deal. They get out of Beals deal, they get younger with RJ Barrett in return, Al Horford is a great fit with KP to help be that veteran leader and help the defence. Then lastly Obi Toppin gets a fresh start and can have a major impact coming off the bench for them.
Randle, Barret, Robinson for Brown,R Williams and Kornet. Then trade Brodgon and picks for a Good PG. Maybe trade for Fulks
Knicks make the playoffs and you want them to gut their team. Celtics have a couple good post season runs and gut their team. Why?
Make it simpler and reshuffle the deck like I said
I could debate almost every point you’ve made but just a couple, three outlandish things. Al Horford would retire if the Celtics traded him which they won’t. He loves it here & we love him. And the Celtics sure don’t want Bradley Beal, a short 6’3″ guard, & then pay him big bucks for what he’s already done. WTH? Let some other team get sucked into that downward whirlwind. And Jaylen Brown was just pressured & pushed into saying something, anything, by the sports press & then his words were mangled & misquoted. He’s already said he’ll clear that up.
And why would this wonderfully put together Boston Celtics team retool anyway? I can’t even read the rest of your stuff, beyond suggesting once again, please stay away from our Celtics. But since you won’t stop, have at it. As long as you keep posting, these bloggers and yourself are happy, so guess it’s all good! Go Celtics!
I agree with all very questionable but I feel most trades and offseason moves aren’t perfect and have doubts.
Just quickly to go back at a couple things you’ve said, only Al Horford could say if he would retire or not. I think in terms of fit he’s be terrific for them. What KP lacks in defence Horford would help with and what Horford lacks in athleticism these days KP would cover with his height a lot of the time. They are both interchangeable between the 4 and 5 spots and would work really well.
As for Beal, I think they fall short in the playoffs and looking over that roster it’s really defensive heavy and what they could do with is another elite scorer and ball handler. Yes Beal is a small 2, and has a huge deal but I think once they fall short again they will be looking at improvements and he will be an option. I think Jaylen has been pretty clear with what he’s said. He doesn’t like a lot of the racism and things he’s heard being a Celtic and in terms of business opportunities he doesn’t think being in Boston is the best place. It’s not like he came out and said he loves the place and wants to stay forever.
Considering he needs an extension I think there will be some big internal discussions on what figure they think is good for him and if they do think they can get it done with him.
I just think they will retool because they don’t think what they have now gets them a title and they will question the brown extension and Horford age and Rob Will injury history and Grant Will also needing and extension.
Obviously they could just continue to run it back over and over but they weren’t afraid to retool and trade IT when he was in his peak either
That deal makes no sense from a Wizards perspective. They give up their best player, a 1st and two 2nds, and Deni and in return all they get is RJ’s massive contract, Obi (who has yet to prove really anything in the league), and old Al Horford? The Celtics would need to include picks, not the Wizards. I know people are down on Beal but he’s still a great, efficient scorer and is worth more than RJ, Obi and Horford on his own.
Boston isn’t trading Brown to the Knicks. They’re not making a move like that within the division.
Play him and we will SEE ……. the production.
Ok so how long have I been saying it. Thibs stop the BSing and just play him while Julius gets right ……. How long. Who knows this team best ……
“He has played in 198 total games, but in 12 career starts, Toppin has averaged 19.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 58.1 percent from the floor.
Playing at least 30 minutes eight different times in his career, Toppin has averaged 24.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 57.4 percent from the floor.
The fact of the matter here is that when Obi Toppin plays and sees his minutes increase, the New York Knicks see massive production from their young forward.
Obviously his minutes will increase with the absence of Julius Randle, but looking at the big picture here, the Knicks have found something with Toppin’s recent play.”
Just play him, please.
All about this yr and the playoffs. Knicks still rebuilding. Haven’t done anything yet. Until you start winning in playoffs. I’d rather trade Randle. But I doubt they’ll do that.
I don’t remember if Jalen Brunson made the All-Star team or not but he should have. What a stupid move it was for Dallas to trade Brunson. He’s made NY into a different and better team. When the Knicks need a clutch basket, Jalen drives, stops, shifts and scores in the paint. Wow!
They didn’t have a choice. At least they got something for him.
Brunson deserves the award. He should have been an all star. He’s playing great right now. Never new he was this kind of scorer. I saw him in college. Jalen got game…..