Knicks Outpaced by OKC

Another short sighted suggestion for improving the Knicks record goes by the wayside. Against the Celts and the Thunder the Knicks’ offense ran wild. Their pace was amazing. They lost both games. Boston was missing Al Horford and Robert Williams III, so it was understandable that the game plan was to live or die by the three. The Celts put up 51 threes and hit 27 for 53%. Boston was an NBA finalist.

OKC is a very young team. The Thunder has a budding star in Josh Giddey, a legit star in SGA and three guys named Williams. They came to MSFG with a 5 – 7 record. The Thunder we heard at the Garden was the Knicks 48 first quarter points. They “shocked the world”. Then OKC unleashed its Thunder, two 43 point quarters. The game wasn’t as close as the final 145- 135 score would indicate. The visitors shot 67% (38/57) inside the arc, 55% (27/51) from deep, a combined .625 on 55 of 88. At the Knick buffet, Defense is Swiss cheese.

The contrast with the loss to the Nets couldn’t be greater. Edmond Sumner and Royce O’Neale shackled Brunson and Barrett and the Knick offense fell apart. Two of the big tree were missing in action. Julius Randle led the team with 24 points and a +/- of -29. The Knicks lost by 27.

The spin always avoids the truth, this Knick team is not capable of winning. The talent is heavily weighted to the offensive side. These players are not invested in playing D. In other words, they may be invested in their individual accomplishments, but not in winning. Wanting to win and needing to win are rather far apart.