Knicks Edge Wizards for Ugly Win
Jalen Brunson played 40 minutes of superb offensive basketball. His 34 points came on 50% shooting from both inside and outside the arc. Jalen contributed 8 boards to go with his 8 assists and 1 TO. Brunson led the team with a +19. No question, this and most nights, he is the man.
Only Quentin Grimes had an off shooting night, going 2 – 10, 1 – 7. But Quentin still managed a +12, along with Jules and Hart. The other bright spot of the evening was the performance of RJ Barrett. He was 7 – 13, 1 – 3, 2 – 4 for 17 points. Once Barrett stopped hoping to be bailed out by the refs on ill-advised drives, his shot selection was really solid. But the highlight of RJ’s night was his five personal’s. Golly Miss Molly, can RJ Barrett become a relentless defender, even if he isn’t all that good at D?
The seemingly cohesive play that has led to the hope that the Young Knicks new found chemistry will carry them to 6th place in the East. Excellent team chemistry is a combination of mutual respect and trust. Randle is an exceptional offensive player, Mitch is his counter part on the defensive end and Quentin Grimes also excels on D with a solid J and very good passing skills. IQ is Grimes in reverse, a better scorer with good defensive instincts. Jalen Brunson is the powerful engine that drives the train. The enigma is RJ Barrett. He was a super star at 16 and has seen his peers catch up, and some pass him. Barrett no longer excels in any particular aspect of the game. RJ is capable of being a valuable contributor on offense and the boards. His lack of athleticism and questionable IQ (or exaggerated ego) limit his effectiveness on defense. These are six players who can blend their skills sets to become a top six team. The Knicks bench, with either IQ or RJ as sixth man, is also competitive.
Ahem…. However, there was a faint shadow of a developing problem in the Wizards game. Judging by the box score, the players filled their roles quite well. Nothing egregious took place that would emphasize potential discord. But their may be a burgeoning sibling rivalry among key players.
Is it chronic Knick paranoia, simply a mirage brought on by the Knicks unexpected success, or are our worst fears beginning to surface? There seemed to be a reluctance on the part of certain players to make the obvious pass to certain team mates. This game calls for a second viewing to assay this more thoroughly.
Box score: https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401468777