New York Knicks: Grades and reactions to yet another blowout loss

With yet another blowout loss on Tuesday night, the New York Knicks dropped to 2-9.

The New York Knicks should have felt pressure to win after an unprecedented press conference by the front office following Sunday’s blowout loss to the Cavaliers. Steve Mills and Scott Perry spoke to reporters after that embarrassing defeat and made it clear that while they were happy with the coaching staff and the players they had chosen, they felt the team was not performing the way that they (including owner James Dolan) thought they should be.

They decided to watch the team over the next ten games. So what do the Knicks do? Suffer yet another blowout loss.

If New York felt any pressure, it was not obvious by how they played in the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 85 after a Bobby Portis buzzer-beater to end the third, the Knicks’ defense disappeared. All evening the interior defense was shaky but Coby White, the Bulls’ rookie guard, scored 21 points, on seven three-pointers. Where was their perimeter defense?

This was not a hard game to grade at all. No one besides rookie RJ Barrett, deserves anything more than Cs. Why? The Knicks did what is becoming their habit: they fell apart and lost.

If only Barrett could make a free throw, his grade would have risen.

Throughout the game, the rookie guard hustled for his team. If the Knicks had pulled out the win, it would definitely in part be due to him, playing 31 minutes along the way for 21 points on eight of 16 shooting, two of four on three-pointers, and he actually hit three of six free throws. Six rebounds, nine assists, and two steals gave the rookie guard a +7 for the night. Had he made all of his free throws, he would have had a definite A+.

I am convinced at this point that the $63 million man needs a time-out. It’s getting tiresome watching him gum up the middle, looking for fouls that are never coming. Instead of defending the interior he either turns the ball over or is giving fouls on the other end of the floor.

For the night, Randle played 36 minutes, had 17 points on five of 15 shooting, one of five from three-point range, six of nine from the free-throw line, six rebounds, three assists, two turnovers, and five personal fouls.

Although Morris led the team in scoring, his 22 points did not help his team when he committed six turnovers. He struggled, getting those 22 points on six of 17 shooting, including three of nine from three-point range, seven of nine from the free-throw line one assist and six turnovers. Morris is very vocal in attempting to uplift the team. It works better when it’s shown on the floor.

Unfortunately, the Frank Ntilikina that appeared during the Mavericks game has gone on vacation because he just was not there tonight. After 28 minutes, he contributed three points on one of four shooting including one of two from the free-throw line. One rebound, four assists, three steals, and two turnovers are not going to keep him in the running as the starting point guard once Elfrid Payton returns.

Taj Gibson played 25 minutes, had 17 points, on eight of 10 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, and four personal fouls. This will not do for a veteran who should understand the magnitude of discontent coming from the front office.

Other Takeaways

• Coby White, the Bulls rookie point guard, hit seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Knicks provided no perimeter defense even after White had hit three in a row, all uncontested.
• Knicks are lacking the urgency needed to win games. They are not consistent in their shooting, it doesn’t seem as though they’re concerned with the number of free throws they miss. Tonight they were 20 of 31 from the free-throw line.
• Bobby Portis played 19 minutes and had seven points and three rebounds.
• Allonzo Trier, Damyean Dotson, and Ignas Brazdeikis played but had no effect on the outcome of the game.
• Mitchell Robinson is still in concussion protocol. Payton is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
• Dennis Smith, Jr. returned to the floor, played 14 minutes and didn’t score. He added four personal fouls.

The New York Knicks return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 8:00 pm.