New York Knicks Wrapped: Looking Back on Calendar Year 2021
By Max Hoover
Play of the Year: Reggie Bullock Corner Three against the Pelicans
The Knicks had won five in a row but found themselves in a dog fight on Sunday, April 18th against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Knicks were down by six with just 1:48 to play.
They were still down three with 4.3 seconds left to play when Derrick Rose blew by Eric Bledsoe driving toward the rim. Lonzo Ball inexplicably but briefly left Reggie Bullock alone in the corner.
Rose passed it out, Bullock connected, and the Knicks forced overtime. The Knicks controlled the extra period and notched their sixth straight win.
As well all know by now, that streak would grow to nine consecutive wins before losing to the eventual Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns.
There were plenty of special moments throughout that winning streak, but this one felt especially important.
It was the moment where things really clicked for me about how special last year’s team was.
They just refused to lose that game.
Honorable Mention: Julius Randle chase-down block on Giannis Antetokounmpo
This play from Sunday, December 12th may seem innocuous and unimportant enough, but it was the perfect microcosm of Julius Randle’s play for the 2021-2022 season.
It starts with Randle turning the ball over on offense attempting to post-up Khris Middleton. What we’ve seen at points from Randle this year after turnovers is a casual stroll back to the defensive end.
That’s not what happened here. Here, Randle furiously chases down and blocks arguably the best finisher in the game and the reigning NBA Finals MVP.
It’s the inconsistency that has killed the Knicks, and Randle specifically, this year. The team will need to rediscover their best selves to turn this thing around.