After an impressive regular season that led to him being a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, New York Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley finished second behind Boston’s Malcolm Brogdon. The 30-year-old won the award in his first season as a Celtic.
Quickley put together quite the resume, but there was conflict about the 21 games that he started while Brogdon started in none. However, there’s been several times in the past where Sixth Man winners started in a similar number of games (or more) than IQ’s 21, such as Lou Williams in 2017-18.
People had no problem giving Lou Williams the 6MOY just 5 years ago when he started 19 games.
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) April 13, 2023
Now Quickley starts 21 games, and it hurts his case? Insane. pic.twitter.com/ah5UveIn9U
Hey, although Quickley came up short with 34 first-place votes in comparison to Brogdon’s 60, MSG could get a show from the guard in Game 3 of the playoffs. He was a disappointment in the first two games, but that could change later tonight.
Julius Randle is in the midst of his second playoff run with the Knicks in three seasons. After battling a sprained left ankle at the end of the regular season and taking a hard fall late in Game 2, he still said that he’s “having the most fun” of his career.
"I'm having the most fun that I've had in my 9-year career in the league. ... This is what you work so hard for."
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 20, 2023
Julius Randle on how much he enjoys the challenge of the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/iPw4Hw3toF
More Knicks news
- Game 3 of the Knicks-Cavaliers first-round series will tip-off on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on MSG Network as well as ABC.
- Cedi Osman (ankle sprain) is listed as questionable for Knicks-Cavaliers Game 3.
- When Julius Randle was asked how he feels after taking a hard fall in Game 2, he said that his kids have beat him up worse.
NBA news
- Philadelphia’s James Harden and Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton were both ejected from the Sixers’ 102-97 Game 3 win. If Philadelphia wins on Saturday, they will advance to the second round to face the winner of the Boston-Atlanta series.
- Kawhi Leonard (right knee sprain) missed Game 3 of Clippers-Suns on Thursday night. Los Angeles was without Leonard and Paul George.
- Milwaukee matched a playoff record of 25 made three-pointers in an NBA playoff game in Wednesday’s 138-122 win over Miami. The Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was out with a back contusion.
- After the Grizzlies’ 103-93 Game 2 win over the Lakers, Dillon Brooks had this to say about LeBron James: “I don’t care, he’s old.” The two were going at it for the majority of the evening and that will surely continue in Game 3 in LA on Saturday.
3 Things Knicks desperately need to leave behind in hideous playoff defeat
The Knicks got steamrolled by the Cavaliers in Game 2, 107-90. Hopefully, a completely different New York team will show up for Game 3.