Gavin Schall and Alex Wolfe here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Knicks podcast, with your daily Locked On Knicks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Knicks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Knicks’ Commanding Victory and Strategic Player Management: A Blueprint for Success
Nov 18, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) talks to New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during a foul shot during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images|Brad Penner/Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks recently delivered a resounding performance against the Washington Wizards, securing a victory with a nearly 30-point margin. This dominant display comes at a pivotal moment as the team’s schedule begins to ease, providing a prime opportunity to build momentum and solidify their standing in the league. The Knicks’ ability to maintain such dominance while effectively managing player minutes underscores their strategic depth and planning.
Masterful Management of Starters’ Minutes
In this particular matchup, the Knicks demonstrated a keen understanding of player management, allowing their starters to rest more than usual. Mikal Bridges logged the most minutes among the starters, playing just over 34 minutes. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been nursing a knee contusion, was able to get a little time off, playing just 25 minutes. This careful management is especially significant given the recent back-to-back games, ensuring that key players remain fresh and ready for more challenging encounters.
The coaching staff, led by Tom Thibodeau, has made it clear that garbage time is not an opportunity for development but rather a period to maintain the team’s dominance. This approach led the Knicks to preserve their substantial lead and secure a comfortable victory, even if it meant curtailing the minutes of some bench players. Thibodeau’s philosophy emphasizes the importance of maintaining intensity and focus, regardless of the game’s status.
Elevated Passing Game: A Key to Offensive Success
One of the most encouraging aspects of the Knicks’ recent performances has been their improved passing efficiency. Against the Wizards, the team recorded a season-high 37 assists, marking the seventh time in 14 games they have surpassed the 30-assist mark. This enhancement in ball movement is a promising development, signaling a shift away from a stagnant “your turn, my turn” style to a more fluid and dynamic offensive approach. The Knicks are now ranked ninth in the NBA for assists per game, steadily closing in on the league leaders.
Jalen Brunson has been instrumental in this passing renaissance, contributing 11 assists alongside his 26 points in the game. His ability to distribute the ball with precision and vision is elevating the team’s offensive capabilities to new heights. Brunson’s chemistry with Towns in pick-and-roll situations is particularly noteworthy, showcasing the potential of this dynamic duo to create scoring opportunities and disrupt opposing defenses.
Strategic Outlook: Capitalizing on Upcoming Opportunities
Looking ahead, the Knicks’ upcoming schedule presents a valuable opportunity to further solidify their position in the league. With games against on-the-ropes opponents such as the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Toronto Raptors, the Knicks have a chance to build on their current form and continue their ascent in the standings. The strategic rest afforded to key players like Towns will be crucial as they prepare to face these challenges, ensuring they are at peak performance levels.
For those seeking more in-depth analysis and insights into the Knicks’ strategies and performances, the Locked On Knicks podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of these topics and more. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the team’s dynamics and future prospects.
Additional Highlights from Today’s Locked On Knicks Podcast:
- Jalen Brunson’s evolving role and its impact on the Knicks’ offensive strategy
- An analysis of Karl-Anthony Towns’ recovery process and recent performances
- Examination of the Knicks’ bench dynamics and potential rotation adjustments
- A detailed breakdown of the upcoming schedule and key matchups to watch
The Sixers are no longer just bad, they’re cornered
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center|Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Look, I held off as long as I could, told myself it was only an awkward start. I looked to silver linings, to the tendency that things going wrong for this long tend to right themselves. I looked to the surrounding conditions for clues and when none revealed themselves, I decided to stay positive but now, it’s time: time to talk about the Philadelphia 76ers.
Beyond what Sixers fans know intimately and don’t need reiterated (things are bad), the mood around the franchise is starting to feel closer to cornered than merely frustrated. Last night, after a third quarter collapse against the Heat in Miami, the Sixers held a postgame meeting that lasted over an hour. The game already had a bizarre feel to it, Philly led by 19 before being down 20, and Joel Embiid went from being listed as doubtful to starting. No one on the Sixers roster looked especially comfortable, a trend that’s emerged throughout the team’s first full month of regular season play.
Slipping now to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with a record of 2-11 I still feel the need to double check as I write this, one thing has become abundantly clear — the Sixers don’t have room to hedge.
There’s no scapegoat to pin the team’s shoddy performance on, not this early in the season. Even when healthy, and Embiid, George and Maxey are on the floor together, it’s been for naught. Both the teams wins came in arduous overtime, one without George and both without Embiid. The Sixers win against the Hornets was missing Maxey completely.
Here’s a problem I’ve wondered about since Daryl Morey landed George in what was declared an undisputed win for the franchise and the best move of the offseason — what about Philadelphia’s role players? To clear the books for cap space enough to sign George, Daryl Morey liquidated the team’s working roster — 13 of the team’s 15 man squad became free agents. Tobias Harrias and Nicolas Batum may not be spring chickens in NBA terms, but they provided the mechanical support the Sixers are now woefully lacking. This isn’t the Sixers only problem, that much has been made clear, but it’s a big one.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Biz Former NBA stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are looking to buy a minority stake in the NFL’s Buffalo Bills (CityTV)
Must Read Knicks forward OG Anunoby says he’s tired of being known for his defensive prowess. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Analysis With the Knicks clicking at the right moment, the upcoming road trip will be a critical test. Can they maintain their momentum? (New York Post)
Personnel In a fiery response, the Knicks reject the NBA’s accusations about Rick Brunson’s promotion being tied to Jalen’s contract. (Posting and Toasting)
3peat (ICYMI)
Jalen Brunson And Karl-Anthony Towns Help The Knicks Torch The Phoenix Suns
Jalen Brunson loves to play in Phoenix and he made sure the rest of his Knicks teammates had fun as well. A year after dropping 50 in the Valley Of The Sun, Brunson had a little more help this time around combining with Karl-Anthony Towns for 70 points as the Knicks rode a red hot 1st quarter to a 138-122 win. Alex Wolfe and Gavin Schall break down the scalding start, Brunson’s shooting and passing leap, Josh Hart shooting with confidence, KAT breaking down opposing bigs, Mikal finding some confidence, the Knicks struggles to rotate on defense and some updates and insights from Tom Thibodeau.
Something Or Nothing: Does The Knicks Defense Actually Suck? + Can Mikal Bridges Find His Shot?
Gavin Schall and Alex Wolfe play a new Knicks theme’d version of “Something Or Nothing?” by running through six stats/trends (and one conspiracy theory) that have defined the team’s early season. Is the defense really this bad? Did Mikal Bridges really forget how to shoot threes while becoming Kevin Durant in the mid-range? Has Josh Hart transformed into an elite pick and roll operator?
The Knicks Cruise Past the Wizards | Are They Clicking At Just the Right Time?
Alex goes solo to break down the Knicks’ drubbing of the Wizards, including huge performances from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, some much-needed rest for the starters, and the continued emergence of Pacome Dadiet as the Knicks approach a very winnable part of their schedule.
