Gavin Schall here, the host 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 Triumph Over Hawks: Brunson and Bridges Lead the Charge
Jan 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket in front of Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta/Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks secured a satisfying 119-110 victory against the Atlanta Hawks, showcasing their resilience and strategic prowess against a team that came into the day with a 6-1 record vs. the East’s top three seeds, including two wins vs. the Knicks this season. Jalen Brunson led the charge with an impressive 34-point performance, demonstrating his ability to dominate even against tough defenders like Dyson Daniels.
Brunson’s efficiency was remarkable, shooting 12 of 18 from the field and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. His ability to draw fouls and create opportunities for himself and his teammates was on full display. This game served as a reminder of why Brunson is considered a top-10 player in the NBA, capable of dismantling even the most formidable defensive matchups.
The Villanova Trio Shines
While Brunson’s performance was stellar, the entire Villanova trio made significant contributions to the win. Mikal Bridges, in particular, had a standout game, effectively exploiting mismatches against Trae Young. Coach Tom Thibodeau’s strategy of targeting Young defensively paid dividends, as Bridges used his height advantage to create scoring opportunities near the basket.
Bridges finished with 26 points in just 27 minutes of play, showcasing his versatility with a mix of cuts to the rim, pull-up jumpers, and post-up plays. His defensive efforts were equally impressive, particularly in containing Young’s offensive output in the second half.
Josh Hart contributed 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in a typical well-rounded effort full of hustle plays.
Thibodeau’s Tactical Triumph
Coach Thibodeau deserves credit for his game plan, which focused on exploiting Young’s defensive weaknesses. By consistently involving Young in defensive actions, the Knicks created mismatches and scoring opportunities throughout the game. This strategy not only boosted the team’s offensive output but also disrupted the Hawks’ rhythm.
The victory holds particular significance as the Hawks have been formidable against top Eastern Conference teams this season. With the potential for a playoff matchup looming, this win provides a blueprint for future success against Atlanta.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ Return
Karl-Anthony Towns made his return to the lineup, and while his shooting was off (5 of 18 from the field), his impact was felt in other areas. Towns’ defensive efforts, particularly in switching onto Young, were noteworthy. His presence on the court opened up new offensive possibilities, including some intriguing plays where he acted as the primary ball-handler.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Knicks’ victory over the Hawks, tune into the Locked On Knicks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Knicks Podcast:
• Josh Hart’s consistent performance and impact on the game
• The emerging bench unit and its potential
• Deuce McBride’s promising performance and his chemistry with Karl-Anthony Towns
Jan 19, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Paycom Center. | Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Back with the second half of our midseason report specifically focusing on changes with a farther reaching affect than just this season. A midseason report adjusted for inflation, if you will. If you missed the first half, you can find it here.
Shifting hardware
If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes home the MVP trophy this season (as predicted in this newsletter back in mid-October), we’re in for a shift. While merit for the award comes down to performance, it also hinges on a slew of other factors, and some of those skew intangible.
The pool of MVP candidates, season-to-season, stays largely the same because athletes who are that good tend to stay good for stable stretches of time and because once someone has gained our attention, we don’t tend to shift it. We’re creatures of habit, and the people tasked with MVP voting are, too.
Thunder fans have been banging the SGA drum for seasons now, but it’s just this year that he’s finally managed to break through into the broader collective consciousness. We give a lot of weight to the concept of “readiness”, as in, when young athletes break through an invisible barrier and are able to handle some combination of the spotlight, leadership responsibilities, consistent high-level competition, and yes, award consideration.
The reality of readiness is that it’s mostly reached through repetition. Occasionally that’s accelerated through a trade — Henry Abbott at TrueHoop wrote a compelling case on how this could be true for Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr.
Household names get that way because we’ve said them so many times, not because some invisible cue or professional marker was met.
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.
Home and Away
Analysis The Sixers and Suns’ struggles won’t end “Big Threes” in the NBA. (Forbes)
Watch Inside the NBA: On MLK Day, a look back at the movement to overcome. (ESPN)
Roster Exploring why Cameron Payne needs more playing time, Posting and Toasting dives into his potential contributions and strategic fit. (Posting and Toasting)
Analysis The midseason report card evaluates the Knicks’ rookie class, providing detailed grades and insights on their performances.(Bleacher Report)
Preview The Battle of New York. The Knicks head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets at 7:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Tuesday Fantasy Basketball Preview: Streaming Options and Injury Updates
Jan 11, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) dunks the basketball during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen/Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
As we look ahead to Tuesday’s NBA action, there are several key storylines and player situations to monitor. With five games on the schedule, fantasy managers have some interesting decisions to make regarding lineups and streaming options.
The Brooklyn Nets are dealing with multiple injury concerns. Ben Simmons is probable to return from illness, while D’Angelo Russell is questionable with hamstring tightness. This creates uncertainty around playing time and roles. Nic Claxton’s value is also in question due to inconsistent minutes and performance. For streaming purposes, Noah Clowney could be worth a look if Simmons sits.
One of the biggest spots to watch is what Miami does with rookie big man Kel’el Ware. Ware started the second half last game, next to Bam Adebayo, and is a guy to grab in case he begins a run of being a starter.
In Orlando, the Magic will be without Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Goga Bitadze. This opens up opportunities for Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony to see increased usage. Both are solid streaming options in most formats for Tuesday’s matchup against Toronto.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast:
• Schedule analysis for the upcoming week
• Five-game and two-game team outlooks
• Deeper league streaming targets
3peat (ICYMI)
NBA East Squad: Luka Doncic Shocking Trade, Jimmy Butler Rumors, and a Bulls Full Reset
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Eastern Conference Squad Show, hosts Sean Woodley, Tony East, Danny Cunningham, Wes Goldberg, and others discuss the shocking Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers. They analyze the Mavericks’ decision-making process and potential motivations behind the trade. The conversation shifts to Eastern Conference trade rumors, focusing on Jimmy Butler’s potential move from the Miami Heat. The panel explores possible destinations for Butler and speculates on other teams’ trade deadline strategies, including the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire round where hosts predict player-team pairings for the upcoming trade deadline, offering insights into potential moves across the league.
Jalen Brunson ANNIHILATES The Houston Rockets In A Big New York Knicks Win
Gavin Schall is joined by Geoff Rasmussen the co-host of the fantastic Hot Hand Theory Podcast to discuss Jalen Brunson’s heroics in a thrilling Knicks win over the Houston Rockets. Gavin and Geoff dive deep into a lineup change that helped key Brunson’s electric final minutes, the health, play and long term plan for Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges propping up the Knicks with his two way play and a scintillating 1st half run for Ariel Hukporti.
OG Anunoby Seemingly Avoids Serious Injury... And LUKA IS A LAKER???
Alex and Gavin break down the weekend that was for the Knicks, which featured a let-down loss to the Lakers and an OG Anunoby injury scare -- luckily, one that seems to be more of the “sprain” variety than something more severe. But first, the guys need to talk about maybe the most shocking NBA trade of all time, with Luka Doncic going to the Lakers and Anthony Davis heading to the Mavericks.
