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.
The Knicks Scrape By The Nets: Is A Win A Win?
Jan 21, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) box out for a rebound in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz/Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Is a win a win?
That was the question I found myself asking after the New York Knicks escaped the L̶o̶n̶g̶ I̶s̶l̶a̶n̶d̶ Brooklyn Nets 99-95.
No Cam Thomas, Dennis Schroeder and Dorian Finney-Smith shipped off to greener pastures, a team that has lost 17 of their last 20. By all accounts the Knicks should have won by 30.
The glass half full version is New York ultimately take care of business against bad teams sporting a 17-3 record in 20 games against sub-.500 opponents.
It just rarely looks as easy as it should in games where the Knicks have an immense and obvious talent advantage. I think back to the excitement we were all feeling this time a year ago when the Knicks were in the midst of a 14-2 January, and tying a historically dominant Boston Celtics team for the best net rating any team had in any month the entire season. And did it against elite competition beating the Wolves by 6, the healthy Sixers by 36, the Nuggets with Jokic by 38, the hated Heat by 16.
THAT is what a title contender is suppose to look like and this team while being very good by any reasonable standard has yet to hit the night to night dominance you see from the great ones.
There are a myriad of reasons for that, the frustrating part in trying to pinpoint solutions is that those reasons are rarely consistent.
A lot went right for the Knicks in this game. After their last 10 opponents had largely bombed away with startling accuracy and impunity from three the Knicks held the Nets to just 12 makes. OG Anunoby looked more like himself defensively than he has in in months any time he’s not playing the Raptors, with one particularly dismissive block on Cam Johnson being a highlight. He also poured in 20 points mostly around the rim including one really nice between the legs shoulder bump drive that was reminiscent of his fantastic stretch of aggression to start the season
Karl-Anthony Towns despite battling through a bone fragment in his thumb and in turn losing arguably his most potent weapon in his three point shot (0-3 last night, now 1-9 since returning from the injury) was dominant with 25 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks consistently cleaning up misses against the undersized Nets.
Jalen Brunson was elite down the stretch after a poor shooting day scoring or assisting on 10 of the Knicks final 12 points.
Josh Hart had his usual litany of sports movie role player hero moments including a crucial rebound and time out while tip toeing the sideline and at 6'4 is not tied for the NBA rebounding lead in the month of January.
Yet the team was plagued by poor or non-existent boxouts on Nic Claxton giving up 10 offensive rebounds in the second half and largely horrid shooting in the fourth hitting just one field goal over the first eight minutes of the final quarter.
Tom Thibodeau also once again refused to lean into the bench that carried the Knicks to a lead in the 2nd quarter with Cam Payne again not seeing a minute in the 2nd half after another largely excellent 1st half stretch.
There’s no question this team has special components. Will they ever be a special whole? That’s still to be determined.
A midseason report for seasons to come: part three
Jan 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. | Rick Osentoski/Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
I’m far from being an insider (mostly I like sleep too much, and those guys never do), but there’s information you glean just from being proximal to the game. There are trends in questions and answers from coaches and players, plus recurring conversations with fellow media, team staff, scouts and agents. When alongside the pulse of NBA basketball, you pick up its reverberations.
One big, undeniable beat I’ve picked up on this season is the growing awareness that vey soon we’re going to start losing perennial stars. I say “we” and not only the league because the realization really does feel collective. Case in point, when the topic of the Warriors dynasty drawing to a slow, potentially quiet close comes up, it’s never solely in relation to the team.
The decline of Golden State is always held alongside the state of the league as a whole, either what it means for competition or in broader strokes, how the mechanics of the game itself will change without a dominant Steph Curry. And that detail is never explicitly mentioned. Even the most primetime of pundits have a reticence to predict when we’ll see the last of Curry, as if giving it consideration is a kind of jinx.
The counter to that is LeBron James, who cannot be discussed enough in relation to his retirement, but that endless guessing feels safe because James has proved prediction wrong so many times in what were meant to be his quieting seasons.
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 Jalen Green becomes the face of his longtime favorite brand, Stone Island. (High Snobriety)
Fans The Knicks community is buzzing with excitement over the unique hairstyles sported by players. This special edition of “Who Wore It Best” dives into the most memorable cuts, celebrating the individuality and flair of Knicks stars. (Posting and Toasting)
Watch Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns delivered an electrifying performance as the Knicks edged past the Nets. Watch the exciting highlights of this thrilling matchup that kept fans on the edge of their seats. (Bleacher Report)
Analysis Despite some challenges, the New York Knicks have managed to secure a solid midseason grade, reflecting their resilience and competitive spirit. Their performance remains a key focus as they aim to climb the standings. Midseason grades offer insights into their season. (CBS Sports)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Five NBA Players to Buy Low in Fantasy Basketball
Jan 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) stands on the court after meeting with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) before the start of the game at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson/Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
As we approach the midpoint of the NBA season, it’s time to reassess our fantasy basketball strategies. Today, I’m sharing insights on five players who are prime candidates for “buy low” opportunities in your leagues.
Paolo Banchero tops our list. The Orlando Magic forward is currently the 79th ranked player, well below his potential. His shooting percentages are down, and he’s only averaging 21 points per game since returning from injury. However, I believe Banchero is a top 40 player in points leagues and has room for significant improvement. Don’t be fooled by his current struggles – this is an excellent time to acquire him at a discount.
Next up is Evan Mobley. The Cleveland Cavaliers big man is dealing with a calf strain, which has impacted his recent performance. His defensive stats and usage are down, but this presents a perfect buy-low scenario. Mobley is a third-round talent you might be able to snag for a fourth-round price. While there’s some injury risk, the potential reward outweighs it.
Mikal Bridges And The New York Knicks ANNIHILATE The Memphis Grizzlies
The New York Knicks decimated the Memphis Grizzlies with a commanding 143-106 victory, showcasing their ridiculously high two-way ceiling. Mikal Bridges delivered an exceptional performance, locking down Ja Morant on one end and showing the full breadth of his offensive game on the other. OG Anunoby’s defensive prowess and Karl-Anthony Towns’ strong second-half performance were pivotal, while the Knicks’ bench players, including Precious Achiuwa and Deuce McBride, contributed significantly to the win in their best collective performance of the season. Gavin Schall and Alex Wolfe break down the Knicks’ most complete game of the season highlighting key moments and player contributions that could redefine their year.
The Knicks DEMOLISH the Kings In One Of Their Best Offensive Games This Season
Alex goes solo to break down the Knicks 143-120 win over the Kings, one where the Knicks’ offense reached some of its highest highs of this season. Josh Hart notched yet another triple-double, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges both cooked on the same night, and Jalen Brunson showed his floor general chops with another brilliant passing night.
Jalen Brunson And Karl-Anthony Towns Are All-Star Starters! Are They Top 15 Players In The League?
Gavin Schall and Alex Wolfe celebrate the Knicks having two All-Star starters for the first time in 50 years! They breakdown the vote and some surprising finishes for the other Knicks before asking a very important question. Are Brunson and KAT both Top 15 players in the league?
