Knicks
Sometimes a game isn’t competitive because the Knicks shellac their opponent.
With four straight wins, the Knicks have clearly overcome their post-championship hangover. They have held opponents under 100 points in five of their first 10 games, and their 107.3 defensive rating is the fifth-best in the NBA.
The Knicks defeated the 1-10 Milwaukee Bucks 117-85 yesterday in the first game of a home-home back-to-back. The defending champions showcased their strength and speed against a rebuilding Bucks team that traded Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After a 0-3 start, the Knicks are 6-4. On Saturday, they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-97 in another non-competitive affair. The Knicks’ deep bench, which includes three viable backup point guards, positions them for long-term success.
The competition for reps has been tight behind Jalen Brunson, who regularly leads the Knicks in scoring. He scored 23 points against Milwaukee last night and eclipsed 11,000 career points.
Last year, the Knicks traded for Jose Alvarado at the deadline to back up Brunson. With his defense and pace, Alvarado quickly became a force off the bench. He played a critical role in the Knicks’ historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
But when Alvarado sprained his left ankle in the third game of the season, Tyler Kolek’s role expanded. Kolek, the former Marquette star who set the school’s single-game assists record, was an instant fan favorite in New York. He broke out against the Cavaliers on Christmas Day last season, leading the team with nine assists and a +24 rating as they overcame a 17-point deficit.
When Alvarado got hurt on October 25, head coach Mike Brown promoted Kolek to Brunson’s primary backup. He answered the call immediately with a 20-assist, zero-turnover stretch. Last night, he led the bench with 12 points and 4 assists in 15 minutes.
Recently, Kolek has gained a lot of attention outside of basketball for calling Taylor Swift the fastest celebrity fan to join the Knicks bandwagon last season. His comments were so controversial that the Knicks put out a statement about Swift, who allegedly got married at MSG.
“Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden, and we are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organization,” the Knicks proclaimed.
Back to basketball— Kolek has the NBA’s second-best assist-to-turnover ratio. His efficiency has been a bright spot for a Knicks team that struggled to handle the ball early in the season, but now commits the Association’s fourth-fewest turnovers per game.
Kolek joins Andre Drummond as a primary backup. Drummond supports Karl-Anthony Towns at center. Last night, he had 14 rebounds in under 16 minutes. Meanwhile, Towns had a 21-point double-double, his 10th straight to start the season. He needs one more to tie Willis Reed’s 56-year-old franchise record.
“Our group, they were pretty efficient tonight,” Brown said. “I thought our physicality on the defensive end of the floor was at a pretty high level, and they did it the right way. They did it without fouling, which was a lot of fun to watch.”
The Knicks were fouled 13 times while the Bucks committed 25. They also had an 11-4 second-chance points advantage and held Milwaukee to 38% shooting. McBride continues to regain his rhythm off the bench, and the Knicks outscored Milwaukee by 39 points with him on the floor.
“The point-of-attack defense, with Landry [Shamet] and especially Deuce [McBride] on the ball, was unbelievable. Deuce was our defensive player of the game. Could have gone to Landry as well. But just a fantastic job at the point of the screen in pick-and-rolls.”
Josh Hart has missed a few games with ankle soreness and an illness, so Shamet has filled in. He has been excellent on both sides of the ball, especially from three-point range. The Knicks rank seventh in the NBA in three-pointers per game, and Shamet and Anunoby are tied for the Knicks’ second-most threes per game.
The Knicks look to continue their winning streak tonight at the Garden (7 PM, 6 PM CST – MSG, ESPN, DAZN, ESPN App). They will face Cleveland for the second time in five days.
Schedule
7:12 PM (6:12 PM CST): NYK vs. CLE; MSG, ESPN, DAZN, ESPN App
7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST): NYR at CGY; MSGSN, DAZN
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Knicks
