Mitchell Robinson debuts and Knicks defeat Grizzlies to sweep series!

Sorry Memphis, no revenge for you as Knicks pull off 114-113 win in amazing fourth quarter!

He’s baaaacccckkkk! Mitchell Robinson took the court Friday night for the first time this season. After trailing for three quarters, the Knicks came from behind with a three-point bomb from OG Anunoby to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-113.

Mitch is finally back!

Nothing in me believed the Knicks would lose this game even after trailing the entire game. The old Knicks of last week could not have won this game. This game was different because their defensive presence was back. I believe their defensive identity will slowly but surely return with their big man, the Blockness Monster, having returned and nothing will be the same again.

The fact that Robinson was on the floor at the end of the game told me much, especially after the foul on Ja Morant. But Tom Thibodeau stayed with his big man. Surely you know that last rebound would have gone to the Grizzlies for a winning putback if they didn’t have to go through Mitch…

This was a team win…

I have given this team a lot of grief in my last couple of articles…not unwarranted. But tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies were the first to experience the full Knicks team. You could see the difference in this team. There was no panic, but also there wasn’t that look of indifference, either. They cared tonight. They were determined to get this win tonight.

Don’t get it twisted. The Grizzlies were giving the Knicks a hard time during those 48 minutes. The Knicks did not get the lead in this game until the 10:09 mark in the fourth quarter when the score was 92-93. The Grizzlies must have banked on the Knicks not being able to guard the perimeter, but their 4 of 31 for 12.9% from beyond tells a different story.

How they got it done…

This game began as many of the past Knicks games have, the Knicks were being clobbered in the first quarter. But then, at the 7:17 mark, in came Mitchell Robinson. Finally, the Knicks were complete.

In the second quarter the Knicks would go on a seven -0 run to tie the game. They would go back and forth until the Grizzlies would go up ten in the third when the Knicks would go five minutes without a field goal…

The fourth quarter, where so many Knicks games go wrong, was the total opposite. Jalen Brunson may have had only six assists this night (you gotta do better, bruh) but the most important one he’s had this year was to OG Anunoby with a mere 5.3 seconds left in the game for the three-pointer that won the game.

Yeah, those Grizzlies and Tee Morant were making signs and celebrating. Hey they may not have beaten us by 30, but it looked as though they had defeated the Knicks and gotten their revenge nonetheless. Then…hold up wait a minute…The captain took his own advice and “woke up” knowing that being a savior could also mean including your fellow teammates in that clutch performance. He would send an assist to OG for the game winning three pointer.

And with less than four seconds left on the clock, the Grizzlies advanced the ball, Morant put up the layup, but Mitch was there for that rebound. Game over, 114-113, the Knicks sweep the Grizzlies for the season series.

And the game ball goes to…

You know how bad I want to give this to Mitch, but it has to go to OG but also Miles “Deuce” McBride who kept the Knicks in this game. OG contributed a total of 19 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks. He shot 41.2% from the floor and 40% from three. McBride had 17 points, four rebounds, two of them offensive, three assists and two steals. He was seven of 11 from the field for 63.6% and three of five from beyond the arc for 60%.

The Knicks bench was hopping Friday night with 34 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and five steals.

Miss Tee…

I think I held my breath the entire 48 minutes of this game. Somehow I never thought for one minute that the Knicks could lose this game. Not on the night Mitchell Robinson returned. This team looks different. Of course it does…it’s finally whole. And when Mitch has been put back where he belongs as their starting center, you will see the rest of the league finally take notice.

As long as this team believes it. But they have to believe it. Not their fans. Them. I don’t believe for one minute that there’s trouble in that locker room. That’s bullshit, excuse my French.

I hope this has been a momentary lapse of faith on their part. With less than 25 games left in the regular season, the Knicks have to regain their defensive identity. Brunson has been working on his defensive prowess and that should get everyone else on the defensive bandwagon. After all, the most powerful defensive player in the league, is a New York Knick…and his name is Mitchell Robinson.

Until next time…