Nine straight wins, two All-Stars and one helluva ride
An emotional Jalen Brunson vows to "keep fighting every night."
I’ve taken off the rose-colored glasses. These glasses are clear. The New York Knicks are scary. Scary good. It’s a scary offense and a scary, scary defense.
The New York Knicks defeated their longtime rival Indiana Pacers 109-105 on Thursday night, extending their win streak to nine. The longest in the league. How? How when your starting center is out, your starting power forward and small forward are out?
I remember writing an article for Sportsnaut asking, “Have the Knicks found their Point Guard?” Many held back answering the question because, at the time, he was only a backup for Luka Doncic…but today. Today, there are MVP chants for the Knicks All-Star point guard, and he, Jalen Brunson, JB, is how the team has won nine straight. As Mike Breen says, “Jalen Brunson, born to play basketball.”
On Thursday night, the NBA All-Star reserves were announced. I’ve been around for a minute, so I’ve heard Knicks’ players being announced as All-Stars…starters, and reserves, but there was something different Thursday night. The Knicks have two players going to the All-Star game. I jumped so high when they called JB (because they called Donovan Mitchell first, and there was some cussing going on), but when they called Julius Randle, I lost it. There were tears everywhere.
Some of us…
I’m not even that big a fan of Randle. At least I wasn’t. But now, he represents 2019 for me. In 2019, the Knicks started a long, long trek to here to where we are right now. Some of us remember that, and many of us choose to forget it. Or malign those who helped get us here. But that’s okay. There are Knicks fans, and there are those who call themselves fans, and I’m leaving it there.
Scarier is coming…
The Knicks had their best month in January with a 14-2 record since March 1994 when they went 14-0. At the end of the month, they were without two-star players, Julius Randle, and O.G. Anunoby. The Anunoby trade which also brought Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to New York. Precious has been more than ever expected.
(graphic courtesy of @KnicksHomer on X)
Hopefully, Anunoby will return to the lineup soon. Think about it…imagine it…first Anunoby returns, then Randle, and finally Mitchell Robinson…soon. A Knicks lineup of Robinson, Randle, Anunoby, Donte DiVincenzo, and MVP candidate (too soon) Brunson. Then add in all the players who kept this streak going…seven, eight, nine, and I’m saying bring on the Boston Celtics! Let’s get this out of the way. Many of the ESPN analysts seem to believe this is a mountain we can’t climb. Pfft! Please! And now I put my journalist cap on, and let’s discuss…
Knicks vs Pacers
The Knicks’ perimeter defense in the first half of this game was nonexistent. When did the number one defense in the league decide not to defend? At one point in the second quarter, the Pacers were up 15 points. Pascal Siakim and Aaron Nesmith were providing the Pacers’ offense. At the end of the half, the Pacers were ahead 58-51.
It was a “we win.” The team pulled together in the fourth quarter to get the “We win ninth straight!”
DiVincenzo didn’t make nine three-pointers, but he had 20 points and hit one of the baskets in the fourth that ensured the win. So did Achiuwa. Making it 105-100. The Pacers got their 100th point when Brunson’s eye ran into Andrew Nembhard’s hand, and Jalen Smith threw in that sorry basket.
Five Knicks were in double figures, including Miles “Deuce” McBride, who had 16 points and some great defense that kept the Knicks in the game. Isaiah Hartenstein had 12 points and 19 rebounds, Achiuwa had 12 points and 16 rebounds, and Josh Hart had five points and 12 rebounds. All in all, the Knicks had 60 rebounds, 47 in the second half. That fourth quarter was one of the best played by a Knicks team that I’ve seen in a long time.
This team fits. All of the pieces fit from the front of the bench to the end. The Knicks played seven players in this game and won it. I admit I was angry for most of the game but happy because the team has two All-Stars.
I also admit that I’m trying hard not to use “I” and “we,” but after 55 count them 55 years, 56 seasons, they’re close. This team is very close, and I can’t pretend to be an unfeeling journalist. This is my team. The team that won two championships, and I saw them both. This is the team of “The Captain” Willis Reed.
This is the team that traded Walt Bellamy, Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson, Nate Robinson, Carmelo Anthony, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. The team that fits that finally fits, and we haven’t even seen them all together!
It’s time to quiet all the outside noise. To concentrate on the players on the floor on a night-to-night basis and root for the team to win. Period.
Miss Tee on Basketball around the league
There is no Miss Tee on Basketball around the league for this piece. It’s all about the New York Knicks.
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming to the World’s most famous arena on Saturday night—our Western conference rivals.
Until next time…