First Pre-Season Game Impressions

[irish2u2]

There is an easy place to start.

125 points. The New York Knickerbockers scored 125 points in a basketball game. During the 71 game long 2020-21 season the Knicks scored more than 124 points four times and two of those times were overtime games. Yes, it's only pre-season but let's keep in mind two things about pre-season. 
One is Tom Thibodeau treats pre-season games no different than regular season games. Two is most teams look rusty especially with two (three if you count Taj) new starters. 

More reason to get happy. The Knicks were one of the best shooting 3 point teams in the league last year. They were also at the bottom of the league in 3 point attempts averaging 30 attempts a game. Last night the Knicks launched 37 treys and while they only hit on 29% off them the number of attempts is right where Thibs wants them to be and if they shoot anything like last year they add 9 points to last night's boxscore. Meantime they shot almost 47% from the field and scored 56 points in the paint and 15 points on fast breaks. Nice! Very nice!!!

More specifics. All 5 starters were in double figures along with two players off the bench. The first pre-season game with a new backcourt and the Knicks only had 4 turnovers. They shot over 91% from the free throw line. They held Indiana to 41% from the field. 

Individually it's easy to see the impact of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. Both had 12 points apiece and they played well at both ends of the court. I especially like the two headed PG of Kemba and DRose even though Quickley played a lot of PG while on the floor with Rose. With Kemba and Evan the floor is spread out and you double any one Knick at your own high risk. Randle and Barrett looked good and Taj Gibson must have bathed in the Fountain of Youth because he looked like a frisky kid playing in place of Nerlens Noel who was resting his knee. Noel is expected to play the next pre-season game on Saturday versus the Wizards.In his place rookie Jericho Sims had some excellent moments and also some deer in the headlights moments. He will learn but there is n denying the physical talent. 

Our two sophomore players, Obi and IQ looked exceptional even though they were a combined 0=6 behind the arc. IQ led the team in assists with 7 and had NO turnovers. His handle was much improved and he was looking to set up his teammates on every possession. He was able to beat his defenders to the paint pretty easily too. Obi flashed some new offensive weapons and a new attitude. He did a nifty cross dribble spin move for a layup that looked awesome. He looked confident and aggressive. BOTH second year players looked entirely different than last season. Alec Burks looked good too so right now the rotation looks to be 10 players. Randle, RJ, Noel/Mitch, Kemba, Fournier, Rose, IQ, Burks and Topin.

Outside looking in are the three rookies Sims, Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes. And Kevin Knox.  Knox only played 4 minutes but he looked different. More physical. More sure of himself. He scored 4 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in those 4 minutes which is super efficient but more than that he showed some aggressive defense. We all have to keep an eye on Knox. I love Alec Burks but Knox in the rotation at SF gives the Knicks more length, youth, athleticism and ceiling. 

All in all a good start. Still it's pre-season and we all will know more after the next game but I am encouraged. The Knicks off season acquisitions showed themselves to be exactly as advertised. The Knicks are deep and talented. Obviously we have 2 PGs who have checkered injury issues throughout their careers but platooning them plus the play of IQ mitigates the risk some. Fournier frequently went off the bounce which is whaat the Knicks need and while Kemba was somewhat restrained he showed a couple off times his extraordinary ability to score at will which is EXACTLY what the Knicks team needs. Almost everybody in the East and the NBA improved but maybe the Knicks improvements while keeping everything else in line like the cap and development of their young players might be the most telling.

[ReneNYG1]

I love the quicker pace and the shape our guys are especially IQ and Obi.We are in great shape with depth.

[daglazer]

I did not watch it until tonight as I taped the game so that I could watch the Yankees

It is obvious that Fournier and Kemba really open up the floor. The team got a lot of easy shots and played with a faster tempo. The ball moved better as every player on the floor knew that a pass would mean a good shot and not a prayer.

I especially liked RJ's stroke from 3. He used picks effectively to get his shot and his stroke looked even smoother. The only way he does not score 20 PPG is because the team's scoring becomes more balanced.

I look forward to seeing Noel and Mitch worked into the rotation and how much room they have on their dives into the paint off of the pick and roll.

[irish2u2]

Oct 6, 2021 21:29:10 GMT -5 daglazer said:

I did not watch it until tonight as I taped the game so that I could watch the Yankees

It is obvious that Fournier and Kemba really open up the floor. The team got a lot of easy shots and played with a faster tempo. The ball moved better as every player on the floor knew that a pass would mean a good shot and not a prayer.

I especially liked RJ's stroke from 3. He used picks effectively to get his shot and his stroke looked even smoother. The only way he does not score 20 PPG is because the team's scoring becomes more balanced.

I look forward to seeing Noel and Mitch worked into the rotation and how much room they have on their dives into the paint off of the pick and roll.

It is obvious that RJ spent another summer in the laboratory.   The game is coming easier to him, he doesn't force things and he's very patient. He does have to work on finishing better as he missed 3 easy baskets at the cup. I look at the improvements of IQ and Obi and the way Randle didn't force things and I watched a team that looked in mid season form. Again, Saturday night tells the tale but I'm very encouraged. 

I didn't watch the Yankees game. And I'm happy a) I watched the Knicks and b) I had to go pick up my daughter from work at 10 PM. Very, very disappointing season. 

[rxmeister]

Great recap Irish, which this moron who reminded himself a hundred times to DVR the game, yet forgot to do it anyway really appreciates. Sorry I missed it, and I’ll miss Saturday’s too, as I’ll be out of the country and Giants-Dodgers. Checking the box score I know I missed a fun game but fortunately it’s a long season. I see Thibs is already overplaying the vets and I did notice that Grimes didn’t come in to the very end. That’s ok, Kemba and Fournier are new additions that will play a lot.

[daglazer]

Oct 7, 2021 6:35:46 GMT -5 rxmeister said:

Great recap Irish, which this moron who reminded himself a hundred times to DVR the game, yet forgot to do it anyway really appreciates. Sorry I missed it, and I’ll miss Saturday’s too, as I’ll be out of the country and Giants-Dodgers. Checking the box score I know I missed a fun game but fortunately it’s a long season. I see Thibs is already overplaying the vets and I did notice that Grimes didn’t come in to the very end. That’s ok, Kemba and Fournier are new additions that will play a lot.

I suspect that McBride and Grimes will get some run in other games. With Noel and Mitch out, Sims got some nice run and looked really good. The additions of Kemba and Fournier really spread the floor which enabled Taj to go off!!! We may not be title contenders, but we do have a legit shot at 50 wins. I will take that right now and have no regrets. Absent injuries, I only see the Bucks, Nets and maybe the 76ers as definitively better than us in the East. I think that we are on par with the Hawks, Celtics, Heat on that 2nd tier with Indiana, Toronto, Charlotte, and Chicago in that 3rd tier.