RJ Barrett took over with 32 points including 7-8 shooting from 3, and Mitchell Robinson electrified the Knicks off the bench to carry NY to a relatively easy 121-109 win over San Antonio in San Antonio on a Tuesday night.
1. Barrett Played Like a Star
Barrett had been receiving heavy criticism from Knicks twitter before the game for a recent shooting slump. He blew out and away all that criticism by playing like a star on both ends.
Have a day, RJ! pic.twitter.com/xftghXu0B4
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 8, 2021
Barrett is still only 21 years old and has a strong 2-way game; tough on Defense with an ability on offense to go to the hole and score against contact which he seems to relish.
Got the W in the Lone Star State.
📼 NYK 121 – SAS 109 pic.twitter.com/1rC515Bszz
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 8, 2021
I’ve likened his game to Dwyane Wade — and as soon as you mention that on Twitter there is push back — but remember Wade at age 21 was still in college. Barrett may not become a Wade — who once led the league in scoring at 30.2 a game and averaged 22 ppg for his career — but Barrett has the same strong 2-way game that Wade had. Some may forget that Wade, who retired in 2019, was a piss-poor 3-pt shooter — with a career average of .293 from 3.
As Ross Kreines put it:
RJ Barrett was in attack mode and he put his defender at his mercy.When his jumper is falling it forces defenders to close so he can then take them off the bounce and finish at rim or create contact.Also defended,rebounded along with utilizing his length,strength and athleticism
— Ross Kreines (@rosskre) December 8, 2021
Barrett is shooting .353 from 3 this year, after .401 from 3 last year, and .320 as a rookie.
2. Robinson Played Like a Beast
In his first game demoted to the bench — Nerlens Noel started — Robinson was a beast — with 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 4-6 shooting (3-4 from the free throw line) for 11 points in 22 minutes and a +13.
Mitch with the jam 💪🍇 pic.twitter.com/ZR7cxEfRf4
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 8, 2021
3. Good Defense in 3rd
The Knicks came out of the lockerroom at halftime with a 6-pt lead, and laid down Defense to up the lead. Barret and Alec Burks led the offense with Julius Randle dishing. Late in the quarter Immanuel Quickley, Derrick Rose, Robinson and the 2nd team took over — giving NY a 14-pt lead heading into the 4th.
4. Held Off the Spurs Safely in 4th
San Antonio challenged in the 4th but could never pull closer than 9 points. When they did, the Knicks answered — an Immanuel Quickley 3; consecutive Julius Randle right-side postup jumpers, and an RJ Barrett 3 to ice it.
Back-to-back buckets for 3️⃣0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/cPTMM0yvUU
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 8, 2021
Burks finished with 18 points, Randle had 15 pts, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Quickly had 16 pts, and Derrick Rose 12 pts.
Of course this went in. pic.twitter.com/SHtpYjQYCx
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 8, 2021
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360188
Be the first to comment