Briefing: April 10
Knicks on a winning streak, Last game of season offers spoiler alert, and more!
Good Morning,
The Knicks are on a winning streak! If only they could play the Bulls every night. Against a lineup better suited for the G-League, the Knicks won their final road game of the season 96-86 in Chicago. They have won two straight to avoid setting a franchise mark for the most losses in franchise history (set in 2014-15).
Mario Hezonja missed the game due to food poisoning (he literally threw up all over the shower). It’s unfortunate timing for the Croatian who was playing his best basketball of the season.
Emmanuel Mudiay was shutdown for the final two games of the season.
Dennis Smith Jr. took the opportunity to show what he could do back in the starting role. He posted 25 points and 5 assists on 10-23 shooting.
Luke Kornet continues to flash rim protecting ability. He blocked 6 Chicago shots, while adding 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Knicks host Detroit for the final game of the 2018-19 season tonight at 8:00 PM. Who knows what happens this summer, but tonight could be the last meaningless Knicks game for a long time. Think about that. If the Knicks have any success in free agency, it’s not impossible to see them fighting for a playoff spot (or dare I say, more) next season.
Spoilers: Detroit can clinch a playoff berth with a win. If the Knicks win and Charlotte wins, Detroit misses the playoffs. The Pistons can back their way into the playoffs if both they lose and Charlotte loses to Orlando.
Perry connection: Scott Perry was born in Detroit, played in Detroit, and became an NBA executive in Detroit. Tonight, he can help knock Detroit out of the playoffs.
Jordan rules: While I rather see the Knicks close out this dreadful season with a three-game winning streak, there would be some poetic justice to see the Knicks keep Michael Jordan’s Hornets out of the playoffs. All of those years Jordan broke our hearts, now he has to count on the Knicks to win a game they don’t need to win. And who knows what happens to his star point guard this summer?!
David Fizdale issued a challenge to his team over the final 7 games. He wanted them to treat those games like a playoff series. Well, they are 3-3 so far, which means tonight is sort of a strange Game 7 and they can knock the Pistons out of the playoffs. [Marc Berman]
Lance Thomas sees progress in losing season. The veteran believes the organization is different from previous losing campaigns because the group hasn’t fractured and remains committed to developing a culture with their young players. [Ian Begley]
David Fizdale likes the group of assistants he has assembled and wants to keep them in place for next season, according to Marc Berman:
Fizdale credits Kaleb Canales “for keeping the morale up this season, and said they watch a ton of film with the players individually.”
Pat Sullivan has “aided Mitchell Robinson’s growth in the nuances of being an NBA big man.”
Emmanuel Mudiay and Noah Vonleh are honorable mentions on Zach Lowe’s 2018-19 NBA awards ballot for Most Improved Player.
David Fizdale is ready to develop Knox’s defensive game over the summer. The coach has liked what he has seen from Knox during his rookie campaign, but knows there is a lot of work to do, as transcribed by Marc Berman:
“We’re going to drill the hell out of him over the summer with defensive concepts, weakside concepts on the ball concepts. A lot of his offensive drills will be stacked with defensive drills, really forcing him to make multiple efforts with his workouts.’’
Knicks rank 28th overall in ESPN’s latest Sports Misery Index. The index ranks which fan base is the most miserable across the four major sports, which includes 123 teams. New York ranks 5th most miserable among NBA teams. Although, I think that is starting to change. (Read more)
MUST READ: Kevin Knox is Finding His Grown-Man Game by Yaron Weitzman:
[Kevin Knox] approached the Knicks a few times this year seeking specific help. Early in the season, he realized his shaky off-the-bounce game was allowing defenders to sit on his right hand, forcing him to his weak side. So he asked if he could spend some of his pregame warm-up time working on ball-handling in addition to his shooting and pick-and-roll work. The Knicks, enthused and eager to help, set Knox up with assistant coach Royal Ivey, a former NBA guard. Over the season's final couple of months, Knox spent about 30 minutes before every game dribbling two balls up and down the floor under Ivey's supervision.
Magic Johnson shocked the NBA world by abruptly stepping down as President of the Lakers last night. During his meandering press conference to make the announcement (before telling anyone in the Lakers organization, mind you), Johnson said that he was a “Laker for life” and then dropped this gem:
“I could have led the Knicks when Steve Mills called me.”
As the season draws to a close, Jonathan Macri completes his assessment of the 2018-19 campaign by grading the highest levels of the organization. In case you missed it, be sure to check out Parts I (the players) and II (the coach) as well.
As we approach the two week mark for Avengers: Endgame – sure to be the coolest three hours of my summer – I’m reminded of the moment that got us to this movie in the first place, when a misbegotten Star Lord cost half the universe its lives.
About two thirds of the way through Infinity War (Spoiler alert for the seven people who haven’t seen it), the delightful Chris Pratt, playing an intergalactic hoodlum turned hero, had himself a moment he’d like to forget. The Avengers, or at least the half of them that had been jettisoned into space, had come up with a kick-ass plan to remove the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos’ big purple mitt. It involved loads of CGI wizardry that stuck the Mad Titan in a compromising position where he no longer had control of his bodily functions. Pretty freaking ingenious.
To finish him off, all the Avengers needed to do was remove the damn glove. They were thisclose to doing exactly that, until Pratt lost his shit because he realized Thanos had killed his girlfriend (who also happened to be Thonos’ daughter – long story). After repeatedly punching him in the face, the big guy snapped out of his trance, retained the gauntlet, and kicked everyone’s ass. You know the rest.
If your theater-going experience was anything like mine, the crowd reacted like the city of Cleveland as JR grabbed his rebound at the end of Game 1 of the 2018 Finals and immediately started running for a shot of Henny. It may have been the ultimate Nononononowhatareyoudoingnoooooo moment in cinematic history.
Here’s the crazy thing though: we knew it was coming. Marvel had announced the sequel to this film long before A:IW even came out. We knew Thanos wasn’t going to lose…and yet every person who saw the film was devastated when it didn’t happen. Not only did we buy into the fantasy, but we bought into the fantasy within the fantasy.
All Pratt needed to do was keep walking, and boom: universe saved.
Except he couldn’t help himself.
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Remember when…
April 10, 2011: Carmelo Anthony nails a 19-foot jumper with :04.9 left and then keys a game-sealing defensive stand to cap a frantic fourth-quarter rally and lift Knicks to 110-109 win at Indiana, running winning streak to seven.
April 10, 2005: Michael Sweetney’s lay-up off Stephon Marbury’s miss beats the buzzer and gives the Knicks an electrifying 113-112 (OT) national television win at Indiana. Stephon Marbury hands out 19 assists in the contest.
April 10, 1987: Bernard King returns to action 748 days after tearing the ACL in his right knee. He comes off the bench against Milwaukee and scores seven points over 23 minutes in 132-93 loss. (Vivek Dadhania with more)
April 10, 1982: Red Holzman records what would prove to be his final victory as Knicks coach - number 613 - with a 117-114 win in Cleveland. (Note: Knicks would drop five straight to close out the season).
NBA Buzz
Magic Johnson quits Lakers. (Read more)
Jamal Crawford scores 51 (one point shy of career mark set as a Knick). (Read more)
Dirk makes retirement official. (Read more)
Dwyane Wade says good-bye to Miami. (Read more)
Thanks for reading, talk to you tomorrow!