Briefing: April 4
Mario Hezonja shines, Billy Garrett debut, Blood testing, and more!
Good Morning,
Knicks lost 114-43…No wait, this is just an example of why you shouldn’t trust internet companies with your data.
The Knicks actually lost 114-110 to Orlando.
Billy Garrett made his NBA debut, finishing with 4 points in 11 minutes.
Mario Hezonja scored a career-high 29 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists against his former team.
Fizdale’s promise: “I told him earlier in the season, I said the last game we play against Orlando, no matter where you are in the rotation, I promise you I’ll start you ... Why not?” [Marc Berman]
Kevin Knox continued his efficient play in front of family and friends who drove down from Tampa. Knox scored 21 points while shooting 7-13 from the field, including 3-5 from downtown.
Efficiency: Knox credits a conversation after the All-Star break with Scott Perry and Knicks coaches who suggested he focus on his efficiency. Knox has had five of his six most efficient games of the season over the past month. [MSG Networks]
Kadeem Allen cannot fly yet with his concussion and remains in NBA concussion protocol. Fizdale left open the possibility that Allen, along with Dennis Smith Jr, could return before the end of the season. [Marc Berman]
Allen was named to the G-League All-Defensive team. [Ian Begley]
MSG stock rises after Charles Oakley suggests Jeff Bezos should buy the Knicks. The stock headed toward its highest closing price in about six months, rising as much as 1.1 percent to $300.81 in New York trading before closing at $298.70. [Bloomberg]
Tanking: Knicks clinch the NBA’s worst record and top lottery position (meaning they can’t fall beyond 5th) by losing two of their final four games.
Blood Testing for Performance
The Knicks are one of several teams to have instituted blood testing to understand more about their players and optimize performance.
MUST READ: ‘Blood don’t lie’: The NBA trend that’s testing player performance and privacy for Knicks, Clippers and others by Mike Vorkunov/The Athletic:
The Knicks, according to multiple players, tested infrequently throughout the course of this season, asking players to sign a consent waiver. They took blood during training camp, then early in the season. There was a test in late December before the team’s 15-day West Coast trip and another after they returned in mid-January, likely to see the effects of all that wear on the body.
Learn more: As originally reported by the New York Times, “Dallas is one of just two N.B.A. teams, along with the Knicks, to hire Orreco, which proposes customized remedies to combat fatigue and tries to identify increased risk for injury and illness by obtaining a range of data from players’ blood and feeding it into machine-learning programs.”
Rival execs weigh in on Knicks free agency chances
Howard Beck published a piece for Bleacher Report that provides anonymous quotes from NBA scouts and executives, and also surveys their outlook on 2019 free agency for the big market teams from New York and Los Angeles:
For the first time ever, all four franchises in LA and NY will have the ability to chase the NBA's biggest stars, but the favorites in this summer's free-agent derby aren’t who you think they are.
The sub-title to the article (above) is a bit misleading. When the rival executives were sourced in the story on where they think the NBA’s biggest stars will land this summer, the consensus was…
Rival executives will tell you, without hesitation, that Durant is bound for the Knicks; that Irving is likely to join him; that Leonard likes the Clippers; that Butler might choose the Lakers—unless he chooses the Nets.
So why does the article lead with the suggestion that the favorites aren’t who you think they are?
B/R asked the 10 people to rank the four teams, based solely on basketball considerations: roster, coaching staff, front office and ownership. Seven named the Nets and Clippers as the top two teams, in one order or the other. Three named the Lakers as the top choice. The Knicks were ranked last by eight of the 10 people. The other two ranked them third.
What this means: If this sample of rival executives had to bet on where Durant and Kyrie would land this July, they would “without hesitation” say the Knicks. But if you ask them whether the Knicks make the most basketball sense, they will tell you, no. I guess that is sort of interesting. But it doesn’t really provide any information into the criteria a particular free agent uses in choosing where to play. We have no idea what is important to Durant. We can only guess, like these executives are doing. Just don’t ask them to put money on their guess, because then they would probably pick who they think are the “favorites,” the Knicks.
More from B/R: Senior writer Ric Bucher: "From everything I've heard, it's done. Yes, [Durant] is leaving... If he so much as gets [the Knicks] into the Conference Finals, he will be beloved there like he never has been at Golden State after 2 Championships."
Remember when…
April 4, 2003: Knicks hold Utah to two points in overtime and ride an Allan Houston jumper with :04.4 left to a thrilling 94-92 (OT) victory over the Jazz at The Delta Center. (Read more by Vivek Dadhania)
April 4, 2002: For the first time in 14 seasons, the Knicks are eliminated from playoff contention. At the time, they had the third longest playoff streak in the league
April 4, 1973: Knicks win in Baltimore 103-96 to take a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
April 4, 1953: Knicks take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals, defeating Lakers 96-86 at Minnesota.
NBA Buzz
Potential lottery target Ja Morant declares for draft. (Read more)
Popovich ejected 63 seconds into game. (Read more)
Shaq says Giannis is better than he was at 24. (Read more)
Thanks for reading, talk to you tomorrow!