Briefing: March 26
Remembering Cal Ramsey, Kevin Knox in March, and more
Good Morning,
The Knicks family lost a great one in Cal Ramsey, who passed away yesterday at the age of 81. He died at The Riverside Premier Rehabilitation and Healing Center of cardiac arrest.
Rucker Park legend: Ramsey made his name on the New York City basketball courts, forming a dynamic duo with basketball legend Thomas “Satch” Sanders.
OAKAAK: Ramsey suited up for the Knicks in 1959-60.
Television: In 1972, Ramsey joined the Knicks as a television color analyst. He became the first African American TV analyst for the Knicks organization. He remained in that role for 10 years before he returned to NYU in 1983 as an assistant coach on the basketball team.
Community: In 1991 Ramsey joined the Knicks community relations team where he had served as an ambassador for the last 28 years.
In Honor: The Knicks will honor Ramsey with a moment of silence, special tribute and memorial uniform ribbon during the March 28 game vs. Toronto.
Must Read: Inside the mind of Mitchell Robinson: Knicks’ rookie phenom tells all on how he blocks shots by Mike Vorkunov:
To find out how Robinson has become such a good shot-blocker so early in his career, The Athletic showed him seven of his blocks and asked him to explain what he did, how he did it, and why he does it so well.
Read the article to see the video session with Mitchell Robinson on some of his blocked shots.
David Fizdale has emphasized 300 passes as a benchmark for his young team, “We’re starting to get to a point where we’re consistently moving the ball. We have a mark of 300 passes for games.” The Knicks are averaging 294.1 passes per game, per nba.com/stats.
Kevin Knox’s development
Marc Berman writes in today’s New York Post about David Fizdale’s progress in developing the young Knicks so far, noting that Mudiay, Trier, and Mitchell Robinson have been successes, while “Frank Ntilikina, Mario Hezonja, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr. — all top-10 picks — have seen either zero to marginal growth.”
Berman even wrote a second piece in today’s paper about Knox’s injury, where, again, he discounts any progress from the 19-year-old.
Is this true?
Ntilikina hasn’t developed much from last season, perhaps even regressed; I think we all would agree on that one.
But can we put Kevin Knox in that same category? He’s a 19-year-old rookie who is on pace to play more minutes than all but 15-or-so teenagers in NBA history. His shooting has been dreadful this season, but in March, he is shooting 42.1% (his best month of the season), including 46.7% from three (by far, his best month of the season). Meanwhile, he is turning the ball over at his lowest rate of the season. The “rookie wall” for a 19-year-old that has quite literally been thrown into the fire doesn’t seem to be hitting Knox in the last full month of the season. Points that seem fair to make when evaluating how a rookie is progressing through the marathon of the NBA schedule.
Who wanted to play?
We learned Kristaps Porzingis made the decision over the summer that he would never play this season from Tim MacMahon earlier this week.
Marc Berman adds today, “Yes, Fizdale/team brass wanted Porzingis to play when he was medically cleared.”
Of course, Stefan Bondy told us back in January that KP was cleared to play, but said he “was concerned about how the Knicks would handle his potential return during their tank job.”
So which is it? KP wanted to play, but not for the Knicks? That doesn’t seem to match the story coming out of Dallas. If what Berman suggests is true, it also seems to go against the notion that the Knicks have always wanted to “tank” this season. Either way, as we wait for the “truth to come out” on what transpired between the Knicks and Porzingis leading up to their break-up, we continue to learn details of KP making decisions independent of the organization’s input.
Remember when…
March 26, 2014: JR Smith ties a then franchise record with nine three pointers, scoring 29 points, in 107-99 win at Sacramento.
March 26, 1999: Patrick Ewing becomes the 12th player in NBA history to reach both 20,000 career points and 10,000 rebounds by recording his 10,000th board in 94-87 victory at Phoenix.
March 26, 1974: Dave DeBusschere plays his final game, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds over 28 minutes in leading the Knicks to a 117-90 victory over Philadelphia on Dave DeBusschere Night at the Garden.
Mayor Beame declared the day Dave DeBusschere Day in New York with festivities beginning at 12:15 p.m. at City Hall and carrying over to the Garden with a 20-minute ceremony. Among the honors he received were a key to the city, a plaque from commissioner Walter Kennedy and a scholarship to be awarded annually in his name.
They didn’t know at the time, but: The game also turned out to be Willis Reed’s final game, as he would announce his retirement on Sep. 18. Reed scores 13 points, extending his franchise scoring record to 12,183 points, which would later be surpassed by Walt Frazier in 1975.
March 26, 1970: Knicks defeat Baltimore Bullets 120-117 (2OT) in Game One of the Eastern Division Semifinals. Willis Reed, who scored 30 points, hits a hook shot with :31 remaining to break a 117-117 tie.
March 26, 1952: Knicks win a deciding Game 3 of the Eastern Division Semifinals in Boston 88-87 (2OT), as Ernie Vandeweghe hits a free throw with one second left for the win. Max Zaslofski leads the way with 21 points and six rebounds.
March 26, 1949: Knicks defeat Baltimore Bullets 103-99 (OT) at the Garden in Game 3 of the Eastern Division Semifinals to win series 2-1 and advance to the Eastern Divisional Finals.
NBA Buzz
Jusuf Nurkic suffered compound fractures to the tibia and fibula of his lower left leg. (Read more)
Devin Booker scored 59 points to become the first player in NBA history with 50 in a game in which his team lost by 30 or more, per ESPN.
Trust between Raptors, Kawhi Leonard, makes it easier to see a long-term future. (Read more)
Thanks for reading, talk to you tomorrow!