Rolling

The new-look Knicks have found their stride.

Good morning! I ask again: Are we having fun yet???

Game 37: Knicks 112, Blazers 84

In a New York minute…

This one was over from the opening tip.

Coming off an emotional OT win in Brooklyn, the young Blazers were no match for the Knicks at either end, getting doubled up 38-19 before the end of the first quarter behind a barrage of passing and OG Anunoby corner threes. New York’s machine hit a snag midway through the second, and for a nearly nine-minute stretch lasting through halftime, the Knicks failed to convert a field goal, but thanks to their defense and some Portland ineptitude, the lead never dipped below 19. Then, starting with the I-Hart dunk that got them off the schneid, New York peeled off a 33-11 run in seven and a half minutes, and extensive garbage time was officially on.

Three Things

1. Dominant. There’s no other way to describe the Knicks right now, not when they’ve won their last four games by 96 points combined.

Looking at league-wide net rating over such a small sample size and trying to draw #meaningful conclusions is fraught, especially when two of the opponents have been among the NBA’s bottom dwellers, but still, it’s kind of fun to see the results:

Last night was the clearest example yet of New York’s newfound prowess. They were toying with the Blazers out of the gate, getting whatever shots they wanted while preventing good looks on the other end. Everything has fallen into place since the OG Anunoby trade.

Defensively, the biggest thing that stands out is their size. OG has been a game-changer individually, but the trickle down effect seems endless. Josh Hart has gone from playing significant minutes at the four to now playing the two in some alignments. McBride now has a rotation spot with which to cause havoc. DiVincenzo gets to be a demon off the ball. Everywhere opposing offenses look, they see dead ends.

And that’s not even the best part…