The Knicks were eliminated from NBA Cup contention with their 108-100 home loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. They shot 26% on 3-point attempts and 60% on free throw tries. They also gave up 22 offensive rebounds, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post notes.
“Finishing possessions defensively [was a problem],” Jalen Brunson said. “They had a lot of offensive rebounds. Just unacceptable.”
Brunson was held to 14 points.
“Just wasn’t our night,” Brunson said. “Just wasn’t my night offensively. They got out in transition and Trae (Young) hit a couple key threes and once it went to a double-digit lead for them and they played well with a lead.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- The loss to Atlanta is more proof that the Knicks are nowhere close to being in the conversation as a potential NBA champion, James Edwards III of The Athletic opines. They have been unable to string together consistent quality performances, instead looking like world-beaters one game, then falling to mediocre or bad teams the next game. The blockbuster moves they made were supposed to make them a great team, but so far they’ve just been a good one, Edwards adds.
- On a positive note, Mikal Bridges seems to be settling in. Bridges, who has averaged 21.8 points over his last six games, had been benched for the better part of two fourth quarters during a four-game stretch in late November, Peter Botte of the New York Post points out.
- The Knicks acquired the rights to big man James Nnaji in the Karl-Anthony Towns deal after Charlotte drafted him in 2023. Nnaji is playing for Basquet Girona and averaging 7.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per night, according to Toni Canyameras of MundoDeportivo.com. “The front office is following his progress. I’ll dig deeper into him in the summer, but I’m obviously excited to have his rights,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.
It certainly “wasn’t [the NYK’s] night” shooting, and that can’t really be controlled. But they also gave up 22 offensive boards, and their defensive effort never rose above selective. Those can be controlled. Disappointing.
The only positive is we no longer have to play in the idiotic NBA Cup.
Seems like the only people calling the tournament stupid are fans of the teams who lost it lol. Shows it is actually having an outsized effect if it’s generating this much emotion. Well done Mr. Silver
Really? You forgot fans of the game, generally. TV ratings for these games were lower than other games last year, and I think the same will be true this year. Players have no energy for it either. Pay attention to what the players actually react when they’re asked about how excited they are about the tournament.
Last year ratings were actually up for IST games in the same time period from previous years and the IST final was the most watched non Christmas regular season game in 6 years. Honestly though, do think someone looking at the game schedule is going to think to themselves “maybe I should watch that game between the Thunder and the Rockets tonight. No wait nevermind that’s a in season tournament game, I ain’t watching that schizz?
LOL. Yes, but IST ratings vs prior year’s games aren’t relevant to the popularity of the IST. How about using IST ratings vs the other (non-IST) games played over the same period-? That’s, btw, the only data that’s relevant. Do you ever wonder why that’s not the data the league promotes? You needn’t.
I wouldn’t not watch a NYK game because it’s an IST game, although the court is an eyesore. Turning the iconic MSG court into the backdrop of pinball maching could never be additive. However, I might not watch a game between two other teams, on a national broadcast, or at least will be more apt to change channels or turn the sound down when broadcasters go into hard sell mode wrt to the IST.
So you turn off a game because they talk about the in-season tournament? Why would announcers be hard-selling a game you are already watching?
Forget gotchas or even arguing: why rail so hard against a change that is good for the game? What do we lose by adding this tournament? Players treat some regular season games a little more seriously. Some more fans get excited. Rejecting it because it’s different is lazy.
I don’t think it’s good for the league, and it is certainly not good for the game itself. You’re free to believe anything you like, but there isn’t any evidence to suggest it’s increased player focus (at least of those who play) or general fan interest (the opposite, if ratings mean anything). Unfortunately for you and Silver, delcaring something doesn’t make it so.
All isn’t lost, The Knicks get a losers bracket game against the Magic Sunday.
Losing to Pistons, Hawks at home. It’s a sign. They better get their act together. The thing we miss most right now. Is a rim protector ……
Trae rolling dice at center court …. funny as hell.
Do we have a knicks trust the process type thing going on here? Maybe Trae Young just owns the knicks? Johnson had himself a game, probably a career night.
Definitely not a career night for Jalen. Might have been a career high in rebounds but that was quite inefficient for him. He is a dude, full stop.
The te that won the championship last season was eliminated in the quarter final (side eye)
The madeup tournament doesn’t change the fact that we are like 4 weeks into the season. Knicks are fine and have plenty of time. This is normal early season stuff just with more national TV involved.
I didn’t realize the season started in mid November….
James Edwards – dude its December 12th maybe wait til February before commenting whether teams are contenders.
Hawks wanted it more. Good win for them.
Knicks miss their rim protection. You can’t lose to Pistons, Hawks at home. Bridges is my guy. Needs to drive more. Stop settling for threes. He should be constant movement on offense.
What real basketball fan. Has issues with two teams playing one more regular season gm (83). To win a tournament and collect 500,000 grand. Loser gets a 100,00. Nothing has changed except the court. And an additional game. It’s still an 82 gm season for the other 28 teams !!!!!!!!! Get a Grip !!!!!