Hornets Down the Knicks 109–88

After losing two in a row, the Knicks looked to get back in the win column Monday night against the Hornets, who came into the game hot, having won three straight. Charlotte smartly slid into a zone—just as the Nuggets had done the previous game— stifling the Knicks early. Moreover, the Charlotte guards often pressed, picking up 94 feet and slowing us down. Our defense too was exposed: although Mitch kept the interior intact, the Hornets got busy moving the rock and their bodies, finding the open man.

In the first half, this was often Gordon Hayward. Signing a monster $120m/4 years deal with the Hornets in the offseason, Hayward put on a clinic, scoring 28 first-half points. He cut and shimmied, finding openings all over the floor, often getting high percentage looks for easy two-point field goals. With Bullock hurt and Rivers getting the start, we traded good defense on the wing for ball-handling prowess and shot-creation.

Yet we did clawback. The Knicks defense came alive in the back end of the 1st quarter and through most of the 2nd. We got stop after stop. With some hot shooting by Knox and renewed paint attack by Randle and Payton, after starting 19–5 we pulled back and CHA was only up six at the end of the 1st quarter. In the 2nd, Knox continued his “twine time,” as Clyde likes to say, making five three-pointers by halftime. We remained in striking distance to end the half, down 57–50.

With the starters back in, our 2nd half effort began slowly once again. Except for this time, both our offense and defense struggled. We scored only 18 in the 3rd and 20 in the 4th, for an anemic 38 points. Miscommunications were abundant. Randle and Knox misfiring passes, fouls from Rivers, trying to keep his man in front. On defense, although Mitch and Noel played well, our guards and wings were outmatched. This, I think is by design. Charlotte often ran a small ball lineup with PJ Washington (6'7) as their biggest man, who really is a stretch-4. This brought Mitch out of the paint to guard PJ’s outside shooting, leading to easy looks from CHA’s wings and guards. Or if Mitch stayed near the basket to block and rebound, PJ was open for three. Without solid team defense, even Mitch and Noel’s strong play was rendered ineffective.

So where do the Knicks go from here?

I think we must answer two questions. How do we attack the zone and how do we maintain our defensive intensity for 48 minutes? We’ve steadily brought the turnovers down, although they still hurt us, and we even outrebounded the Hornets 49–37. However, until we can consistently play high-level defense (which we have shown the ability to early in the season), and break down that pesky zone, we will continue to lose.

Personally, I think the defense comes first. Thibs is a wise defensive mind, so I trust him to demand great things from his players. One continued issue is vocality. Sometimes I see RJ, Quickley or Elfrid move the offense around for a play, but often on defense, we seem completely silent. We must play team-basketball, propelled by excellent communication between the players.

Also, re breaking the zone, I’d love to see Mitch get the ball inside more. One could imagine a play where a high screen or other device creates enough space to get RJ or Randle the ball at the foul line. There they can either quickly shoot or hit Mitch for the lob. Especially against Charlotte’s small lineup, Mitch could dominate, getting multiple offense boards and lobs almost every time down the court. If teams go small, we need to get inside, not settle for outside shots. RJ is so talented going to the cup and has an improved mid-range jumper that I want to see more of. Between RJ hammering the paint and Mitch lurking for lobs, put-backs, and easy handoffs, I think both could see offensive success.

RJ and Quickley shot poorly tonight, but all indications say that Thibs will let them play through rough spots. This is great because it allows the still only 20-year-old RJ and the 21-year-old rookie Quickley to figure out how to dig themselves out of a rut. If they can, and think it likely, it will be from their tireless work ethic. Players who work to improve game to game, not just year to year, are going to have good careers in the NBA and be great for the Knicks. I think Quickley and RJ will be consensus franchise pieces by the end of the season.

I am excited to see what adjustments Thibs makes, knowing the Knicks will continue to see the zone until they can prove they can beat it. The Knicks will look to topple a hobbled, but still strong Nets team on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Go Knicks!