The Knicks were routed from start to finish. Milwaukee scored the first 7 points of the game, ran the lead almost immediately to 15 points, then took a 20-, 30-, 40-point lead. It was never a contest. Milwaukee was wearing their new Cream City uniform; the Knicks got Creamed.
It was sickening to watch how well Milwaukee was coached, on offense and defense. Even their scrubs ran the Knicks off the court. They played like a gloved hand, no matter who was in the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo looked like a man playing against 12-year-olds — he is so much bigger and quicker than anyone else on the court.
The best of The Greek Freak:
29 PTS | 15 REB | 3 AST | 22 MIN. pic.twitter.com/isNhpFGHno
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 3, 2019
Giannis set the tone for the early action, with Khris Middleton scoring if he wasn’t. Eric Bledsoe was there too. D.J. Wilson, a 6’10 forward who was the #17 overall pick in 2017, hurt the Knicks with 8-9 shooting (3-4 from 3) for 19 points as first man off the bench. The talent level falls off after that — with former Knicks Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez in the starting 5. But Milwaukee’s coach, Mike Budenholzer, is in another league from Knick coach David Fizdale, as evidenced in this sickening blowout.
Sadly the Knicks interviewed Budenholzer for the job of Knicks coach before picking Fizdale over him.
Hardly Any Knick Highlights
There were hardly any individual performances to speak highly of. RJ Barrett had his worst game as a pro — 0-9 shooting for 2 points. Dennis Smith Jr was 1-7 from the floor for 2 points. Kevin Knox 1-9 for 5 pts.
The one shot Knox hit was this — typical for Knox — awkward hook:
Kev with the sweet touch. pic.twitter.com/bjurF4llu1
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 3, 2019
On a very minor plus note:
- Allonzo Trier was finally put into the game with the Knicks down 20-something points in the 2nd quarter, after Wayne Ellington was shooting up bricks. Trier scored 10 points in 12 minutes on 3-5 shooting (2-4 from the 3), and played ok defense — but didn’t play at all in the 2nd half as the Milwaukee lead continued to balloon.
- Kadeem Allen got playing time in the 2nd half garbage time, and pushed the ball — 9 points on 3-6 (3-4 from 3) in 16 minutes. Looked good.
- Damyean Dotson also played well in garbage time in the 2nd half — 15 points on 5-10.
- Somehow Bobby Portis had a +1 for this game in 19 minutes. All the starters had a -25 to a -37.
- Mitchell Robinson played well but got into foul trouble again — finishing with 4 points on 2-5, 14 rebounds. He missed all of his free throws (0-4) — he had been hitting his free throws (shooting over 70 percent on the season) — it was that kind of evening.
Mitch staying active on D 🖐 pic.twitter.com/bMa9hNhVnf
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 3, 2019
- Julius Randle had 19 points, taking it to the basket on offense (5-12 and 9-11 from the free throw line), but could not defend the Greak Freak.
Bucks Also Play Greek Freak’s Brother
The Bucks are so well coached, they have even found room for Greek Freak’s brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo, whom the Knicks drafted and could not find room for a few years back. He played in the second half and scored 10 points in 12 minutes on 4-6.
Villanova sharpshooter star Donte DiVincenzo, who people said would be too small to play in the NBA, plays for the Bucks and shoots lights out from 3. Budenholzer has found a way to use this weapon — DiVincenzo lit the Knicks up for 11 points on 4-10 shooting (2-5 from 3) in 19 minutes. Kyle Korver, whom many thought retired, is on the team — he scored 6 points in 21 minutes. Didn’t seem to matter who the Bucks ran out there — when it’s a well-coached team, everyone looks good.
Etcetera
The Knicks are now 4-17 and it looks like coach David Fizdale may not make it through December. He is in the 2nd year of a 4-year contract reportedly paying $22 million.
Frank Ntilikina and Marcus Morris were injured and did not play. They would not have made a difference.
The Milwaukee arena was dead quiet most of the evening; the public address announcer was running “Everybody clap your hands!” recordings to make sure people made noise as the Bucks were running the Knicks off the court. Some fans in the upper deck were chanting for Green Bay. The PA’s voice came over so clear it was as if the arena was cavernous.
After the game, Greek Freak gave Mitchell Robinson his game sneakers — which was, WTF was that? Also it appeared Greek Freak in his stocking feet is as tall as Mitch Robinson who is listed at 7’1. The Milwaukee arena floated confetti onto the court to make it seem like the game had been exciting.
Giannis gave his game-worn shoes to @23savage____ 🤝#NBABrotherhood pic.twitter.com/BT4fJIbedh
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 3, 2019
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401160939
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