It looks like the Knicks should have picked Miles Bridges over Kevin Knox. Bridges has risen this season to star status — averaging over 19 ppg — and in this game Crushed the Knicks with a career-high 38 points, with 12 rebounds. The game was never close — NY was down by 19 entering the 4th quarter.
1. Bridges Was a 6’7 Dynamo
On draft night 2019, Miles Bridges was listed as a 6’5 small forward and Kevin Knox a 6’9 forward whose father said the doctors told them was heading for 6’10 if not Kevin Durant-like height of 6’11 or 7’0.
A summer later the NBA instituted stocking-feet measurements and Knox came in at 6’7.5″; Bridges came in at 6’7″.
Knox has a pretty and accurate 3-pointer, but has always been mechanical on his drives to the basket. Bridges on the other hand — is a natural scorer — in any combination of ways.
In this game he tore apart the Knicks. Three-point jumpers, short jumpers, slams, inside moves. He is built wide with girth so his 6’7″ plays bigger.
Bridges had 22 points in the 1st quarter and led Charlotte to an 18-point halftime lead.
2. Robinson Unveils His Offensive Handle
This was the game when Mitchell Robinson FINALLY took the wraps off his dribble penetration handle to the basket that Knick fans have seen in practice on youtube videos. He did it in the 1st half:
COOK THAT MAN MITCHELL ROBINSON 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/xxcbI7OYjA
— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) January 17, 2022
3. Barrett & Randle Lead Knicks
RJ Barrett continued to play an aggressive brand of basketball; driving to the basket at will, and distributing or scoring. The Knicks did better as a team in the second half — playing Charlotte even in the 3rd quarter and whittling away the lead in the 4th.
“I think if you look at, honestly, the rest of the game, especially in the second half, we played well,” said RJ Barrett afterwards.
Barrett had 18 points (on 7-18 shooting, 2-6 from 3), 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Julius Randle had 18 points on 6-16 shooting with 11 rebounds.
Immanuel Quickley had a good game: 12 pts on 5-11 shooting (2-5 from 3) and Obi Toppin shined — 11 points on 5-8 shooting in 17 minutes.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360474
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