Knicks 122, Pelicans 112 (OT): “DRose, DRisen!”

I hated enlarging my photo. I mostly avoided it and when I could not escape, I refused to smile – ‘I’m not a monkey acting,’ I would tell my father. I skipped my senior photo and blew off my mom’s requests with ‘You see me every day, Mom. You know what I look like. ‘A quarter of a century, a number of Jean-sized pick-up blocks and a little baldness later, I wish there were more pictures of me from then on. I take so many pictures of my daughter, who is eight at 14. I know better now. The world is relentless, and the forces that can amaze it can be terrifying. If you can freeze for a moment in time, even just an image of one, you can escape. Even if it was just for that moment.

On that date in 2013, the Knicks had just concluded a 54-28 season pass. Two years later, they just ran a franchise-worst 17-65 campaign. Two years ago, they did it again. Today’s Knicks are 31-27 after an exciting 122-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans this afternoon. Stop. Focus. Cut. Shake that Polaroid. Tilt that phone. Look at that. This moment in time.

New Orleans came out like a team that took revenge for a loss to the same opponent four days ago. It was the last meeting of the teams of the season, and I’m very glad I no longer have to see Steven Adams seemingly every offensive rebound. Adams led the Fur by eight in the first quarter, a big reason – along with the compelling turnover – they outscored the Knicks 16-6. New York could have been in trouble if not for Rowan Barrett Junior.

The Knicks were hot, but every golden era is just as good as the previous crop, and some crops looked suspicious. Nerlens Noel left the game with what was diagnosed as a bruised hand. Then the Pelicans came out at the break.

Then Derrick Rose started.

Rose scored nine in seven minutes, and when Julius Randle hit a 3, a 10-0 series New York rose from five to five. Even Rose’s miss smelled sweet – two beautiful lay-up attempts became Taj Gibson setbacks, part of a 7-0 run. Randle hit a number of shots late in the half, not a few tough shots against Williamson, whose team was 13 behind at halftime, but his professional debut at Madison Square Garden was a success.

In the third quarter, Eric Bledsoe, Yes, That Eric Bledsoe exploded for 10 in the first two minutes; A Lonzo Ball 3 tied things up at 69, and yes, it was nice. Another Zion open tied things up again on the way to the fourth.

With four minutes left, Barrett disappeared; a minute later, a Ball lineup lined up an 11-2 run to drop the Fur at seven. A rose and 3-pointer drew the Knicks closer, then Zion turned a Bledsoe pass, which led to an offensive setback and two threw free throws for Noel. In the last minute, the Knicks trailed by one. Quickley’s driver jumped on the edge twice but did not want to fall, and after a few Bledsoe free throws, New York was three down by eight seconds over and out of time. All the Pelicans had to do was not give up a 3.. They say Lonzo is very intelligent. Maybe he’s already looking forward to joining the Knicks next season, which is why he decided to help his future team here and now.

For whatever reason, Ball leans toward Rose and leaves Reggie Bullock just enough room to take and make the game three. Bledsoe’s attempt to win the match was selected by Rose and sent the match to overtime, which Rose baptized with a steal and a layup over Bledsoe. In the next possession of Knicks, Noel discussed a discussion about the edge for two.

This would not be his best highlight of overtime:

Randle hits from deep when the shot clock expires – literally; the refs reviewed it and he released it basically simultaneously to the clock striking at zeros, which was not enough evidence to stop it. Another moment frozen in time. Another escape. Another W.

Notes

• Rose with 23, his season highlight as Knick. He gives them a third player who can work with JR & RJ to create for himself and others. New York is 15-7 in games he has played with them.
• Not a great shooting night for Randle, but 30 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals is a hell of an off-night.
• The Knicks were +15 on three points, a crucial factor in both victories over the Pelicans.
• Quickley was out there late and close minutes. Not a big night for him shooting, but four setbacks, three assistants and no turnover will always be welcome.
• How about the official Bill Kennedy’s show to announce that Randle’s 3 were good? The dramatic breaks! “After reviewing the play ……… the play ………… is confirmed. Three-point goal. “I do not like mustard, but I take some of my refs.
• Every time Noel hits a jumper, Mitchell Robinson’s next agent loses a pair of the commission of the summer.
• Only six minutes for Kevin Knox, who grabbed three rebounds at the time and who looks confident as he lets fly.

Zion also stole Kevin’s lunch box. Not for the first time.

• Eleven Knicks played and Alec Burks missed the game due to Covid protocol. Who will eventually become part of Tom Thibodeau’s 8-9 man play rotation? And who’s out there?
• If Zion came to the Knicks, would that mean Randle, who would only be 29 or so if Williamson could come, bid? Or could it be a 4-5 combination? Think it’s too early to think about?

• Halfway through the first quarter of the ESPN broadcast, Ryan Ruocco responded to a point Doris Burke made with the same bored “Hmmm” my dad uses when he’s not listening to what someone is saying to him. It happened again 30 seconds later, and when he sat down at 3:30, he had a bored “Uh-huh.” I can not say Ruocco deliberately despised Burke because she is a woman. I can say that I can not imagine a male analyst would seriously answer their partner on one of their points with an apparently bored ‘Hmmm’. Much less three of them.

Quoth NYK_OG: “DRose, DRisen!” A rising rose lifts all boats. If comparison is the thief of joy, think of my Robin Hood and I steal joy for the needy, that is, we: the Pelicans entered this game 25-31. How many of us would have signed up 25-31 in blood before the season started? Instead, here we are: the Knicks beat Utah, crushed Milwaukee and Boston, reached the top of Portland, and swept Dallas. They have a better record than three of the last four NBA finalists. They are half a game out of the advantage of the home field in the first round – of the play-off match, not the play-off tournament. The next game is Tuesday when Charlotte hosts the Knicks. Here, a constructive 4/20 is hoped for.