Team leader Julius Randle sensed this. The Knicks needed Wednesday’s power play in Chicago. They desperately needed it.
The Knicks were at a crossroads and lost five of six games after conceding a bad game against the Bulls at United Center on Monday. They fell to 11th in the Eastern Conference, four games below .500.
“Like a playoff game, you play the same team in a short amount of time,” Randle said beforehand.
“We have to make our adjustments. The biggest thing is that we just need to have more of a sense of urgency to start the game – consider it a must-win. We can not lose two in a row during this journey. ‘
Randle made sure of that.
The Knicks prevailed, 107-103, and Randle played like Captain Randle – the type of game that was better than the goals. And the score from the box was really good – 27 points, six assistants, six rebounds, 5-for-7 on 3-points.
Randle’s three-point shooting was another world this season. In 2019-20, he posted an icy 27.7 rate from downtown. He’s shooting 38 percent from now on.
“Honestly, it was just a great season to shoot the ball from 3 last year,” Randle said. ‘It’s something I got in the lab and sharpened things up. Repetitions and confidence, man. My spiritual approach is completely different. I have unlimited confidence in it. ”
While Elfrid Payton, a starting point guard, got a solid outing, Randle did not want to let the Knicks lose, even when the Bulls were down from 19 points to within three innings. Randle carried the Knicks home – in defense and offense.
“This is what we expect from him – a veteran leader, playing strong on both sides of the ball, sharing the ball, playing the right plays and setting an example for everyone,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said . “He gives the team the conviction that we can win. You get it by making prints. The more bustle plays out, the more it ignites and inspires the team. This is what we expect from him. ‘
One of Randle’s six assistants comes over with 4:40 left. The Bulls loaded all night for the first time. Chicago trailed 19 late in the first period, 15 points to three. The deficit was now three, less than five minutes left. The Knicks’ easy walk through United Center turned into a painful sprint towards the end.
And here was Randle, who penetrated the field, doubled down and shot a pass to Reggie Bullock in the corner. Bullock drained the trey, chopping the edge to six and finally stimulating the boom. Last season, Randle would have forced something unsightly.
There were more big moments late for Randle, after his strong first half of 15 points. This time, he took matters into his own hands and sank a tough jumper over a double team just inside the free throw line with 2:00 left to make 106-99.
Almost over. But then Randle came over with his most enlightening game with 1:00 left, the Bulls still sniffing around, five down.
With quick feet on defense – a testament to his new endurance – Randle jumped to the perimeter, chasing Bulls stud Zach LaVine, persuading him to a controversial three-pointer by 1:00. It was sorely missed. Over.
With three hard-hitting games against the Trail Blazers and a home-and-away game against the NBA Finals Heat, the Knicks need it against the humdrum Bulls.
At a crossroads in Chicago, the Knicks took the right fork by winning in a city in which Thibodeau did his best work.
They beat the Bulls from the start and were able to fly back to New York relieved to gain some fading momentum – their record 10-13.
That first quarter of 34-17 was a masterpiece. Everything clicked. They put the Bulls in a 0-for-8 brick performance from the three-point line.
Meanwhile, Randle drained three straight three-pointers on three straight possessions and put on his All-Star ballpoint pen. No one can remember if Randle ever scored two straight tries last season.
Randle scored 15 points in 18 minutes in the first half. If he is not considered by the coaches for the All-Star team, something is very wrong.
The NBA is planning the restoration of the All-Star Game in Atlanta and Randle sounded like he would be there.
“It would be great to be a part of,” Randle said.
As previously written here, Randle should be viewed under a new lens – not as a trading bait, but as an emerging star to be adopted. He set the tone as captains on Wednesday.
The Nets have their three future Hall-of-Famers in James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
And the Nets have owned the TV ratings since Harden’s debut on Jan. 16, and according to industry sources, the Knicks are 10 percent better than viewers on the New York market.
For the first time, the Knicks have Randle, who has never been in a winning team and has lost a ton of games in his previous six seasons.
In his seventh season, Randle is the main reason why the Knicks scored ten wins. In his seventh season, Randle looks like a winner.