The Knicks acknowledged that their opponents on Friday night were the ones who fought for lost balls, blocking shots and playing as a hungry team that desperately needs a victory.
The Kings had lost their previous four games and played as if they were, while the Knicks worsened a night of bad pitches with a lack of intensity for much of the second half to end their three-game winning streak.
Although RJ Barrett later warned that the enhanced Knicks (8-9) “haven’t done anything yet,” Julius Randle – the constant target of the Sacramento defense’s double formation – emphasized that they should never deviate from high energy and defense – first style that punctuated his start of 0.500 before his 103-94 loss to the Kings.
“Absolutely, that’s what this is about, especially coming from the second night of a consecutive fight. It’s all about being a dog, just fighting, our energy, ”said Randle, referring to the Knicks’ impressive victory the night before at Golden State at the opening of a four-game trip. “It really had nothing to do with [the Kings]. We just need to have the right mindset that, under the circumstances, we will do whatever it takes to win.
“I think for the most part [Friday] it was kind of up and down. It was a strange game, but things happen. It was a learning experience for us, and we will be returning immediately. “
The Knicks (8-9) dropped to 1-2 in the second half of consecutive games this season, after defeating Milwaukee on December 27 and losing in Charlotte on January 11. Coach Tom Thibodeau agreed that not being the hungry side in any game is a recipe for his team’s failure.
“I think that every team [believes that]. This is the challenge for the league, ”said Thibodeau. “You win some, you lose some, but the next day – and you usually see that in the playoffs all the time – the team that won the previous game comes in [needing] one more advantage in the next game, that’s why you never let your guard down or feel great about yourself. “
The Knicks also dropped 5-5 away this season, with games against Portland (8-6) on Sunday and Utah on Tuesday closing the trip. Thibodeau felt that his team did not play with their “usual high energy” and was “stuck” in the second half against Kings, who built a 12 point lead behind guards De’Aaron Fox and debutant Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton, who later said he was “personally fed” by the Knicks bypassing him with choice # 8 in the 2020 draft, scored 16 points, two steals and four of Sacramento’s 14 blocked shots.
“You have to be ready to start from beginning to end,” said Thibodeau. “There are different challenges every night, be it a trip or a back to back, you may be short of manpower, whatever.
“You want to build that consistency in terms of how you prepare, how hard you play, how smart you play and how together you play. It’s a team sport, so you count on everyone doing it together. If we fail in an area that can affect the execution of your attack or defense, you want to learn from each situation and get ready for the next one. “