Team leader Julius Randle realized this. The Knicks needed Wednesday’s rematch in Chicago. They really needed it.
The Knicks were at a crossroads, having lost five of six games after taking down a bad one for the Bulls on Monday at United Center. They dropped to 11th in the Eastern Conference, four games under 0.500.
“Kind of like a playoff game, you’re playing with the same team in such a short time, ” ‘Randle said earlier.
“We have to make our adjustments. The most important thing is that we need to have more sense of urgency to start the game – see it as a must win. We cannot lose two in a row on this trip. ”
Randle made sure of that.
The Knicks prevailed, 107-103, and Randle played as Captain Randle – the type of game that was better than the score. And the box score was very good – 27 points, six assists, six rebounds, 5 on 7 on 3 points.
Randle’s 3-point shot was supernatural this season. He posted a cold rate of 27.7 in the city center in 2019-20. He’s shooting at 38 percent out of 3 now.
“Honestly, it just wasn’t a great season of 3-ball shooting last year,” said Randle. “It is something I did in the laboratory and I tightened things up. Repetition and confidence, man. My mental approach is completely different. I have unlimited confidence in him. ”
While early point guard Elfrid Payton risked a solid game, Randle did not let the Knicks lose, even when the Bulls recovered from 19 points to three in the final stretch. Randle took the Knicks home – in defense and in attack.
“That’s what we expect from him – a veteran leader, play hard on both sides of the ball, share the ball, make the right moves and set an example for everyone, ” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “He gives the team the belief that we can win. You do this by making quick moves. The more the excitement plays, the more it ignites and inspires the team. This is what we expect from him. ”
One of Randle’s six assists came with 4:40 left. The Bulls were attacking for the first time in the entire night. Chicago lost 19 by the end of the first period, 15 points after three. The deficit was now three, less than five minutes to go. The Knicks’ easy walk through the United Center became a painful race to the end.
And here was Randle, shooting for the track, in a double, firing a pass to Reggie Bullock in the corner. Bullock drained the trey, increased the edge to six, and eventually prevented the raise. Last season, Randle would have forced something nasty.
There were more big moments late for Randle, after his strong 15 points in the first half. This time, he solved the problem with his own hands, making a difficult jump over a double team within the free throw line, with 2 hours left, to 106-99.
Almost finishing. But then Randle came up with his most enlightening play with 1:00 left, the Bulls still sniffing, five minutes down.
Showing quick steps in defense – a testament to his new stamina – Randle fired into the perimeter, chasing Bulls stud Zach LaVine, harassing him in a 3-point match with 1:00 left. It failed badly. On.
With three tough games against the Trail Blazers and a home and home against NBA finalist Heat, the Knicks needed it against the monotonous Bulls.
At a crossroads in Chicago, the Knicks took the right fork by winning in a city where Thibodeau did his best work.
They defeated the Bulls from the start and were able to fly back to New York relieved to get a piece of momentum – their 10-13 record.
That first quarter of 34-17 was a masterpiece. Everything clicked. They chased the Bulls in a 0 to 8 brick show from the 3-point line.
Meanwhile, Randle drained three consecutive 3-point points into three consecutive possessions, putting on his All-Star cap. No one can remember whether Randle hit two consecutive 3s in the past season.
Randle had 15 points in 18 minutes of the first half. If he is not being considered by the coaches of the All-Star team, something is very wrong.
The NBA is finalizing plans to restore the All-Star Game in Atlanta and Randle looked like he expected to be there.
“It will be great to be a part of it,” said Randle.
As written here earlier, Randle must be viewed under a new lens – not as a commercial bait, but as an emerging star to be embraced. He set the tone on Wednesday, as captains do.
The Nets have their three future Hall of Fame members: James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
And the Nets have held TV ratings since Harden’s January 16 debut, beating the Knicks by 10 percent in audience in the New York market, according to industry sources.
For now, the Knicks have Randle, who has never been on a winning team and has lost many games in his previous six seasons.
In his seventh season, Randle is the main reason the Knicks have 10 wins. In his seventh season, Randle looks like a winner.