For the New York City Lottery Police Department, Monday was a big night.
The Mavericks lost their fifth straight game to drop to 8-13 and the Knicks dropped their fifth of six games to drop to 9-13. The Knicks are now the worst four games of the season under 0.500.
If the season ended today, the Knicks would have the sixth and ninth seeds in the NBA’s 2021 Draft Lottery.
From the Kristaps Porzingis trade two years ago, the Knicks have the unprotected choice of Mavericks in the first round this year (Dallas 2023 in the first round has a top ten protection).
So while Knicks fans may soon be rooting for another tank, they should know very well that the top nine in the lottery are as likely to fail as they are successful.
Just look at the list of Knicks and the difficulties of four of their nine best lottery picks – Kevin Knox (2018), Obi Toppin (2020), Frank Ntilikina (2017) and Dennis Smith Jr. (2017, acquired in the Porzingis trade) ).
Ironically, one of his best young players, debuting point guard Immanuel Quickley, was chosen 25th after being designed as a choice in the middle of the second round.
As it stands, Knox is no longer part of Tom Thibodeau’s 10-player rotation with the club now healthier than in the entire season.
Ntilikina has also been out of rotation since returning last week from a sprained knee. Smith Jr. is on his way to Orlando to play for the Westchester Knicks in the bubble of the G League, as he’s been buried almost from the start.
And there is the curious case of Toppin, choice No. 8 in November, which came with a starry resume from Dayton. The university player of the year lost three weeks with a calf strain, but returned to rotation on January 13 as an under-used reserve.
The powerful 22-year-old striker had little impact, with Julius Randle taking up most of the minutes. Toppin seems a little lost running, putting up screens, staying open and not catching the ball.
Toppin did not show enough strength to create his own shot. He is also shooting only 26% in the 3-point range – meaning that his future as a 4 leg is doubtful.
“He’s someone you don’t know yet,” said an NBA coach.
In Chicago on Monday, Toppin replaced Randle to start the fourth period. But less than two minutes later, Thibodeau pulled him over to Randle. In his 1:57 pass, Toppin committed two fouls and did not shoot.
Thibodeau said the Bulls owned the boards and he wanted Randle back in the competition. Toppin played 8:46 in defeat, scoring four points and making his lone kick attempt – an alley-oop dunk.
Thibodeau indicated that the defense of the Toppin team is still an issue. Clearly, Toppin lost the summer league more than most newcomers from a Dayton midfielder, who never had a chance to show their stuff at the NCAA Tournament that was canceled because of the pandemic.
Maybe Toppin’s draft stock wouldn’t have been so high if he hadn’t mastered Big Dance, but we’ll never know that. He averages 4.6 points in 12 games.
“He is playing very well,” said Thibodeau after the competition. “(Monday) we started the fourth and recovery was a problem. And so, just general play. But I like the things he’s doing, he’s playing with good energy. I would say that most of it is him learning the NBA. “
Toppin’s defense was his problem from Dayton. That’s why Cleveland chose Isaac Okoro in fifth place, when the mock drafts had Toppin, the 22-year-old, who was supposed to stay in Ohio.
“The defense and being a guy with multiple efforts, you have to do more than one thing,” said Thibodeau of Toppin. “He can take the starting part, but there is a second, third and fourth part that also needs to be done. So we’re asking him a lot. He’s getting it. He’s getting better. I like your approach. I just have to keep working. “
As announced, Thibodeau is playing with the guys he believes will help him win – regardless of the lottery, youth or potential résumé.
So Knox is out. He took two direct DNPs and Thibodeau confirmed that he is not on the 10-man rotation. Thibodeau will not send him to the G League, as he is still knocking on the door.
“In Kevin’s situation, he is still very situational and things can change quickly based on confrontations, fouls, injuries, illnesses,” said Thibodeau. “He would be the next guy to come in. Some of them can be clashes too. ”
The Knicks have lost two in a row since Knox was retired, losing 129 and 115 points, respectively. Defense is Knox’s weakness. On Monday, the Knicks also hit just 6 out of 29 in the 3-point range. Knox’s specialty is ball 3.
Ntilikina, meanwhile, has suffered four consecutive DNPs since his return. He is a defensive specialist and Thibodeau is a defensive coach.
As the Knicks nest in Chicago, waiting for Wednesday’s rematch at United Center, Thibodeau has a lot to think about.
But Knicks fans also think that the lottery is always the way to nirvana.