However, this season of the Knicks unfolds and ends, there is no denying that what Tom Thibodeau did was to stabilize the ship.
His ship had no captain on Thursday night.
Until RJ Barrett took the wheel and directed it to port.
He took the wheel at a time when Julius Randle was hampered by a throbbing thigh and sailed through some unexpected stormy seas to take the Knicks to an agitated turnaround in the fourth period and a 106-102 victory over the Wizards.
He overtook Bradley Beal hard for an e-1 that tied the game in 91. He flexed. He inspired. He refused to lose.
When the time came for victory, it was as if Barrett was back at Duke.
Since Barrett refused to lose, all the Knicks lost.
He had help – mostly Alec Burks (27 points off the bench, 15 in the fourth period) and Taj Gibson (diving for stray balls, setting up screens, forced to play the entire fourth period with Nerlens Noel out).
Thibodeau bets one day on a 48-minute team. Until he gets one, it’s nice to have a rising Knick like RJ Barrett as a building block.
Barrett’s resilience tonight summed up what these Thibodeau Knicks are. He missed Garrison Mathews with a 3 at the start of the first quarter. He couldn’t buy a basket.
But he found a way. He was thrilled at the end of the next third period. a follow-up layup.
“I was trying to cheer up the team, myself,” said Barrett. “We had to fight, I knew we would achieve this victory, we all believe that”.
Thibodeau, baby!
“You could see his confidence growing,” said Thibodeau. “He is learning every day. The game on the ground has really expanded, he is starting to make moves, he is watching the game. Finishing much better. The way he was able to comply and just move on. “
Barrett’s leadership and Mamba mentality when it mattered were not lost on Randle.
“His mental stamina to be able to stay with him and make great plays along the way, that says a lot about his growth and development,” he said.
Barrett did everything – 24 points out of 7 out of 22 shots, 10 rebounds, five assists.
“I didn’t necessarily have to do things,” said Randle, “but for RJ to move forward was huge.”
For a long time, the Knicks did not appear for this one.
They looked more like the David Fizdale Knicks.
The Wizards played like it was the 7th game in the NBA finals. The Knicks played like this was game 7 of the preseason.
A reckless contempt for basketball, a bullfighter’s defense and an idiotic and uninspired game.
It was bad enough when Russell Westbrook made a pass under the basket for a three-point play by Raul Neto in the second half. Thibodeau shook his head in disgust. When Neto missed the free throw from the rear side, the ball went back to him on a tray because no one blocked him.
The Knicks lost their first eight 3s before Immanuel Brinkley pierced one in the second quarter. They finished half 1 in 14. Randle, often with a double team, transferred to teammates. Who gave in to the defenders of the Wizards. There were two breaches of the shooting clock.
Then RJ Barrett arrived. When he was asked about Randle, he said, “We are just holding onto it.”
RJ Barrett knows that he is the one who should do most of the checking.
“I love this team,” said Thibodeau before the game.
RJ Barrett reminded him why he does it.