The Best, Worst Game Ever (Lakers vs Knicks)
I thought I’d seen everything as a die-hard basketball fan. That is until I watched Lakers vs Knicks last night on ABC.
Saturday Primetime games on ABC are one of the best things about the NBA. Eight times a year, we’re treated to a special night of hoops. We get the best commentators in the NBA, with some marquee matchups on the side. Since the 2016 season, we’ve had some iconic moments take place during this event.
Curry’s half-court buzzer-beater against OKC in 2016. A combined 91 points from Tatum and Curry in their 2021 duel. The chances of a good game in this timeslot are high. Last night, February 5th, was an anomaly.
There have been 51 Saturday Primetime games since the 2016 season. Until last night, both teams hadn’t been under 0.500 entering the game. That should have been a warning into the basketball we witnessed, but alas, nobody suspected a thing.
Then the game started.
It all depends on how you like to watch the NBA. If you’re a fan of craziness, then this was the game for you. Others prefer a laid-back game. I’m all for some craziness, but this game broke my brain.
The bad rotations. Poor shooting. Stark differences in energy & hustle. The tale of two halves. Nothing about this game made sense, and I loved it. Or did I hate it? I don’t know anymore.
The First Half
It’s safe to say the Knicks won the first half. Their energy from the start of the game was great. While the Lakers started lethargically, the Knicks were quite the opposite. For a team that had looked dead for weeks, it was a welcome turnaround.
On the flip side, what the hell, LA? Even with Lebron James returning, everything was off. The Crypt was either silent or groaning for most of the first half.
The Energy Factor (ft. Julius Randle)
The Knicks got back to their roots, especially in the first quarter. Their active hands led to easy baskets on the other end. They were outworking and outhustling the Lakers. The team we saw in 2021 had returned. The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the evening, dropping a season-high 42 points in the first quarter.
RJ Barrett and Julius Randle were great. The Knicks couldn’t miss. Everything was going their way.
This first half was what the Knicks should be. A team that outhustles you and hits shots. Where has this been all year long?
Jesus Christ, It’s Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook isn’t good at basketball. His style of play doesn’t fit with this Lakers team. But he’s unwilling to change because nobody has ever told him to change. He’s incapable of trying on defense, not turning the ball over, and shooting.
There’s a reason he (spoiler) got benched in this game. LA has better options than Russ to win. His first half was beyond bad;
Russell Westbrook In The First Half
1/7 FG – 5 points – 4 turnovers – (-24 plus/minus) – 15 minutes
Maybe Frank Vogel Deserves To Be Fired After All
Frank Vogel has been the scapegoat for the Lakers. You have to give him some credit for keeping this team together (and benching Westbrook), but his rotations drive me nuts.
At one point in the second quarter, this was the lineup on the floor.
Westbrook
Ariza
Reaves
Bradley
Jordan
I have so many questions about this. Why is DeAndre Jordan playing? Why are you playing three small guards in one lineup? What is wrong with you?
Is Frank Vogel not aware that this lineup won’t work? DeAndre Jordan should never play, much less with Westbrook. Trevor Ariza is a shell of his former self, even if he’s getting an ungodly amount of minutes.
Sometimes, Frank Vogel does the most stupid things in the world. If he didn’t do stuff like this, maybe this team wouldn’t be that bad.
| The Knicks In The First Half | The Lakers In The First Half |
| 71 points (season-high) | 56 points |
| 50% FG | 44% FG |
| 9 3-Pointers | 2 3-Pointers |
| 21 FTA | 13 FTA |
| Roster doesn’t include Russell Westbrook | Roster includes Russell Westbrook |
We have one more half of craziness to go over. Hang in there.
The Second Half
If you thought the first half was crazy, get ready for the Twilight Zone. The Lakers came out with revenge on their minds. Malik Monk got going, spurring a Lakers comeback. The Knicks once again showed why they’re miserable, losing all their energy.
The Lakers seemingly had the game in hand, but the Knicks somehow managed to force OT. The Lakers eventually won, but it was a sour taste for an otherwise perfect half.
In a word, this second half was bananas.
A Measly $2,714,514 Saved The Lakers
For a team loitered with Hall of Famers, the Lakers can thank $2.7 million dollars for their comeback efforts. Austin Reaves and Malik Monk make up that sum. In the 2nd half, this duo was the driving force for LA getting back into the game. Let’s start with Monk.
Monk is a flamethrower. After an uneventful career with Charlotte, he signed with the Lakers for just 1.7 million dollars. He’s been their most important free agency pickup.
Monk went ballistic in the 3rd quarter. He had 18 points, outscoring the Knicks on his own (18-13). He finished with 23 points in the 2nd half in just 19 minutes.
After the game, Lebron said that Monk brings “a knockout punch.” He later added that “that’s something we haven’t had since I got here [in 2018].”
Then there’s Austin Reaves. The undrafted rookie from Oklahoma has earned his way into the rotation for his tough defense and competitive spirit. His southern drawl makes him one of the few likable guys on this team.
Here’s some hard-nosed defense that Reaves has perfected.
These two are vital to LA’s success. Both have polar opposite playstyles, but they accomplish the same goal; bring energy.
The Lakers’ bench rotation has been a mess all year long. These two offer some much-needed stability for Frank Vogel.
Like Clockwork
The Knicks are one of the worst 3rd quarter teams in the NBA. As soon as the action resumes, their starters can’t keep things going. This is why the Knicks fall behind so often. They’re incapable of playing well in the 3rd quarter.
These 3rd quarter numbers are hard to stomach;
26% FG
4 Turnovers
13 points
The worst thing about this quarter was the rotations. The starting unit played for too long. Thibodeau didn’t put the bench in to try and stop the bleeding. Obi Toppin played just 47 seconds in this quarter. Quintin Grimes played just 47 seconds as well. Immanuel Quickley didn’t even play in the 2nd half at all.
That’s inexcusable, especially with how bad the Knicks are in the 3rd. Nothing they do seems to work, but not inserting a livelier bench unit compounds this awfulness.
New York’s starters cannot figure out how to play well in the 3rd. For whatever reason, after halftime, all their energy is gone. This has happened time and time again this year, but there’s no solution to be found.
Westbrook Got Benched Again
“I felt like we were going to get more from a defensive perspective and an off-ball action with Talen.” That’s what head coach Frank Vogel said after the game when asked about Westbrook’s playing time down the stretch.
Russ didn’t play at all during OT. He played just 5:30 in the 4th quarter. During that time frame, the final 5:30 of the 4th quarter, the Lakers were outscored by six points. Less Westbrook = better results.
Westbrook has previously been benched, but this was a friendly reminder that LA has a crunch-time lineup that doesn’t include Westbrook. The ball belongs to Lebron down the stretch. Since Westbrook isn’t a threat off-ball, it doesn’t make sense to have him on the floor.
The Westbrook trade makes less and less sense by the day. When he’s not on the floor in close games, what’s the point of having him? Buddy Hield would likely be on the floor, but not Westbrook.
And of course, to complicate things, Lebron said this immediately after the game;
Takeaways
Inconsistency Defines These Two Teams
The Knicks played 30 minutes of good basketball. We already talked about their great first half. They also ended the 4th quarter strongly to force OT. Aside from that, they lost this game in the 3rd quarter.
The Lakers played 23 minutes of good basketball. The first 18 minutes of the second half was great, plus the OT session.
When the two most inconsistent teams face-off, this is what happens.
The Knicks Are Cooked
I don’t know how the Knicks can succeed. Not only was this loss demoralizing, but it’s also been the same way they’ve lost all year.
A game where they play two contrasting styles, never able to consistently find a rhythm. The Cam Reddish trade doesn’t look like it will do anything for them, so unless they make a big move in the next couple of days, they’re stuck with this team.
(that’s not a good thing)
Anthony Davis Is A Monster
I didn’t talk about AD in this game, but he was an animal. He was a beast in the pick-and-roll. Nothing got by him in the paint. He rebounded like a hurt dog, finally showing some aggression. That all culminated in this stat line;
28 points – 17 rebounds (7 offensive) – 7 stocks – 3 assists – 68% FG – +9 plus/minus
Ladies and gentlemen, The Brow.
The Lakers know how to win – Westbrook be damned
From here on out, expect Russell Westbrook to play less. I’d imagine the ball will be put in his hands fewer times. And during close games, he’ll have to be a cheerleader, not a game-changer.
Frank Vogel isn’t afraid to bench the star. If the Lakers want to avoid the play-in tournament again, less Westbrook might mean better results.
Did I mention that the Knicks are cooked?
Seriously, what happened to this team? And no, I’m not saying this because I said the Knicks were going to be the 4th seed this year.
It’s not that the Knicks are worse record-wise compared to last year, but their level of play is worse. Maybe I’m just saying that because of their newfound expectations, but still.
This team might not make the playoffs. I thought they would be dark horse contenders in a muddled East. Ok, maybe I am mad that the Knicks suck.
What Are Your Thoughts On This Crazy Game? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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