Team leader Julius Randle felt that. The Knicks needed Wednesday’s rematch in Chicago. They really needed it.
The Knicks were at a crossroads after losing five of their six games after leaving a bad one in front of the Bulls on Monday at United Center. They fell to 11th place in the Eastern Conference, four games under 0.500.
“Like a playoff game, you play the same team in such a short time,” Randle said beforehand.
“We have to make our adjustments. The biggest thing is that we just need to have more of a sense of urgency to start the game – look at it as a must. We can’t lose two in a row on this journey. ”
Randle made sure of that.
The Knicks prevailed, 107-103, and Randle played like Captain Randle – the kind of game that was better than the score in the box. And the boxing score was very good – 27 points, six assists, six rebounds, 5-for-7 to 3-pointers.
Randle’s 3-point shooting was in another world this season. He posted a frigid rate of 27.7 from the city center in 2019-20. Now shoot with 38% of 3.
“Honestly, it just wasn’t a great season to shoot the ball from last year,” Randle said. “It’s something I received in the lab and I tightened things up. Rehearsals and confidence, man. My mental approach is completely different. I have unlimited confidence in her. ”
While starting point guard Elfrid Payton managed to make a solid exit, Randle did not let the Knicks lose, even when the Bulls pulled back from 19 points to three on the stretch. Randle took the Knicks home – defensively and offensively.
“That’s what we expect from him – a veteran leader, he plays hard on both sides of the ball, he divides the ball, he plays right and he sets an example for everyone,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “He gives the team the conviction that we can win. You get this by making power pieces. The more force he plays, the more he ignites and inspires the team. That’s what we expect from him. ”
One of Randle’s six assists came at 4:40. The Bulls were charging all night for the first time. Chicago followed with 19 points at the end of the first period, with 15 points after three. Now the deficit was three, less than five minutes. Knicks’ easy walk through United Center had become a painful sprint to the end.
And here’s Randle, who was entering the band in two teams, passing a pass to Reggie Bullock in the corner. Bullock drained trey, raised the edge to six, and eventually hindered growth. Last season, Randle allegedly forced something unsightly.
There were several big moments of delay for Randle, coming after his first half of 15 points. This time, he took matters into his own hands, sinking a rough jumper over a double team right inside the free throw line with 2:00 left to make 106-99.
Almost ready. But then Randle came up with his most uplifting song at 1:00 left, the Bulls still sniffing, five down.
Showing quick legs in defense – proof of his new endurance – Randle jumped into the perimeter, watched the Bulls study Zach LaVine, harassing him in a 3-point dispute at 1:00. He missed badly. Over.
With three upcoming games against the Trail Blazers and a home and a home run against the NBA Heat finalist, the Knicks needed this against the bloated Bulls.
At a crossroads in Chicago, the Knicks took the right fork to win in a city where Thibodeau did his best job.
They beat the Bulls from the start and were able to fly back to New York relieved to snatch a piece of discolored momentum – their 10-13 record.
The first quarter 34-17 was a masterpiece. Everything clicked. They watched the Bulls in a 0-for-8 brick show on the 3-point line.
Meanwhile, Randle drained three straight triples on three straight possessions, wearing his All-Star cap. No one can remember if Randle ever hit two consecutive 3s all last season.
Randle collected 15 points in 18 minutes in the first half. If it is not considered by the coaches of the All-Star team, something is wrong.
The NBA is finalizing plans to restore Atlanta’s All-Star game, and Randle seemed to expect it to be there.
“It’s going to be great to be a part of that,” Randle said.
As I wrote here earlier, Randle should be considered under a new lens – not as a commercial bait, but as an emerging star to be embraced. He set the tone on Wednesday, as the captains do.
The Nets have their next three Hall-of-Famers in 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% in terms of the New York market, according to industry sources.
For now, the Knicks have Randle, who has never been on a winning team and lost a lot of games in his last six seasons.
In the seventh season, Randle is the main reason Knicks has 10 wins. In the seventh season, Randle looks like a winner.