New York Knicks: Celtic Woes and Mistletoe!
Despite playing with a clearly limited Porzingis, the New York Knicks showed their maturity and fortitude in perhaps their most impressive win of the season.
The Boston Celtics, despite having lost Gordon Hayward a few minutes into the season to a gruesome injury, are one of, if not the most successful team in the NBA this season (so far…). They have a pair of budding stars in the high-energy Jaylen Brown and efficiency monster Jayson Tatum, and they have top-tier talents in Kyrie Irving and Al Horford.
…which is exactly why the Knicks’ win last night was all the more impressive.
Granted, the Celtics had to be hurting, not just from going from warm Miami to the brutal cold of New York, but more because they just had coughed up a career-high 32 points to Kelly Olynyk in a revenge game versus the Heat the night before. But the Knicks deserved this win. Here’s why:
The Knicks showed teamwork, with put-back flush dunks from the likes of Kyle O’Quinn and Enes Kanter (who might have the softest hands for a big man in the league…outside of Marc Gasol), selflessness from Jarrett Jack, and gritty play from guys like Frank Ntilikina and Lance Thomas! But nothing will match the hungry, can-do, step-up-at-any-time-you-need-me play of former second overall lottery pick Michael Beasley.
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He is living proof that any talented player can thrive in a system. Take Jae Crowder, who was a nobody in Dallas, then went on to thrive in Boston’s system, and now is proving to be sub-par once again out in Cleveland.
The system is the difference! Selfless play and instilling confidence in each player from a cultural standpoint. Plays aren’t contrived to benefit the player making the most money. It’s about basketball: plain and simple.
When the season began 10 weeks ago, nobody thought the New York Knicks would be talked about as a systematic team this year, or even this decade for that matter. But on the eve of the new year, we are seeing that the only thing the Knicks should be resolving to do is stay healthy!
Next: New York Knicks Draft Prospect to Watch: Gary Trent Jr.
It’s okay to be a little terrified by Porzingis’s questionable one point and possibly lingering knee issue. But take solace in the fact that the Knicks beat the most successful team in the NBA last night without their Unicorn. It’s only getting better!
Happy New Year!