RJ Barrett naively wondered if the Garden fans would cheer. Gratitude was inevitable. This crowd has endured nearly two decades of misery, and in that context, Barrett's tenure can only be considered a blessing.
A low bar produces good applause.
As such, Barrett and Immanuel Quickley received a standing ovation during pregame introductions. It was a pretty emphatic reaction, excited and voluminous. MSG honored them with dual videos during the first timeout.
It's great for everyone involved.
But the rest of the night served as a reminder of why the Knicks shipped them north of the border. By the third quarter, cheers of appreciation for Barrett and Quickley turned into “MVP” chants for Jalen Brunson as the Knicks defeated the Raptors 126-100.
Most of the analysis and discussion surrounding the trade revolves around the impact and fit of OG Anunoby, who was seamless and virtually perfect.
But this trade was also about Jalen Brunson. Everything about the Knicks these days is about Jalen Friggin Brunson. The best path to increased offensive efficiency is through Brunson. He's the franchise's most ball-dominant scorer since Carmelo Anthony, so he didn't have to share the ball with more scorers, especially Barrett and Quickley. He’s the Knicks’ highest scoring point guard since Clyde Frazier…yes, we’re going there….
No apologies to Stephon Marbury.
When Barrett, Quickley and the rebuilding Raptors showed weakness Saturday, Brunson dissected them with his usual array of pivots, misdirections and dead-eye shots. These days, it feels like Brunson is expected to deliver a 38-point performance like Saturday's.
Barrett couldn't do anything.
And we could see that the former No. 3 overall pick showed his strength. Barrett drew a charge in the first two minutes, his first since two seasons ago. He dunked and bent over. Barrett's revenge juices were flowing. His mistake was taking on the task of protecting Branson, but as expected, it backfired.
Barrett and Quickley did a lot of good things with the Knicks. A defensive powerhouse, they weren't.
This was another reason for the deal, the Anunoby factor.
Immediately after the trade, an NBA assistant coach spoke about why he feels Tom Thibodeau is trying to replicate his team and style of play from Chicago.
More specifically, he offered the following player comparisons:
Brunson is Derrick Rose. He is a point guard who dominates the ball and prioritizes scoring.
Anunoby is Luol Deng. This is a solid wing defense.
Julius Randle is Carlos Boozer. He is a rebounder and a skilled finisher at power forward.
Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson are part of the dirty work crew of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, and Noah and Hartenstein can do the dishes.
Indeed, there are many differences between these players. But Thibodeau has a type and a style of play. Anunoby is better suited for that than Quickley or Barrett.
All the vibes are positive for the Knicks right now, but there are concerns about how this will play out in the playoffs. Anunoby has never played more than 69 games in the past five seasons. There were some random injuries and situations, but the Raptors were also the originators of load management.
Thibodeau does not perform load management.
At the risk of being labeled as a minutes police informant, there's no guarantee Anunoby will be able to stay fit while playing every game with a career-high minutes. Randle didn't have an 18-point triple-double, but he needs to prove he can deliver in the playoffs. Hartenstein, who was the indispensable starting center last month, injured his ankle on Saturday and was replaced in the second half.
Things can always go the wrong way, but Brunson showed once again on Saturday why he doesn't need to share shots with the players he currently has in Toronto.
