The harsh glow of the regular season hits Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks Wednesday night in his season opener at empty Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
A 3-1 preseason was perfect, but even the novelty obi Topi knows it means little.
“Everyone talks about the difference because it’s real,” Toppin said after Tuesday’s practice before the Knicks flew in the Pacers ’face. “My Dayton coach used to say the preseason games were rubber bullets. When you get into the real games that count, they are real bullets. Let’s jump on the fire. ”
The Knicks had a great time, showing positive signs against the Pistons and Cavaliers, but these could be the two worst clubs in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks are also expected to be among the lowest in this pandemic-reduced 72-game season. Thibodeau’s winning story and some flashes of hope from possible youngsters RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and rookie Immanuel Quickley offer a portion of promise.
“We’re in a good place,” said starting striker Julius Randle, who has been losing teams throughout his six-year career. “We are taking steps, improving every day. So we feel safe getting into it [Wednesday]”.
But these are the Pacers, who have reached the playoffs five seasons in a row and set a 45-28 mark in 2019-20.
They have a new coach, former Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren. Sources say he lit a fire under the direction of Victor Oladipo, the All-Star shooting guard who took a step back from his knee surgery nearly two years ago and was on the commercial block.
“I think they’re a very talented team,” Thibodeau said. “They have built a fantastic base in recent years. They play offensively a little differently, but they are certainly one of the best teams in the East ”.
Thibodeau has not revealed his initial training. It’s an annoying decision. It has no stars, but many interchangeable parts.
Thibodeau can turn to a more veteran unit that started the first two preseason games: Elfrid Payton on goal, Alec Burks on shot, Barrett on small forward, Randle on forward and Nerlens Noel in center.
Robinson had a dynamic end to the preseason and was able to get the starting header, especially if Noel’s knee is still sore.
Quickley, a revelation of preseason rookies outside of Kentucky, may need more seasoning before receiving such a vital role at first. The 25th draft pick looked more shocking than Toppin, the eighth overall pick.
Thibodeau, a fan of short rotations, said that even for the opening, he would be left with 10 men. This could cause Guardians Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina did not play.
Knox, Quickley, Reggie Bullock, Robinson and Toppin seem to be certain candidates for the rotation.
“You have to rely on performance and merit, what the guys have done,” Thibodeau said sadly. “We have a good idea of who the 10 are and then they will ask who we start. There are a couple of positions that are basically 50 to 50 types of positions. Therefore, we are still evaluating it.
“We have a rotation, but it is not marked. We have an idea of what it might be like, but we are still finding our way. ”
The rotation is stuck, even without the presence of the combined protector Austin Rivers. He missed all training camp practices and preseason games with the groin stretched and is still not practicing. Rivers will be out in the first half of the season.
“Depth of quality is important,” Thibodeau said. “I think we have it.”
Whether the Knicks have a quality perimeter shot may be the most important issue.
In the first three preseason games, the Knicks were an abysmal 21-of-90 beyond the 3-point arc (23.3%, causing the teams to play a 2-3 zone). They straightened things out in the last five quarters, mostly by the strength of Knox and Bullock.
Burks, Bullock and Quickley each project themselves as decent deep shooters. Barrett and Randle seemed powerful enough, but still have no closer definition after President Leon Rose’s indescribable approach to free agency.
“I still see the Knicks as the 14th, 15th best team in the East,” said one NBA scout. “If I’m training against them, I would play in the zone the whole game. Bullock is his only established shooter. They are light years away from being tied for the playoffs. ”
Low expectations have caused the Knicks to shoot up.
They want their identity to be a wacky and smart defensive club.
“[We’re] just a hard-working group, a group that comes out there and brings defensive intensity, that tries to outdo our opponent, “Barrett said.” I think if you bring energy and play harder than the other team, you’ll “The position of winning every game. I think that’s what we have to hang on to.”
They will need that energy on Wednesday, when Thibodeau will train his first official match in almost two years.
“It’s what you miss when you’re out,” Thibodeau said. “After a while what you miss is the competition. I think the opening night for everyone is exciting and it’s just the beginning. “