With due respect to Knicks fans, Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena is the most emaciated building in the NBA.
Another pandemic Saturday, downtown beach was empty. The Thunder are the only NBA franchise that has decided not to allow fans all season.
Even if there had been the usual pre-pandemic crowd, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett would have made sure to close them on Saturday.
Yes, that was against the unnamed Thunder without their best player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Randle and Barrett were two tornadoes rolling through the Great Plains.
And by routing the Thunder, 119-97, the Randle Knicks swept away with the negative talk that the second half of the season might not be as noisy as the first.
The Knicks didn’t have their two main point guards, Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose, but that was nonetheless a thing of beauty. Randle and Barrett have made sure of it and rookie goalkeeper Immanuel Quickley has gained more confidence from coach Tom Thibodeau in getting the start in the second half and guiding the game over the last two periods.
Ironman Randle went from his seven-point, five-rotation dormitory Thursday in Milwaukee to a historic triple-double. Barrett made history with his career and his first 30-point game: his 31 and 32 points in a Randle setup.
“He’s a great player, he was encouraging me to get the ball 30,” Barrett said. “Great leader, great boy.”
Randle achieved his own milestone in this fantastic second season as Knick, becoming the first player in 32 years to release two triple-doubles in one season for the franchise.
The last was Jeff Van Gundy’s broadcast partner Mark Jackson, a dear friend of Thibodeau, in 1988-89. Yes, Carmelo Anthony didn’t get two in seven seasons.
“Did Mark Jackson do that?” Asked Thibodeau, who left his bad mood in Milwaukee. “Mark was a great talent, a great Knick, a great boy too. I think it’s a little amazing. But Julius had a game of monsters. To mark how he did, the assists, the overall game, I think that’s what the leaders are doing. “
On Thursday night, after the Knicks had been defeated by the Bucks, Randle was confident that he has historically organized clunker outings in the first game after the All-Star break. A couple of days to dedicate to it served a lot.
“I had to go back, man,” Randle said. “I told you I’m not usually great in the first game after the All-Star break. I know it from myself. I tried to shut myself up, but history repeated itself. I went back and we got the victory and we went home. “
That was what the Knicks, who improved to 20-19, had to do with Monday against the Brooklyn Dream Team on Atlantic Avenue on Monday and the 76ers Eastern Leaders on Tuesday in Philadelphia (even if the Sixers star injured, Joel Embiid, will miss that one).
This was what Randle needed to make sure his second half is as perfect as his first half.
“Julius is a very proud player,” Thibodeau said. “There is no player in this league who will play very well during the 82 matches. I love the decision he has to come back and be ready to go and set the tone. He talks a lot about his leadership. “
Randle had recorded seven points, equaling his total in Milwaukee, just 3:12 of Saturday’s game. He had 14 points in the half, doubling the seven. When he finished, his line read 26 points, 12 assists, 12 rebounds.
And he had to share that day with Barrett, his growing chemistry for the game.
In the first quarter, Barrett went into the lane, drew the double and hit Randle in the left corner to get an open triple.
“They don’t suddenly start to be great,” Thibodeau said of Barrett’s rise. “I have had several players over the years where they improved every year. RJ will be one of those guys. And I love what Julius does. After seven years, it is still improving. “
Randle is an All-Star. Barrrett, now with 20-point games in five of the last six contests, looks like the Knicks ’next. Thibodeau already has the second star for Randle.
If this pandemic season is going to be special for the playoffs, the Knicks may need a more veteran piece.
Interestingly, before the match, Thibodeau dropped the name of Al Horford, the 34-year-old Thunder big man who probably wants to be changed to a contestant before March 25th.
“Any team that has Al Horford capable,” Thibodeau said, without asking.
The Knicks can use the depth of older men due to Mitchell Robinson’s center hand fracture and relative inexperience. Horford was fantastic in defeat, took rebounds, sank 3s and threw goals (16 points, 7 for 9).
“We went back to who we are as a team and to our identity,” Randle said. “It was encouraging.”
Here they come, Brooklyn.