For the New York Lottery Police Department, Monday was a very big night.
The Mavericks lost the fifth straight game by falling to 8-13 and the Knicks dropped the fifth of six outings to fall to 9-13. The Knicks are now the worst four games of the season below .500.
If the season ended today, the Knicks would keep the sixth and ninth seed of the 2021 NBA draft lottery.
From Kristaps Porzingis ’trade two years ago, the Knicks own the unprotected selection of the first round of the Mavericks this year (the first round of Dallas 2023 has protection in the top 10).
So while Knicks fans may soon be approaching to cheer on another tank, they should know that the best lottery selections again have as many chances of failing as of success.
Just look at the Knicks ’list and the difficulties of four of their best lottery selections: Kevin Knox (2018), Obi Toppin (2020), Frank Ntilikina (2017) and Dennis Smith Jr. (2017, acquired in the Porzingis trade).
Ironically, one of his best young players, rookie Immanuel Quickley, was ranked No. 25 after being projected as a second-round pick.
As it stands, Knox is no longer part of Tom Thibodeau’s ten-man rotation with the club now healthier than it has been all season.
Ntilikina is also out of rotation since he returned last week from a sprained knee. Smith Jr. he heads to Orlando to play for the Westchester Knicks in the G-League bubble, as he is buried from almost the beginning.
And there’s also the curious case of Toppin, the November 8 issue that came with a stellar Dayton resume. The college player of the year missed three weeks with a calf stump, but returned to rotation on Jan. 13 as a lightly used backup.
The 22-year-old striker has had little impact with Julius Randle occupying most of the minutes. Toppin seems a bit lost running, setting up screens, opening up and not getting the ball.
Toppin has not shown enough strength to create his own shot. It is also firing only 26 percent from the 3-point range, which means its future as stretch 4 is uncertain.
“He’s someone you don’t know yet,” an NBA coach said.
On Monday in Chicago, Toppin entered Randle to start the fourth quarter. But in less than two minutes, Thibodeau ripped it off Randle. In his 1:57 stage, Toppin committed two fouls and made no shots.
Thibodeau said the Bulls owned the boards and wanted Randle back in the contest. Toppin played 8:46 in the loss, scoring four points and making his solo shooting attempt: an alley-oop fall.
Thibodeau indicated that Toppin’s team’s defense is still a problem. Clearly, Toppin lost the summer league more than most rookies from a major half of Dayton, who never had a chance to show his stuff at the canceled NCAA tournament. due to the pandemic.
Maybe Toppin’s drafts wouldn’t have been so high if he hadn’t mastered Big Dance, but we’ll never know. He averages 4.6 points in 12 games.
“He’s been playing pretty well,” Thibodeau said after the contest. “(Monday) we started the fourth and the rebound was a problem. And so they just play around with it. But I like the things he does, he plays with a lot of energy. I would say it’s the most important part of him learning the NBA. “
Toppin’s defense was his problem coming out of Dayton. That’s why Cleveland went with Isaac Okoro at No. 5 when the draft drills caused Toppin, the late 22-year-old foil, to stay in Ohio.
“Defending and being a man with multiple efforts, you have to do more than one thing,” Thibodeau said of Toppin. “You can get the starting part, but there’s also a second, third and fourth part. So we’re asking you to do a lot of things. You’re picking it up. It’s improving. I like your approach. I just keep working.”
As announced, Thibodeau plays the guys he believes will help him win, regardless of the lottery resume, youth, or potential.
So Knox is offside. He took two DNPs in a row and Thibodeau confirmed he was not in the ten-man rotation. Thibodeau won’t send him to the G League, but he still knocks on the door.
“In Kevin’s situation, he remains very situational and things can change quickly depending on confrontations, fouls, injuries, illnesses,” Thibodeau said. “He would be the next guy. Some could also be clashes.”
The Knicks have lost two in a row since Knox was retired, giving up 129 points and 115 points, respectively. Defense is Knox’s weak point. On Monday, the Knicks also shot just 6 of 29 from a 3-point lead. Knox’s specialty is 3-ball.
Meanwhile, Ntilikina has suffered four consecutive DNPs since his return. He is a defensive specialist and Thibodeau is a defensive coach.
As the Knicks make their nest in Chicago, awaiting Wednesday’s rematch at the United Center, Thibodeau has a lot to think about.
But so do Knicks fans who think the lottery is always the way to nirvana.