Here are three observations from the Knicks’ second straight victory, a 110-103 win over the Lakers on Sunday at the Garden. Even though they beat an injury-ravaged Lakers club, it was a noteworthy win.
1. Mike D’Antoni’s teams are always a danger offensively with their speedball ways, and the Knicks needed to score a lot to win this. And they did score a lot – even without second-leading scorer Andrea Bargnani.
It is now the elephant in the room. The Knicks simply look like a freer, looser offensive team with Bargnani out of the picture with an elbow injury that he is rehabbing. He had played every single game until Friday, and in the two games since, the Knicks have racked up 125 and 110 points. On Friday, it was mostly Anthony, and Sunday it was everybody chipping in against the defense-challenged Lakers.
The chemistry with Bargnani has been a question, and now you can see why. Often, when he gets the ball, it’s either going up for an open look or it’s a shot-fake followed by a drive. He almost never passes out of the drive, which can lead to others getting stagnant. Forget about the defense. There seems a better flow and pace on offense. Plus, Anthony doesn’t seem obligated to get Bargnani the ball.
Bottom line: The Knicks are 2-0 minus Bargnani and 15-27 with him. Mike Woodson didn’t seem all that broken up about it when he announced the news about Bargnani’s status. He’s a decent scorer, but doesn’t bring enough intangibles on the court and isn’t emotional. For certain, the Knicks played with emotion in both games.
2. The Bargnani injury is giving Woodson a long look at Cole Aldrich and Jeremy Tyler, the two young bigs on the roster. There they were on the court together late in the first quarter. In 21 combined minutes, Aldrich and Tyler combined for nine rebounds. This is a chance for the organization to see what they have before Amar’e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin reenter the fray, possibly by week’s end.
The Knicks realize how much of an injury risk Martin and Stoudemire are — probably Martin more so, due to his chronic ankle issue. They must determine whether they need to add another big man at the trade deadline as insurance. So far, Tyler has shown plenty of activity on both ends, and Aldrich really can rebound. So far, so good.
3. Tim Hardaway Jr. was selected 24th in the draft — that makes 23 rookies who were tabbed ahead of him. Yet it would be surprising if Hardaway were not named to the Rising Stars Challenge for rookies and sophomores during All-Star weekend in New Orleans.
D’Antoni pegged Hardaway’s “freaking 3-pointers” as the difference in the Lakers game. Hardaway went 4-of-5 from behind the arc and finished with 18 points. The Michigan product wasn’t touted as a terrific 3-point shooter coming out of school — more a scorer, the scouts said — but he has become one. He’s clicking at 40.5 percent from downtown, and has been a lot more dangerous than Iman Shumpert from long range.
Hardaway, who wore a Michigan hat and jacket as he left the locker room, was extremely high on the Knicks draft board and didn’t feel he’d drop to 24. The Knicks were all over it, and he’s been the most pleasant surprise of the season.