Tibbs Defense Has Been Wilting
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Samori Benjamin
One of the more encouraging things about the Knicks 47-win regular season a year ago was they beat the Boston Celtics the last three times they played them. Now the Celtics have started this season beating the Knicks three consecutive times. The latest Knicks defeat to their longest NBA rival came last Friday night December 8th 133-123 in Boston. Knicks 2015 first round draft pick, number four overall, Kristaps Porzingis returned to the lineup for the Celtics after missing a few games with a calf injury to score 21 points. MVP candidate Jason Tatum scored 25 points for Boston, and starting shooting guard Derrick White had a game high 30 points for the Celtics. RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson both had team high 23 points for the Knicks and Julius Randle scored 20. The Celtics this season are a perfect 10-0 at home.
Raptors May Move OG
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The Knicks next game this past Monday night ended a two-game losing streak with a 136-130 win over the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. The previous two losses were against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, as they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks before the Celtics loss. The Knicks have won 11 of their last 16 games after losing four of their first six to start the season. The win against Toronto was just their first home game of December and they only have two more in the month. Back-to-back matinees on the 23rd and Christmas Day against Milwaukee.
Of the Knicks 14 games in the month of December all but two of their opponents have a record above .500. The Knicks now embark on a five-game road trip with the fifth game coming in Brooklyn on December 20th against the Nets. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 34 points and 8 rebounds against Toronto while RJ Barrett had 27 points, and Jalen Brunson provided 21 points. OG Anunoby, who is often linked in trade rumors involving the Knicks, led Toronto with 29 points. This time a week ago the Knicks were averaging the fewest points allowed in the NBA at 105 points per game. Since, they have allowed their last three opponents to score 130 points or more. They have now allowed the fourth fewest points on average. At 13-9 there is much basketball left to be played as 60 games remain.
