1:58 left in the 3Q, Quix passes to Randle in the backcourt, for Julius to bring it across. Why? I thought we banished that last year. Is Franc mentoring Quix?
Happens right in front of Ante-Greek ready to check in.
Next Knick possession, Randle gets the rebound and dribbles upcourt himself, and Giannis swoops in and steals it just before Randle crosses halfcourt.
Boo!
Right before that Quick did a lazy Franc pass to Randle at the top of the 3-point arc, which Clyde thought Portis was going to steal. Quix needs to learn from Rose not Franc.
I watched the 4Q.
Takeaways: some bad Burks D.
At the 3:23 mark, Bucks come down in a 5-on-4 after RJB got his shot blocked.
Taj points out to Burks which guy he should take (Torey Craig rolling towards the hoop). But somehow Burks doesn't notice that or that Taj is hedging between two Bucks, so Burks heads out towards the 3point shooter (who a late arriving RJB is about to pick up). So it becomes a 2-on-1 and Craig gets an easy bucket.
Taj left standing there visibly annoyed.
Knick transition D has been ugly all year. Randle, Burks, RJB the worst offenders.
But there Taj even called out the man Burks should guard, and Knix were reasonably back, just needed to play adequate D for 3 secs until RJB got back into the play.
Taj played real nice D all game. Just always in the right position.
If you can't spot 2 or 3 Burks defensive miscues a game, you aren't paying enough attention. And teams go at Burks. JRue drive baseline, got right near the rim, and just muscled in a layup over Burks. Middleton hit a pair of midrange late 3Q J's over Burks (not a good matchup for NYK). Burks has solid on ball effort mostly, but his instincts on rotations and closeouts are usually poor.
Toppings makes some odd plays.