Lost in the joy of a win on Boston's home court, and the heroics of Trey Burke.
The manner in which Fizz is keeping the Burke, Ntilikina and Mudiay competition active and positive, finding meaningful minutes for all.
Last night Trey was first off the bench at PG and Frank was first off the bench at SF.
Trey [32 minutes] was spectacular.
Frank [27 minutes] was solid.
Emmanuel [20 minutes] got the starting five into rhythm, even though his own offense was sputtering (still two assists, a trey and 2-2 from the line).
Ntilkina had a couple of really impressive drives to the hoop, and one has to believe that such aggressive penetration should be a bigger part of his offensive game. He missed both of his threes, but hit a Trey Burke midrange jumper, and had two really impressive penetration-finishes.
Ntilikina also drew the defensive assignment on Celtics bell cow Jayson Tatum, who had 15 points and 8 rebounds in 29 minutes, but was 4-12 from the floor and 6-9 from the charity stripe. French Frank got up in his grill and really made him work.
Oh, and a shout out to Senor Farce [Farsi?]...Trier had 8 points and 3 assists in 15 minutes, with a team leading +14.
Pardon me while I slink away to get a grip. Bradley Beal a wonderful player [21.8 ppg, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists], playing with one of the league's premier point guards. Meanwhile, Timmy getting it done for the Knicks in a less settled rotation, and is putting up comparable numbers [24.2 ppg, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals and second in the league in taking charges behind Kyle Lowry of the Raptors]. Oh, and last season, over 57 games, Timmy was 146-179 from the charity stripe. This year, in 18 games, he is already 96-115. If he stays healthy and maintains that pace of FTAs, might we be looking at something on the order of 475 attempts?
So riddle me this. Playing as Beal does with one of the league's premier PGs, and being so demonstrably superior to Timmy (and eliciting a hearty Falstaffian guffaw from the Bizzer when I dared utter the 22 year old Trier's name in the same breath, upside be damned), how come the Wizards, a playoff team last season, are currently 6-11 and the demonstrably inferior Knicks, with a demonstrably inferior SG, are 5-14? Riddle me that, Trader Vic.
[We now pause so that Senor Farsi can lock and load and return fire, Biz Be Praised]
PS: Again, the Pelicans would appear to have our number. Let's see which Knicks team shows up on its home floor tomorrow, and if we can string together TWO/48 Minute Team Efforts & Executions in a row, let alone exacting some payback from a team which ought to be piping hot after an photo finish with the Sixers.
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