Although the Knicks have performed well below expectations this season, the players will still have given the smiles of their fans in Madison Square Garden tonight. Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickey in the foreground, who absolutely broke everything once morest the Raptors.
For their farewell ceremony to the 2021-22 season, the Knicks ended on a high note, with a fine 105-94 victory over the Raptors, certain to finish fifth in the Eastern Conference before the game even started. At the center of this victory? The two local youngsters: Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley. This night the darlings thought they were at the All-Star Game, slamming furious dunks, killer 3-pointers or floaters in complete relaxation, and the two sophomores have each beaten their career high. Obi Toppin with style (42 points at 16/28 to shoot including 6/14 from afar and 10 rebounds), Manu Quickley with his second career triple-double (34 points to 12/26 to shoot, 10 rebounds and 12 assists ). Even if New York will no longer play an official match before October, Madison Square Garden will have seen its two little braggarts ecstatic tonight, enough to smile, especially since this has not been the case very often this season.
Because yes, the Knicks season was very complicated. A memorable start once morest Boston… but Julius Randle who sulks, a missing defense and a difficult to integrate Kemba Walker, and here we are only on the tip of the iceberg. This group has a certain potential that we will have to identify, support and above all strengthen. He has the experience of Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, the ardor of the kids Quickley, Toppin and Sims, the skill and versatility of RJ Barrett and a potential leader in JVLIVS Randle even if we choke a little in l writing. The coming summer will be decisive, we know the Knicks and they are capable of all possible madness. But let’s not think regarding all that for the moment and rather enjoy one last time the spectacle offered to us by the two sophomores in white and orange this evening. Kids who have respected their roles by putting smiles on faces, despite the difficult period. It’s already that, isn’t it?
The Knicks have two very valuable nuggets for the next few seasons. Spectacular, skillful, imposing, these two leaders in manufacturing are possibly the future of New York. While waiting to see how their development evolves, the holidays begin for the Big Apple. Six months of rest in the sun, the lucky ones.
