No playoffs, but Knicks still have things to play for
RJ Barrett of the New York Knicks drives to the hoop against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — R.J. Barrett says the vibe has changed around the Knicks.
“It definitely feels different, hearing that you’re eliminated,” he said after practice on Friday. “For sure, disappointed, especially with the way we’ve been playing since the [All-Star] break. We’ve been playing amazing. So hearing that is tough.”
Tough but true, made official when the Hawks beat the Cavaliers on Thursday night — meaning that for the second year in a row, Atlanta ended the Knicks’ hopes.
The difference is that last season it happened in the playoffs after the Knicks secured the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. This time, they did not make the top 10. Although they have won nine of their last 14, they are 34-43, six games behind the Nets, Hornets and Hawks, who are tied for eighth.
But the NBA requires that they play the final five games, three against teams jockeying for playoff position, starting with the Cavaliers on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Barrett said being a spoiler can be “a fun role to play," so the Knicks intend to make the most of this final week or so. They will do so at least for Saturday without embattled star Julius Randle, who the team announced will miss the game because of a quadriceps injury. Randle is listed as day-to-day and is not currently set to be shut down for the season.
Coach Tom Thibodeau plans to keep getting his young players quality minutes, but he noted that he already was doing so before the team was eliminated. He did say he might be less inclined to use players with minor injuries than he would in other circumstances.
Barrett said he would advise his fellow young players to take the final five games seriously as professionals. As he noted, “Whether it's here, whether it's another team, whether it's anywhere, somebody is always watching.
“So go out and give it your all every second you are out there on the court. Leave nothing but positive things to be said about you, about your name.”
Barrett is averaging 20.1 points per game and would like to stay above the 20-point mark. Asked about that goal, he said, “I feel like I have five more games to get higher . . . I know things could change very fast in five games, so just have to stay locked in and stay focused and try to be better.”
He said he will do nothing to hinder the team in pursuit of the 20-point average and thanked his teammates and coaches for getting him to this point.
Barrett learned a lesson about not backing off during his time at Duke under coach Mike Krzyzewski, whose career will end either Saturday or Monday as the Blue Devils play in the Final Four.
“One time, I was 8-for-30 [shooting] and he got mad at me because I started to hesitate,” Barrett said. “So he's like, ‘Man, don't hesitate, because you should have shot 10 more shots.’
“I said, ‘Dang, Coach, 40 shots?’ He said, ‘I don't want you to hesitate. Play free. Be yourself. We're living and dying with you.’ So that's always something you could appreciate from a coach.”
Barrett said he has carried that approach to the NBA. “That’s my mindset,” he said. “I’m going to be myself. I can’t hesitate. Gotta make the right play.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
