Game 4 proves that OG Anunoby should be the Knicks second option. You can’t rely on KAT to stay on the court — too many careless fouls. He disappeared after the second foul while OG led the comeback. — Benjamin S. Brooklyn, NY.
I think your stronger argument would be that OG Anunoby elevates the top of the New York Knicks roster to “Big 3” status. On the biggest stage, Anunoby is showing the NBA that he is a legitimate star. The second-team NBA All-Defensive Team forward has been a force on both ends of the court.
In Wednesday night’s miracle at Madison Square Garden, he scored 33 points, shot 7-for-9 from 3-point range, had 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 game-saving block. The block came on De’Aaron Fox with 12 seconds left, setting up his (potentially) historic game-winning tip.
Honestly, I don’t think you need to build him up by tearing Karl-Anthony Towns down. Arguably the Knicks MVP in Games 1 and 2, Towns still impacted Game 4 despite his foul problems.
In only 26 minutes, he had an efficient 13 points on five shots with 10 rebounds. Plus, Towns made the unsung play of the game when he tipped Dylan Harper’s inbound pass to Stephon Castle as the final 1.2 seconds ticked off the clock.
If the Knicks win one more game to end their 53-year title drought, they will correctly be remembered as a great team rather than a collection of superstars. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have great players.
Anunoby, who didn’t appear in a Finals’ game when his Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games to win the 2019 NBA Championship, is taking full advantage of the spotlight seven years later.
Should the Rangers consider trading Adam Fox to the San Jose Sharks for the second overall pick? Word is the Sharks want to compete now and would want a vet. Spencer B. Darien, CT.
Let’s be clear: the New York Rangers want to win now too. Our new favorite owner — James Dolan — has given GM Chris Drury a long leash, but he doesn’t have the same lifetime contract that Glenn Sather had.
I’ve read a lot of Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin trade rumors, but they all seem to be fan generated. Drury explicitly called this a “retool” and not a “rebuild”. For the Rangers to get back into the playoffs next season, they are going to need their two highest paid players to perform like the Norris and Vezina trophy candidates they generally are.
Now, would Drury take a phone call from his old buddy Mike Grier — the former Drury assistant and current San Jose Sharks GM? Yes, and he should listen to see what it would take to move up to #2. But the odds of a trade happening are slim. The top of this draft is pretty deep and I believe the Rangers will sit back at #5 and take the best player on their board.
The deeper we get into the season, the more pissed I am that the Yankees “ran it back”. The bottom of the order is anemic, and the bullpen is shaky. Do you see anything major happening before the trade deadline? — Wayne M. Bronx, NY.
My Real Take is that the New York Yankees should have run it all the way back last winter. If they had retained Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, they would have the bullpen depth needed to withstand the inconsistencies of last year’s deadline acquisitions — David Bednar, Jake Bird, and Camilo Doval.
Williams had a disastrous April for the New York Mets, pitching to a 10.29 ERA in 7 innings. Since then, he has 12 scoreless appearances in 14 games. Meanwhile, his setup man Weaver has had a similar trajectory. His April ERA was 7.20, but he hasn’t given up an earned run in 16 appearances across May and June.
The good news for the Yankees is they believe that they will be able to fill at least two holes in the bullpen by converting a couple of starters into relievers once their rotation is healthy. The early odds favor lefty Ryan Weathers and minor league righty Carlos Lagrange getting the assignment.
However, I do expect them to target another reliever and a right-handed-hitting catcher at the deadline.
ICYMI “4 Things Knicks: From Punchline to Eastern Conference Champs”