The New York Knicks started the season in embarrassing fashion, losing to the Boston Celtics 132 to 109. 

The game never felt close. Boston made 10 three-pointers in the first quarter and never looked back. The Knicks scored efficiently but couldn’t keep up with the three-point barrage.

New York’s offense looked fine. Jalen Brunson paced the team’s scoring, while Karl-Anthony Towns capitalized on post-up opportunities whenever Boston failed to double him. But the Knicks’ efficient scoring inside couldn’t keep up with Boston’s ridiculous perimeter.

But even as New York shot 55% from the field, their defense and rebounding failed to keep things close. Boston set screens well above the three-point line and capitalized on Knicks’ centers dropping too far to challenge shots. 

The Celtics attempted a whopping 60 three-pointers, tying an NBA record by hitting 29. By the end of the game, Boston’s bench chucked threes with impunity as they chased the record without any threat from the Knicks.

But it’s not all a loss. Let’s look at some stand-out performances.

Notable Performances

The Good

Miles McBride: 22 PTS (8/10 FG, 4/5 3PT, 2/3 FT), 2 AST, 1 TO in 26 mins

Deuce McBride gave Knicks’ fans a reason for optimism on an otherwise brutal night. He hit a three as soon as he entered the game and proceeded to knock down tough jumpers repeatedly. 

New York’s bench needs a scorer, and McBride seems poised to fill that role. He hit jumpers off the dribble with ease and got the rim occasionally. If he can add some creation for teammates, there’s potential for sixth man of the year in his future.

The Mid

Jalen Brunson: 22 PTS (9/14 FG, 1/2 3PT, 3/3 FT), 1 REB, 2 AST, 4 TO in 25 mins

Jalen Brunson could have gone for 30 with his typical allotment of minutes. His scoring looked comfortable, as always.

But Brunson’s game felt disappointing because he didn’t capitalize on the new weapons around him. The Knicks’ star only picked up a pair of assists and doubled that total with four turnovers. Too often, he settled into a methodical one-man attack that failed to involve his teammates.

It’s proof that Jalen Brunson is a star when I call 22 points on 9 of 14 shooting disappointing. But if you watched the game, you’ll know what I mean. We've seen playoff Brunson, the maestro, and this wasn't him.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 12 PTS (5/9 FG, 1/2 3PT, 1/1 FT), 3 AST, 7 REB in 24 mins

Kart-Anthony Towns didn’t force offense and scored efficiently. But he spent most of the night guarded by Jrue Holiday and only registered 12 points and 1 free throw attempt. That’s not enough against the mismatch.

Like Brunson, KAT settled for a slow approach to offense, leaving less room for others to get involved. Towns is an underrated passer, but his decision-making felt a step behind this time.

Towns struggled defensively, losing sight of his man and dropping too deep to stop pull-up jumpers. He deserves time to figure things out in Thibodeau's defense. So, he gets a pass for now.

The Bad

OG Anunoby: 4 PTS (1/7 FG, 0/4 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL in 34 mins

OG Anunoby never got into the flow of the game. His scattered looks from the field were often forced and rarely accurate. He produced some assists and rebounds, but nothing to write home about.

The pedestrian production looks worse next to Anunoby’s big contract extension. Especially when his defensive impact failed to register more than a blip against Boston’s shooting onslaught. 

Jericho Sims: 4 PTS (2/3 FG), 9 REB, 1 AST, 2 BLK, 1 TO in 22 mins

Jericho Sims’ numbers aren’t anything special, but his impact felt even smaller than the production. 

He grabbed his share of boards, but Boston’s second unit grabbed seven offensive boards. Sims blocked two shots, but he dropped a mile off every pick-and-roll attack, leaving shooters wide-open. 

Other Notes

• Mikal Bridges looked lost in the first half but settled into a nice offensive flow during a 16-point second half. Let’s give him time before we sweat his jumpshot.

• The rookies got limited minutes but looked promising. Pacome Dadiet got rotation minutes and hit a three-pointer. Tyler Kolek hit his first three-pointer as well. While Ariel Hukporti didn’t score, he had a beautiful block and rebounded well in just five minutes.

• Cam Payne deserves an honorable mention. He gave New York solid minutes, but not enough to turn things around.

Closing Thoughts

Take a deep breath and repeat after me: this was only one game, and it came against the defending champs and early favorites to win the championship.

The Knicks brought a new squad to Boston and ran into a well-oiled machine. It’s too early to freak out about anything this early into the season.

I watched KAT and Sims struggle to get their defensive spacing right all game. That’s going to happen early on in Thibodeau’s drop-heavy defense. I’ll be more concerned if the problems linger after a month or two. 

The Pacers are another team built to stretch the floor, so Friday’s match-up is concerning. But win or lose, there will be 80 games left after that. This team has time to gel and plenty of room to grow.

It’s a brand new season. Let’s enjoy the prospects of watching a team develop with more upside than any roster we’ve watched in this millennium. I’ll see you next time, Knicks fam!

Thumbnail image credit: NBA and @IQfor3 on X