'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The New York Knicks traveled to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas to face the Houston Rockets in a game, whose result was already decided by critics and fans alike. Yet, the Knicks tried their best to trouble the dominating Houston Rockets, ending up losing heavily, 96-120.
The Houston Rockets, with this win, consolidated their third place in the Western Conference. With a 52-28 record, the Rockets are now 1.5 games ahead of the 4th placed Portland Trail Blazers, who lost to the Denver Nuggets.
The Rockets have won 8 of their last 10 matches and have gone on a 5 game winning streak as well. They lost only 4 of their last 24 games and will be looking to cement their homecourt advantage, where they have won 30 of their 40 total home games.
The New York Knicks, on the other hand, have cemented their spot as the worst team in the NBA this season with a 15-64 record and are on the path of landing a top draft prospect and have won just 2 of their last 10 matches. With these in mind, let us look at the top 3 talking points from tonight's game.
#3. Mitchell Robinson might be the steal of the 2018 NBA draft
The New York Knicks had drafted Kevin Knox with much fanfare, with the #8 draft pick they got in the 2018 NBA draft in the first round. But the player who seemed to have made all the impact in the team has been the second round pick Mitchell Robinson.
2 weeks into the season, he had taken over the starting job from Enes Kanter as David Fizdale loved his athleticism and his freakishly long arms, which projected him both as a rim running and shot blocking center, something not really common in the league.
While his season has been marred with injuries and foul troubles (one game where he racked up 6 fouls in under 10 minutes), he has been one of the most dominant centers in the league of late.
Ever since DeAndre Jordan has been out, Robinson has been unleashed. His last game where he had just 1 block was on February 2nd against the Boston Celtics. He has been superb for the Knicks, both on the offense and on defense and has been efficient with his scoring.
He has averaged 2.5 blocks per game this season in 63 games and has shot 69.3% from the floor. In the loss against the Rockets, Robinson only managed 12 points but shot 83% from the field, along with grabbing 9 rebounds and swatting 5 shots in just 28 minutes. The Knicks will be thrilled with his performances and will look for him to get better next season.
#2. The Houston Rockets keep on rolling
The Houston Rockets had endured a torrid start to their 2018-19 NBA season and were languishing out of the playoff spots thanks to injuries and a loss of form to their top players Chris Paul and Clint Capela.
They still mounted one of the biggest comebacks during the regular season, thanks to some jaw-dropping performances by James Harden. They have now a fit Chris Paul and Clint Capela back and look to become one of the most devastating teams in the NBA.
Chris Paul this season has been quieter than usual, but of late has become the Chris Paul of old, grabbing himself a lot of double-doubles as he is able to find open teammates easily again. In the win over the Knicks, Paul played just 24 minutes but had himself 11 points and 11 assists.
Clint Capela is one of the best players in the pick and roll scenarios in the NBA and has shown it with his consistent form and effort, both on offense and defense. He scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in just 24 minutes, an enormous feel.
Anything and everything about James Harden's record season is what most people are talking about. The MVP candidate has been off the charts lately, averaging a massive 36 points per game for the season. He had a relatively quieter game, scoring 26 points in just 29 minutes, with 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
The Rockets have managed to win 5 games in a row already and are looking them dangerous self again. Keep an eye out on them to upset current NBA champions in a series which went to the final game in the playoff.
#1. The Knicks need the star free agents
The New York Knicks have been bad, really bad, in the 2018-19 NBA season. They traded their star player Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in order to clear out room to land 2 superstar free agents in the impending free agency.
There have been reports that the Knicks have targeted Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as their 2 main free agent players that will bring them back to the limelight and they really need these star players next season.
The Knicks fans have never been one to show patience, neither have the media. Fizdale has done a great job tanking this team towards the #1 pick but has to pick up the slack next season and lead the Knicks back to the playoffs.
Improving from a 15 win season is not a huge task but going to the playoffs will change everything for this franchise, who have been in the dumps for a while now. Players like Durant moving here will make them instant contenders, helping satiate the ravenous fan base.
The game against the Rockets put a full stop in this as the team the Knicks put out did not have a single household name that the fans could chant and boast about. The way in which they lost so easily with no real leader to push them back into contention also proved that point. They need that free agency to come soon and they need to land their targets too.
Guess the Lakers players!
