I had a blog in my drafts titled “Trade Everyone”, the Knicks 4-game losing streak had me ready to turn Deadseriousness into a hockey website.
After getting blown out by the first-place Detroit Pistons on Monday night, nationally broadcast on Peacock, in front of all the hoes, I didn’t go into Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with Ruby Franke’s faith in Jodi Hildebrandt.
But in one of the most important games of the season, a game with the potential to drop the Knicks behind the Jayson Tatom-less Celtics, 5 straight losses could’ve sent New York into the middle of public, loud Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks, again.
Andddd the Knicks beat the Clippers, 123-111, New York once again looking like the best team in the East.
Here are my 4 takeaways from the Knicks rejuvenation game:
1. The Knicks finally practiced
The Knicks hit the practice floor today pic.twitter.com/aIrywbzEsp
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 6, 2026
Since hitting the jackpot in Vegas, New York’s been dragged across the country, Christmas AND New Year’s shrunk into an eye blink, a starter down, Josh Hart icing his ankle, no time to sit down, grab the Nintendo Switch and catch up on All Her Fault on Peacock.
Everyone texting them about Sarah Snook’s performance and they’re boarding a plane to New Orleans.
More importantly to basketball, the Knicks had a chance to practice.
The Knicks recorded 15 assists against the Pistons.
Against the Clippers, 7 assists in the first quarter alone (finished the game with 31 assists, twice as many as their previous game).
Standing around with their hands in their pockets, kicking make-believe rocks against Detroit, the Knicks practiced one time and remembered they were allowed to cut to the basket.
Last season, Steve Kerr expressed frustrations with the travel schedule and was met with condescension from podcasters who work from home.
It’s kinda crazy we expect NBA players to compete in high-leverage games every other night without a chance to ever practice with each other.
The first year under Mike Brown, these new play designs and concepts not yet internalized; the more practices the Knicks can sneak in before the playoffs start, the better I feel about this team’s chance of winning the whole damn thing.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns needs a sit-down convo
My feelings for Karl-Anthony waning. 6 points and 6 turnovers against the best team in the East.
A mouse on defensive, barely releasing a squeak after each compounding mistake, the other four guys on the court don’t know or when to help and switch, KAT terrified, stressed and embarrassed all night.
Despite scoring 21 points in the Knicks win over the Clippers, his night was beligerent.
Towns started the game at the top of the key, finding cutters, racking up assists but when it came time to assert himself as an offensive threat, KAT regressed to his worst reflexes, losing his dribble mid-drive and flailing at the rim to draw a foul while he trips over his own sneakers, slamming into the hardwood, begging for the refs to bail him out.
The refs never give Karl-Anthony Towns the whistle. It’s not a personal beef with him. They’re aren’t upset about him arguing. They don’t think he’s zesty.
KAT doesn’t get calls because he’s not fouled.
It’s like how NFL referees don’t call pass interference if the QB doesn’t throw a catchable ball.
Any contact KAT may or may experience on his drives is ignored because the refs, always, see KAT’s already lost control of the ball because he cannot dribble into a contested paint.
Later in the game, KAT was able to get himself to the free throw line, finishing through contact to get real, actual shot attempts on rim to force the ref’s hand.
Karl-Anthony Towns needs to be sat down and made to watch his own film, Clockwork Orange style, until he realizes how clumsy and ineffective his weak-ass drives are.
3. Deuce McBride is untouchable
Miles McBride is the 7th-best 3-point shooter in the NBA, 45% from three. The Knicks need to upgrade their bench. Geurshon Yabusele is barely an NBA player. Mohamed Diawara is a rookie, unprepared for the warzone he’s walking into.
With the rise of Tyler Kolek, a guy who steps onto the court to grab the steering wheel of the game and floor the gas pedal, Deuce McBride looked like a huge asset the Knicks could flip for an impactful wing.
“You can make an argument that Deuce McBride is the best 3-point shooter in the league right now.
“He entered tonight 46% that ranks 5th –– but among the top 5 he’s the only guy taking more than 6 a game”
–– @LT__Murray pic.twitter.com/Yu4umfCX18
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 8, 2026
- 16 points
- 4 threes
- 4 assists
- 1 steal
- 1 block
Do not trade this man.
Why do the Knicks even want Jose Alvarado?
Stop it.
4. Kawhi Leonard is the best basketball player in the world
I wrote about Kawhi Leonard returning to Finals MVP form in this week’s Hoop Diaries, but Kawhi is still balling.
25 points, 3 steals, business as usual. The Clippers lost. Not Kawhi.
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