Need More 

By: Mike Rifkin

Despite losing in game two, the Knicks will return to Madison Square Garden tied 1-1 in their first-round series with the Cavaliers. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, who missed the last couple of weeks with a sprained ankle, have done their part. Brunson is averaging 23.5 points, four assists, and 3.5 rebounds. Randle is averaging 20.5 points, nine rebounds, and 2.5 assists. 

There are two other players that the Knicks will need more from if they are to win this series. Those players are Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. Quickley, a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man Of The Year, averaged 14.9 points per game and shot 44.8 % from the field and 37% from three. Quickley, through two games in this series, is averaging 7.5 points per game and is shooting 30.8% from the field and 16.7% from three. Quickley, who had a significant impact on the regular season for the Knicks, needs to start impacting this series. 

RJ Barrett also needs to pick it up for a different reason. Before the season, Barrett was signed to a four-year 107 million dollar contract, and not just the contract, but Barrett was one of the pieces the Utah Jazz wanted in exchange for Donovan Mitchell, who is now a Cavalier. Barrett averaged 19.6 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists during the season. Through two games in this series, Barrett is averaging 10.5 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 3.0 assists per game, and 2..5 steals per game. Barrett shot 43.4 percent from the field during the regular season. In this series, he is shooting 24 percent from the field. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 27.5 points per game through two games. If the Cavs win this series, people will look and say if the Knicks had gotten Mitchell, they would’ve won. If Barrett plays well and the Knicks win the series, it becomes a non-issue, if they lose, people will look at Knicks management and ask why they didn’t make the deal.

If these two give the Knicks more, their chance of winning goes up. But for now, this series has turned into a best-of-five. Friday night, the Garden will be rocking.