Tom Thibodeau made the comparability first, primarily based on the work ethic and management his greatest gamers, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, have displayed.
His rampaging group is reminding him of the late Nineteen Nineties Knicks that have been an annual playoff contender.
It definitely has felt like these halcyon days currently at MSG, when the Knicks have been a drive and the postseason was inevitable, and it certain had that type of vibe Wednesday evening.
The white-hot Knicks handled the Nets like a sparring associate, by no means permitting Monday’s large win over the Celtics to allow them to get forward of themselves.
Newcomer Josh Hart has mentioned the Knicks could make a postseason run, and the way in which they’re taking part in proper now, who’s to argue?
The Knicks equaled a franchise report with 14 first-half 3-pointers, shot a strong 60 p.c from the sector and annihilated the crumbling Nets, 142-118, at a joyous and sold-out Backyard for his or her seventh straight win.
Additionally they gained for the sixth straight time at residence, after struggling a lot in their very own constructing, and pulled to inside one sport within the loss column of the fourth-place Cavaliers.
After shedding 9 straight to the Nets, they’ve overwhelmed their intracity rivals twice in a row, each in dominant style.
The Nets are clearly very completely different now, after buying and selling Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, and the Knicks reminded them of that painful truth with an intensive beatdown.
There was no letup. Hart was diving into the gang and Brunson drawing costs with the sport properly in hand.
Thibodeau even challenged a blocking name with the Knicks up 26 and 4:58 left. He gained the problem.
It was that type of evening for the Knicks. Brunson poured in 39 factors to steer six Knicks in double figures. Quentin Grimes added 22 and Randle notched 21 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists because the Knicks made 20 of 35 from 3-point land.
Cameron Johnson had 33 factors for the Nets, who’ve misplaced 4 in a row and 6 of seven.
Randle sank the Knicks’ first field-goal try of the sport, a tough-angle right-corner 3-pointer deep into the shot clock.
It was an indication of what was to come back in an electrical evening on the Backyard. The Knicks hit six of their first seven 3-point makes an attempt and sank 9 of 11 after one quarter during which they piled up 47 factors — the second-most in franchise historical past — and 10 assists.
The second quarter didn’t see a lot enchancment for the Nets. The Knicks scored 34 extra in that stanza, and produced their most factors in a half since scoring 82 on Nov. 29, 2008, towards the Warriors.
Brunson was mainly computerized, scoring 30 factors within the half on 12 of 14 taking pictures.
Each Knick moreover Randle shot not less than 50 p.c from the sector, as they hit 68 p.c of their makes an attempt in an superior taking pictures show that noticed all Knicks rating.
The Knicks acquired an ovation from the gang as Brunson dribbled on the prime of the important thing of their last possession of the second quarter.
He then put an exclamation mark on the sensible 24 minutes with a fairly floater within the lane. It was such a great evening for the Knicks that they have been solely outscored by one within the third quarter regardless of committing 4 turnovers and taking part in sloppy and sluggish.
