The NBA season is underway and we get the season opening contest between a pair of teams hoping to make some noise in their respective conferences as they tip off in Bluff City. It’s the New York Knicks making the trip south as they face the Memphis Grizzlies in interconference action Wednesday night. New York finished the 2021-22 campaign 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 37-45 record and missed the postseason. Memphis went 56-26 in the regular season last year, claiming the first division title in franchise history, beat the Timberwolves in six games in the opening round of the playoffs and lost to eventual champion Golden State in six games in the conference semifinals. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Grizzlies own a narrow 26-24 advantage and they swept the season series a year ago. That includes a 118-114 home win in the most recent ma tchup on March 11, 2022.
New York had optimism last season after making the postseason in 2020-21 but ended up flopping as they finished in the basement of the Atlantic Division. Their 37-45 record left them 11th in the Eastern Conference and six games behind the Hornets for the final spot in the play-in tournament. New York didn’t make a ton of moves in free agency but they did make a splash with the signing of Jalen Brunson from the Mavericks. The Knicks also brought in big man Isaiah Hartenstein while retaining Mitchell Robinson. New York was rumored all offseason as a suitor for Donovan Mitchell but were unable to hammer out a deal: he was subsequently dealt to Cleveland. The Knicks didn’t lose much in the offseason as Taj Gibson signed with the Wizards while Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel were traded to Detroit.
Last year, the Knicks were 26th in the league in scoring offense with 106.5 points per contest. New York was tied for 4th in the league in rebounding as they collected 46.1 rebounds per game while they were 30th in the league in assists by dishing out 21.9 dimes per contest. The Knicks were 6th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 106.6 points per contest. Julius Randle led the team with 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest. Evan Fournier contributed 14.1 points a game, Obi Toppin added nine points a night and RJ Barrett kicks in 20 points plus 5.8 boards per contest. Derrick Rose (12 points, four assists) and Jalen Brunson (16.3 points, 4.8 assists with Dallas) each are solid secondary options as well. Immanuel Quickley (11.3 points), Mitchell Robinson, Jericho Sims, Quentin Grimes and Cam Reddish are key reserves for coach Tom Thibodeau. New York was 27th in the league in field goal percentage as they shot 43.7% from the floor as a team. The Knicks were tied for eighth in the league in threes per game as they knocked down 13.2 triples a night while they were 13th in three-point shooting by hitting 35.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc last season.
Toppin (undisclosed) missed practice Sunday and was limited Monday. Coach Tom Thibodeau said Tuesday that “barring something unforeseen” that he would play Wednesday, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. Grimes (foot) is questionable for this contest.
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