Donte DiVincenzo set a new franchise record for 3-pointers made with 11 made shots against the Detroit Pistons. This achievement made Monty Williams quite upset, going off on the record after the game.
“I don't care about their team at all. I could care less. Those guys, the way they got their threes, I don't want to be a part of that story.”
This led to a fiery response from Josh Hart, who seemingly questioned Williams' sense as a coach for not getting his guys to defend better.
“If he didn’t want to be part of the story, he should’ve told his guys to defend better. What else is there to say? We’ve got a guy that’s hot. We’re going to try to find the guy that’s hot. That’s common sense in basketball. He's a head coach in the league.”
The Knicks dominated the Pistons in this matchup, winning 124-99 despite still missing Julius Randle and OG Anunoby. Williams objected to the fact that the Knicks were intentionally feeding DiVincenzo to break the record even after the result of the game seemed set in stone.
Donte ended the night with 40 points, shooting 11-20 from three in a historic performance.
DiVincenzo saw the opportunity to make history and took it, with his Knicks teammate ensuring they did their part in helping him. This isn't a crime, especially when a team has been blown out. Monty felt a little salty after how his team lost and took shots at players who embody the principles of hustle and chemistry that his Pistons lack.
How Far Can The Knicks Go?
We're entering the time of the season when the questions about the Knicks should have been answered. After they went on a nearly undefeated run of form in January, people wanted to see if the team's ability was genuine after the OG Anunoby trade. Unfortunately, injuries haven't allowed us to see the Knicks at full strength since then, but the team is still a top-four seed in the East.
The team looks nearly unbeatable whenever Anunoby is healthy, boasting a record of 15-2 with Anunoby in the lineup. He's still out of the lineup and dealing with issues with his elbow, but fans and coaches expect him to return in time for the playoffs.
Whether Julius Randle returns to the court this season is the biggest question. If the Knicks could enter the playoffs with a fully healthy roster featuring both Anunoby and Randle, they would be legitimate threats to come out of the Conference.
This stretch has also further cemented Jalen Brunson's status as an All-NBA player this year and one of the best guards in the NBA. He's averaging 27.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season, carrying the Knicks whenever required.
Couple that with dependable rotation players such as Hart, DiVincenzo, Isaiah Hartenstein, and more, the Knicks can beat any team in the East and go on a Finals run. But health is most important, which possibly won't be on their side.
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