You may have missed in all the hoo-ha surrounding the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl (just kidding, although congratulations, Jacksonville State), but your New York Knickerbockers actually won something last night.
OK, so it wasn't an NBA championship, but it was a kinda-sorta championship nonetheless, and that's something at least. The Knicks, see, defeated the San Antonio spurs 124-113 to win the NBA Cup, the Association's in-season tournament.
Not the same or not, it was the first trophy the Knicks had raised since 1973, when Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and that whole crowd were doing their thing. Just for context, Reed is dead and Frazier is 80 years old now.
In other words, it's been awhile.
But in time, there will eventually be a Knick, or so it seems. And last night was the Knicks' time.
It's a different crew now, of course. Instead of Willis Reed, there is Karl Anthony-Towns, who went for a 16-11 double-double last night. Instead of Frazier, there is Jalen Brunson, who dropped 25 and dished eight assists. And instead of, say, Dave DeBusschere or Bill Bradley, there is OG Anunoby -- remember him, Indiana Hoosiers fans? -- who led seven Knicks in double figures with 28 points and nine boards.
All five of the Knickerbocker starters scored in double figures, and seven Knicks in all did so. Together they put up 105 shots and made 49 of them. Forty of the 105 shots came from the 3-point arc, of which the Knicks made 15.
In other words, they were jacking up the rock. Norman Dale would have benched 'em all for not making four passes before they shot.
No matter. It's a week before Christmas, and the Knicks are champions again. -- not the champions, mind you, but still champions. And that's a very big deal for the NBA, which for all its success would still like a New York team to make a splash once in awhile.
Consider it done.
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