Nearly a month ago, just before Tom Thubodeau bumped Kemba Walker out of the Knicks' rotation, the team's starting five was ranking among the worst in NBA history in terms of overall efficiency, making it clear that changes were needed.
But Tuesday's winning effort over the Pistons showed that the group may be starting to find its way.
Every Knicks starter was in the green in the plus/minus category except for Nerlens Noel, who was overshadowed by former starting center Mitchell Robinson, who was a game-high +24 on the night. Finally, New York's starting core looked like a unit with a sense of cohesion.
"A lot of credit to all our guys," Thibodeau said. "There's a lot of moving parts right now. To find a way to win, the most important thing. I thought Kemba, and Julius [Randle] not feeling his best just playing tough, and Kemba making plays. I thought Alec [Burks] was great for us, playing huge minutes."
So much of the Knicks' season has been highlighted by the disparity between the first and second units, and the backups coming in to erase a large early deficit because of the starters' inefficiency. But with Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley in COVID-19 protocol, while Derrick Rose remains out with a sore ankle, the backups are sidelined, forcing the veterans to come together and find some much-needed chemistry.
One of the biggest catalysts for the starters' collective improvements has been Evan Fournier, who has combined for 54 points over the last two games, adding a new element to the offense with an increased effort to drive to the basket and create more open shots for his teammates, while finding some efficiency of his own.
"Evan, he's found a good rhythm," Thibodeau said. "His shooting is invaluable to us. At the end of the game, you have Alec, Kemba and Evan, you have three guys that can go off the dribble, and when you put Julius in those plays and the pick and rolls, he commands so much attention and opens up the floor…when you spray the ball like that and you get good rhythm shots, you're gonna make those.
"He and Julius are really starting to develop a real good chemistry. Sometimes things take time, but he's finding his rhythm."
It took more time than Thibodeau and the Knicks would have liked, but the starters are beginning to find their way. A lowly Detroit team isn't the best barometer for progress, but it was certainly a step forward.
"Big plays down the stretch, Kemba making big shots down the stretch, and we needed all of it," Thibodeau said.
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