Yikes. The Knicks just got absolutely clobbered, dropping a preseason game to the Toronto Raptors by a staggering 50 points on Tuesday night. To make matters worse, four of the five usual starters didn’t even make the trip to Toronto, and the one who did ride north didn’t even hit the court. Talk about a rough look.
Coach Mike Brown Fuming Over Defensive Disasters
Coach Mike Brown did not mince words after watching his squad get torn apart. He said the scoreboard wasn’t the issue, but what they *weren’t* doing was everything. He was “most disappointed” that in the first half they “weren’t putting bodies on bodies.” Are you serious? Fifteen second-chance points in one half, plus thirty fast-break points, is just a total breakdown. Brown also ripped into the team for getting sped up, not “touching the paint,” and failing to make “quick decisions.” This is preseason, sure, but those are fundamental issues that can sink a season, no matter who’s on the floor.
James Wiseman’s Statement Amidst the Wreckage
Amidst that disaster, James Wiseman actually put in work, scoring a team-high 18 points on an incredibly efficient 7-8 from the field and 4-4 from the line. He also snagged 10 rebounds, four of them offensive. Coach Brown had some real talk about Wiseman, too, saying he was “raw” with the Warriors, but his “ability and feel” is way up now. He’s been “humbled” by his career challenges and “understands how hard it is.” Brown saw him go from a “wide-eyed young puppy” to someone who gets that “opportunities can come and go like that.” Wiseman himself knows it, calling it a “blessing to just be here,” focused on enjoying himself, having fun, and staying “diligent.” He’s been through “a lot” with injuries and adversity, but he’s just “staying down, grinding every single day and just taking one day at a” time. That’s a mindset this team needs right now.
The Knicks have one final preseason game at home on Thursday. After that, it’s all real with Tuesday’s banner night. This kind of defensive meltdown, even with a depleted roster, is a wake-up call. The squad needs to show they can execute those basic defensive principles Brown hammered on, and quick. Wiseman’s performance and attitude are a bright spot, but it’s going to take a lot more than one guy to make sure the real season doesn’t start with the same kind of embarrassing mistakes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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