How a minor adjustment gave the Knicks their first win

In the closing minutes of the Knicks’ 105-98 win over the Chicago Bulls, Bobby Portis hit two consecutive threes from the corner effectively sealing the game, and New York’s first victory of the new season. It was a huge night for Portis, who finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds on 10-for-14 shooting. Though he’s due credit for the two biggest buckets of the night, minor adjustments made by a couple of his teammates helped make them happen.

New York’s 24th-ranked offense struggled to put up points in the halfcourt against Chicago’s aggressive pick-and-roll coverage for most of the night. Watch the below play from the second quarter featuring an R.J. Barrett-Julius Randle pick-and-roll:

Barrett is stymied by the Bulls’ trap, an issue all night, eventually finding Randle on the short roll. The Knicks’ brute zones in on the bucket and misses a tough shot with Mitchell Robinson open underneath. He finished the night shooting just 5-for-13 from the field for a total of 13 points, not what the team wants out of its number one option. Compare this attempt with the last two Portis threes:

Both of these plays also began with a Barrett-Randle pick-and-roll. This time, Barrett created space between himself and the double, hitting Randle in the high post faster. Instead of looking to score again, Randle keeps his head up to find the open man, and does so twice. His coach acknowledged after the game how this shift in approach turned the tables.

"[Randle] finally said, 'Wait a minute. I'm running into traffic right now. I've just got to move the ball. It's not going to be me tonight,'" Head coach David Fizdale said following the win.

These minor adjustments were enough to squeak by on Monday night, but if the Knicks want to put together a winning streak, they will have to continue adapting to what their opponents throw at them night in and night out.