Fournier’s introduction to New York couldn’t have gone better

NEW YORK — In the words of Paul Pierce, who once shouted after hitting a playoff dagger for the Brooklyn Nets, “That’s why they got me here.”

Evan Fournier was signed to big money for the reasons he displayed in Wednesday’s season-opening victory, when he dropped 12 of his 32 points in thetwoovertimesandwasn’tshyabout firing away.

“We’ve seen him do that,” Tom Thibodeaudeclared,“that’swhoheis.”

It was a perfect introduction for Fournier, whose role is to boost the offense in ways last season’s starting guardscouldn’t.newyork’s$73million gamble on Fournier (only $54 million is guaranteed) started shaky as he struggled through preseason, but the Frenchman assured his growing pains would ease once the games mattered.

Then he drained six treys on 13 attemptsagainstboston,outshiningthe other newest Knick, Kemba Walker, who managed just 10 points and was benched in the second overtime.

“(Fournier) came up super clutch in overtime, hit some big shots, so I just hadtokeepfindinghim,”juliusrandle said. “We talked after the game, there’s things we feel like we can do better, work on. He has an extremely high IQ. He’s a really good player, but he has a really high IQ. I’m excited to start that chemistry with him.”

Fournier’s chemistry with Randle is amongthemostsignificantelementsto New York’s success this season. It’s no secret Randle enjoyed playing alongside last year’s starting two-guard, Reggiebullock,wholeftforthemavericks in free agency. Their connection extended beyond the court, and that was also true for point guard Elfrid Payton, who signed with the Suns.