OBI READY FOR THE REAL THING
Obi Toppin is bracing for things to get real. Following the first pandemic-shortened season in NBA history, the Knicks’ top pick and his fellow 2020 rookie class are jumping into an NBA season without a combine, without a Summer League, without a regular training camp and without a typical slate of preseason games.
And even though Toppin and the Knicks had encouraging moments in preseason, the 22-year old understands it was just a drill.
“Everybody is talking about the difference because it’s real now. My coach at Dayton (Anthony Grant) used to put it in terms of the preseason games were rubber bullets. When you get into the real games that count, those are real bullets,” Toppin said. “We’re jumping into the fire. It’s a quick turnaround — not one everyone is used to. But I always said, this opportunity for me to be in this position is a blessing. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m super excited.”
Toppin, like most of the Knicks, hasn’t played a consequential 5-on-5 game in more than nine months and will end the layoff tonight in the season opener at Indiana. Although he represents the Knicks’ latest new hope as the eighth overall pick, Toppin likely won’t start and minutes may be tough to find behind power forward Julius Randle.
The preseason uncovered some concerns about Toppin’s outside shooting and aggressiveness, but also positively served to demonstrate his speed and athleticism. Toppin said he absorbed the film for what it’s worth.
“We watched a lot of things. There’s a lot of things I did good and a couple of things I did bad. But it was preseason. Those are rubber bullets,” Toppin said. “It’s a time where I can make a couple of mistakes and learn from it and be ready for when the real games come when (you need) less mistakes as possible.”
Coach Tom Thibodeau declined to reveal his starting lineup but there are two locks: Randle at power forward and RJ Barrett on the wing. From there, it’s most likely Thibodeau goes with experience over youth, and the lineup resembles the preseason opener with Elfrid Payton at point guard, Alec Burks at shooting guard and Nerlens Noel at center.
The preseason performances of Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickley and Kevin Knox were arguments they should be part of the rotation, if not starting.
Thibodeau said Friday that he and the staff are closing in on a 10-man rotation.
“We actually meet every day about rotation and it’s pretty tight. It’ll sort itself out as we go along,” Thibodeau said. “But you have to base it on performance and merit, what guys have done. We have a pretty good idea of who the 10 are, and then the question will become who do we start. There are a couple positions that are basically 50-50 type of positions. So we’re still evaluating that.”
Thibodeau’s layoff has been longer than most as tonight will represent his first regular-season game since he was fired by the Timberwolves nearly two years ago. The opponent, the Pacers, were a playoff team last season and a trial by fire.
“It’s great. It’s what you miss when you’re away,” Thibodeau said. “Obviously, having time away gives you an opportunity to do different things, to travel and visit with friends, family, and you don’t have a set schedule. But after a while what you do miss is you miss the competition. You miss the comraderies and trying to solve the problems of what a team is going through and the challenge of an NBA season. So to be back, I’m excited about that. I think opening night for everyone is exciting and it’s just the beginning.”