On January 22nd, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Knicks visiting the Nets. The Knicks took an early lead, going up 15-5, but they were unable to maintain their momentum and extend the lead. The Nets fought back continuously, and in the fourth quarter, the Knicks found themselves in trouble as the Nets went on a 13-2 run to take the lead. Brunson scored consecutively to regain the lead for the Knicks, while Johnson missed a three-pointer that could have put them ahead. Ultimately, the Nets lost to the Knicks with a score of 95-99. In the first quarter, the Knicks started strong with Anunoby and Brunson hitting threes, Towns with an alley-oop dunk, and Bridges also making a three-pointer to take a 15-5 lead. Russell broke the bleeding with a layup and then completed a 2+1 play. Martin hit a three-pointer, followed by Kloni's three-pointer, and the Nets went on a 15-4 run to overtake the score. Hart hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, and both teams went to the free-throw line frequently. Finally, Sharp made two free throws, and the first quarter ended with the Nets leading the Knicks 26-24. In the second quarter, the Knicks regained their composure, with Towns scoring on a putback, McBride and Achiuwa hitting threes, and they started with a 12-2 run to regain control. Russell hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, Towns completed a 2+1 play, and Bridges hit a three-pointer. Both teams went to the free-throw line frequently, and the Knicks once led 48-35. The Nets…

On January 22, 2025, Beijing time, the 14-win and 29-loss Nets faced off against the 28-win and 16-loss Knicks at home. On paper, the Nets were not considered strong opponents for the Knicks. However, as a city derby, the Nets were highly motivated and aimed to win, especially since the Knicks were playing back-to-back games and were not as physically fit as the Nets, giving the Nets an opportunity to pull off an upset victory. The Nets were without Thomas and Simmons in their starting lineup: Russell, Keane, Cloney, Cameron, and Claxton. The Knicks were missing Miro from their starting lineup: Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG, and Towns. In the first quarter, Brunson made a mid-range shot, Cameron scored a layup, OG and Brunson hit two consecutive three-pointers plus a dunk by Towns, putting the Knicks ahead 10-2. Cameron responded with a three-pointer, followed by Bridges and OG scoring five points, extending the Knicks' lead to ten points and forcing a timeout. After the timeout, Russell and Claxton scored for the Nets, while Bridges responded with a layup, maintaining an eight-point difference. Russell then scored a 2+1, and Martin added five points, allowing the Nets to catch up and tie the score. Achiuwa and Hart scored for the Knicks, but Cloney, Cameron, and Keane responded, giving the Nets a two-point lead. Payne made two free throws, and Sharp responded with two free throws of his own, ending the first quarter with the Nets leading 26-24. In the second quarter, Towns, McBride, and Achiuwa combined for an 8-0 run, giving the Knicks…

Welcome back to the No. 13 Ballroom. The season is more than halfway through, and it's time for a review. ESPN previously listed the top 8 most impressive players in the first half of this season, including: Towns, Cunningham, Wembanyama, Dyson Daniels, Lonzo Ball, Harden, Norman Powell, Cameron Johnson. In fact, there are quite a few overlaps with my own choices - but I wouldn't include Lonzo Ball and Cameron Johnson. Because the former's performance has always been far from people's expectations, more like sympathy points based on his repeated serious injuries; And the latter is after all in a team like the Nets, which is not very convincing in terms of data - Schroder also performed well before joining the Warriors, but then it was really hard to say that he was outstanding. So today, I want to share the top 10 players who impressed me the most in the first half of this season. Let's see if it matches your opinion - if not, feel free to leave a message to discuss and share ~ Next, let's talk about them one by one according to their current team records: Evan Mobley Last season's average: 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks This season's average: 18.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks Judging from the data alone, Mobley's progress seems insignificant. But if you watch a few more Cavaliers games, you will know how much his transformation and growth this season have helped the team. His defense has never been a concern, single…

Karl-Anthony Towns was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He played for the Timberwolves for nine seasons, participating in 573 regular-season games and averaging 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game with a shooting percentage of 52.4%. His performance lived up to his status as the number one pick. Towns set many franchise records, including scoring 40+ points 13 times in the regular season, which is the highest in Timberwolves history. However, a young player is on the verge of breaking this record. That player is Anthony Edwards. In the game between the Timberwolves and the Wizards on January 14, 2025, Edwards scored over 40 points again. In this game, he made 14 out of 25 shots (including 5 out of 11 three-pointers) and went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, totaling 41 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals, leading the Timberwolves to a 14-point victory over the Wizards. After scoring 41 points in this game, Edwards has now scored 40+ points 12 times in his regular-season career, just one time short of Towns' franchise record. It seems that Edwards will break this record soon. To date, Edwards has played 341 regular-season games, significantly fewer than Towns' 573 games with the Timberwolves. Surprisingly, Edwards' number of 40+ point games is already close to Towns', indicating that Edwards' scoring ability is even more formidable. Throughout his career so far, Edwards has averaged 23.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks…

Have you noticed a strange phenomenon? In the NBA, the number one pick sounds like a synonym for talent, but some people end up becoming role players, while others suddenly "cheat" in a certain season and become superstars. Is this proof of "genius," or is it just "good timing"? Karl-Anthony Towns, the number one pick in 2015, is a classic example of someone who has gone through the "genius template" and come back stronger. He went from the Timberwolves to the Knicks, from being doubted to being expected. What exactly did he experience? When Towns first entered the league, he was dazzling. In the 2015 draft, he joined the Timberwolves as the number one pick, not only becoming the core of the team but also seen by outsiders as one of the future faces of the league. His skills are comprehensive, and his style of play is modern: he can shoot three-pointers, facilitate plays, and his low-post moves are solid. Some say he is the "Swiss Army Knife" of the paint, capable of doing anything without making mistakes. However, in the following years, Towns gradually transformed from a "talented superstar seedling" into a "data-padding benchwarmer." Although his average of 20+10 looks good on paper, his performance never won mainstream recognition. Why? Two words: soft. During his time with the Timberwolves, Towns had many highlights on the offensive end, but defensively, he was a sieve. He lacked strength, hesitated in critical moments, and often disappeared in the playoffs. No matter how impressive his stats were, they couldn't hide his limited contribution…

Victory! Brunson scores 44+5+6, Antetokounmpo gets 24+13, Towns sets a record, the Eastern Conference landscape changes On January 13, 2025, Beijing time, the Knicks with a record of 25 wins and 14 losses faced off against the Bucks with a record of 20 wins and 16 losses at home. The Knicks suffered a 25-point defeat to the Thunder in their previous game and lost four out of their last five games, so they urgently needed a rebound. The Bucks were on a three-game winning streak and in good form. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first encounter, the Knicks defeated the Bucks by 22 points. For the Bucks, they were eager to seek revenge today. Who would win this battle? The Bucks' starting lineup was Lillard + Jackson + Prince + Antetokounmpo + Big Lo, while the Knicks' starting lineup was Brunson + Bridges + Hart + OG + Towns. In the first quarter, Jackson made a layup, Antetokounmpo made 2 free throws and 1, Towns and Bridges made three-pointers, giving the Knicks a 6-0 lead. Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Jackson scored, while Brunson scored 8 consecutive points, putting the Knicks ahead 14-9. Lillard scored 7 consecutive points and Antetokounmpo made free throws, allowing the Bucks to take a 3-point lead. Achiwa and Brunson responded to regain a 2-point lead. Antetokounmpo and Green scored, but Towns and Brunson responded, keeping the gap at 2 points. Antetokounmpo, Connaughton, and Middleton scored, while Brunson continued to score, ending the first quarter with the Knicks leading 36-33.…

On January 11, 2025, Beijing time, the Knicks, with a record of 25 wins and 13 losses, faced off against the Thunder, who had 30 wins and 6 losses. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first encounter, the Thunder defeated the Knicks at home, ending the Knicks' nine-game winning streak. The Knicks were eager for revenge today. The Thunder lost to the Cavaliers in their previous game, ending their 15-game winning streak. They also hoped to bounce back. Both teams are very strong, so who would win today's game? The Knicks were without Miro, starting with Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG, and Towns. The Thunder were missing Chet and Caruso, starting with Alexander, Wallace, Dort, Jalen, and Harten. In the first quarter, both teams played with high defensive intensity in the first five minutes, making it difficult for either side to score. The Knicks only managed to score through Brunson's two free throws, while the Thunder scored through Jalen's layup, resulting in a 2-2 tie. Brunson and Hart then scored four points, giving the Knicks a 6-2 lead. Alexander responded with a mid-range jumper, reducing the gap to two points. After a timeout, Jalen and Dort scored five points, allowing the Thunder to take a three-point lead. Brunson scored five points in response, but Alexander and Isaiah Joe combined for five points, keeping the difference at three points. Hart and Towns scored, while Alexander continued to score, with Wiggins, Dort, and Isaiah Joe also contributing, extending the lead to 14 points. At the end…

The NBA has just released the first round of All-Star voting results. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the league with 1.71 million votes, while Jokic is second as the top vote-getter in the West. Based on current voting trends, the projected starting lineup for the West is Jokic, Durant, James, Alexander, and Doncic; while the East's starting lineup is expected to be Giannis, Tatum, Towns, Ball, and Mitchell. Notably, Ball has had an impressive season with the Hornets (second-to-last in the East), earning high popularity with his healthy physique and flashy style, leading to a surge in votes. In the Eastern Conference guard competition, the top three are Mitchell, Brunson, and Lillard, but only Mitchell has made it into the starting lineup so far. Brunson currently has only 470,000 votes, less than half of Ball's, which is surprising considering New York's status as a major basketball market where popularity should not be this low. Looking at Towns, last year he received only 140,000 votes in the first round with the Timberwolves, but this year it has skyrocketed to 1 million, showing significant progress. Considering factors such as votes, on-court performance, and team records, the starting positions for the Eastern frontcourt are almost certain to be Giannis, Tatum, and Towns; while the Western frontcourt's Jokic, Durant, and James are also very stable. In the guard category, Alexander has a high chance of being selected as a starter, with the remaining spots mainly contested between Curry and Doncic. However, the determination of the All-Star starting lineup is not solely based on fan voting, with…

Who is the most impressive player this season? This question may have different answers from different people. For example, Wembanyama, who entered the top ten of the league in his second year of his career, has now made a groundbreaking performance on both offense and defense. In my opinion, there is another player worth mentioning, he is the super inside player who was sold at a low price by his mother team last offseason: Towns. After the Timberwolves were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, everyone thought that this team was just not deep enough. If they maintained their complete lineup, they would still be able to achieve great things next season. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves management seems to think differently. They believe that making Edwards the only core and shifting the focus of the team's offense outward is the most important thing. Therefore, they chose to trade away Towns during the offseason. Last season, Towns averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds as a quality inside player, which was already an impressive feat considering he sacrificed a lot of shooting opportunities. What's even more unexpected is the package the Knicks gave up to get Towns: Randle, DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick. Randle was a complete garbage contract last season, and DiVincenzo is at best a quality role player. In other words, the best asset in this trade turned out to be a first-round pick. This season, Towns has completely transformed, averaging 25.5 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, with a shooting percentage of 55% and a three-point percentage exceeding…

Brunson has been performing well with the Knicks, becoming a qualified star player. After Randle was out last season, Brunson led the Knicks to remarkable achievements. They made it all the way to second place in the East and successfully advanced to the playoffs. The playoff journey was full of excitement and thrills. In the first round against the 76ers led by Embiid, the Knicks eliminated them with their strong strength. In the second round against the Pacers, the situation was also promising, with consecutive victories in the first two games (G1, G2). However, fate began to play tricks, and injuries plagued the team like a shadow, with key players getting injured one after another. Under such circumstances, it became extremely difficult to maintain a winning streak. Ultimately, the Knicks lost to the Pacers with a score of 3-4, missing out on the Eastern Conference Finals. However, this could not overshadow Brunson's brilliance in the playoffs. In 13 games, he averaged 32.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 44.4%, which is completely at the top level of the league. Before the start of the new season, the Knicks made a blockbuster trade. They reached an agreement with the Timberwolves, sending Randle and DiVincenzo in exchange for Towns. At that time, many people thought that Towns would be a supporting role to Brunson in the Knicks, just like how he supported Edwards in the Timberwolves. However, things developed unexpectedly, and Towns shone brightly after joining the Knicks. His performance on the court was quite impressive, and…