LOS ANGELES – You know the Knicks have hit rock bottom when this happens: A losing, rebuilding team such as the Jazz, missing its best player, beats them, then the Utah coach laments how badly it played while lavishly praising Derek Fisher’s club for keeping it close.
The Knicks and Jazz battled nip and tuck for more than three and a half quarters before Utah pulled comfortably ahead in the final three minutes and won 87-82. It wasn’t enough for Jazz coach Quin Snyder, and the Salt Lake Tribune reported the Jazz averted “what would have been the worst loss of the season.’’ And that’s with the Jazz without their star Gordon Hayward, dealing with a back strain.
“Tonight was a case of getting out of character,’’ Snyder said. “Tonight was a case of guys doing too much. We made just enough shots and just enough plays to win. But we put ourselves in position to have to make shots and plays to win. That was disappointing.’’
Yes, teams expect to blow the bare-bones Knicks out of the building. The Knicks lead the league in getting routed by more than 20 points, which has happened 14 times.
As the teams took the court for Tuesday’s game at EnergySolutions Arena, Utah’s team broadcaster told his audience matter-of-factly: “The Knicks are in shambles.’’
Indeed, everyone expected the Knicks to get routed after they gave up in Denver in Monday’s 106-78 loss. Alexey Shved, Cole Aldrich and Andrea Bargnani kept the Knicks afloat, but offensively – without Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire – they are struggling massively to score.
“I was impressed with everything they did,’’ Snyder said. “They took advantage of us.’’
On this five-game losing streak the 12-51 Knicks have scored in succession: 86, 82, 86, 78, 82 points. Finally, they are playing some defense.
Fisher said he encouraged an increased pace in Utah, and it did look snappy in the third quarter when they struck for 35. The triangle is normally not up-tempo, but Fisher indicated he will stress more pace.
“We have to work at how we can score points on a consistent basis,’’ Fisher said. “Our defense is holding the fort down. Teams are shooting 43 percent. We’re just not scoring enough points.’’
Who would’ve thought when the Knicks traded Pablo Prigioni at the trade deadline they possibly could get back a player capable of a triple-double? Stunning. Shved continues to impress Knicks brass as he put up 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The 6-foot-6 Russian combo guard has made the case he deserves major consideration to be part of next season, though The Post has reported he has eyed a return to Europe.
He’s finally getting a big chance, having started two straight games. Even with Tim Hardaway Jr. out with back spasms, it’s hard to imagine Shved losing his starting role. Shved barely played in Houston after the Timberwolves gave up on him.
“I never really placed a guy in a box or put a ceiling on a guy until you have experiences with him. I think because we didn’t assume what he could or couldn’t do, we just gave him an opportunity to show what he can do,’’ Fisher said, adding Shved’s skill level is high enough that he can create something late in the shot clock with his passing, dribbling and shotmaking skills. That’s a big compliment.
Center Cole Aldrich had his best game since the January West Coast trip in logging 17 points and 13 rebounds. It took getting embarrassed by French center Rudy Gobert to light a fire under him. Aldrich had his sky hook cleanly blocked by Gobert. After that play, Aldrich turned it up several notches, got inside position and was suddenly deadly with that erratic lefty jump hook.