While coach Tom Thibodeau was clearly concerned there could be a carryover from the team’s preseason clunker Wednesday, Julius Randle seemed more confident the team can flip a switch when the games begin to count next week.
“Now it’s time to go,” Randle said after he scored 20 points in a 131-106 loss to the Wizards at the Garden. “The real thing is here. Obviously we don’t like how we finished this preseason and we’re going to have to take strides and step forwards in these next coming days.
“But we will. We’ve been in positions where we had to get it going before. We don’t want to rely on that but we understand that we have to have more of a sense of urgency so we’ll take those steps.”
That urgency was certainly lacking against the Wizards. Jalen Brunson, playing extended minutes for the first time since his disappointing FIBA World Cup stint, was especially down on his performance after he committed five turnovers.
“Horrific,” Brunson said. “I’ve got to be better.”
Brunson also picked up a rare technical foul after he expressed displeasure over an offensive foul call, although the point guard stated that it was because of a harmless gesture directed at the referee.
“I didn’t think it was an offensive foul. But it was nothing I said. I think I just clapped and it’s an automatic tech,” Brunson said. “That’s it.”
Immanuel Quickley is “a little nicked up,” according to Thibodeau, and sat out the preseason finale.
Thibodeau rejected the idea that the backup guard is sitting because he’s negotiating a contract extension.
“No, no. The thing about Quick, I would never question that,” Thibodeau said. “If Quick can go, he’s going. So come in and get treatment, which he’ll do two or three times a day. And get ready.”
Thibodeau didn’t specify what Quickley’s injury is and the 24-year-old declined to discuss it in the locker room, other than to confirm his absence isn’t related to contract negotiations.
The deadline to sign an extension is Monday at 5 p.m.
If he doesn’t, Quickley will become a restricted free agent next summer, meaning the Knicks can match any offer made to him.
Asked if he’s concerned about Quickley’s injury for the regular-season opener on Oct. 25, Thibodeau said: “I just take it day by day. Hopefully he’s better tomorrow.”
The Knicks cut Isaiah Roby and Jaylen Martin, two players who were competing for the final roster spots.
Roby, in particular, was among the top candidates after he received a $400,000 salary for signing at the end of last season.
But he was underwhelming during Summer League and Thibodeau never mentioned the 25-year-old as an option for backup forward minutes.
Roby played in two preseason games and averaged eight points in 13.6 minutes.
Martin, 19, is an undrafted rookie out of Overtime Elite who was on a two-way deal with the Knicks. He played just three minutes in preseason and, counting Summer League, hasn’t demonstrated he’s ready for the NBA.
Martin’s departure frees up another two-way spot, and Jacob Toppin, former Knick Obi Toppin’s brother, is a candidate to fill it.
The Knicks have two or three full-time roster spots to fill, depending on whether they want to carry 14 or 15 players into the regular season.
Ryan Arcidiacono is a leading candidate, with DaQuan Jeffries close behind.
It’s also worth noting that Thibodeau is a fan of Duane Washington Jr., another player on a non-guaranteed deal.