There was a time not long ago when the Houston Rockets were title contenders with an offensive arsenal focused around the three-point line. But as the Knicks began their six-game road trip in Houston Sunday night the Rockets were playing out the string, James Harden now readying for the playoffs with the Nets and Chris Paul leading the Phoenix Suns to their first playoff berth in more than a decade.
And it was the Knicks who came armed with a weapon that could fire almost as soon as crossing midcourt.
Immanuel Quickley, the 21-year-old rookie, has provided a New York version of the wave of long-range gunners like Golden State’s Steph Curry and Portland’s Damian Lilliard, who treat the three-point line as just a starting point.