New York Knicks: No Kristaps? No Problem!
Despite both Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. being sidelined, the New York Knicks polished off the struggling OKC Thunder Saturday night in impressive style, but is this winning culture for real, or just a facade?
For the time being, the New York Knicks have essentially disproved the league perception of them as a laughing stock, officially showing they must be taken seriously and that they have a collective basketball IQ from the coach to the last player on the bench. Even adding the talented and hungry Michael Beasley has clearly shown to be hugely beneficial.
Proof? Carmelo was demolished in the Garden Saturday night, returning with a team on the verge of a breakdown, despite boasting impressive talents like Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Steven Adams. So what gives?
Well, the answer is clear: they don’t move the ball, they play iso ball, etc … These are things players know in pick-up games at the YMCA. Yet, applying that knowledge and turning it into a selfless savvy product is something the Thunder have yet to do with this roster.
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So here’s the good (and widely known) news: the new no-nonsense Knicks have that collective basketball IQ. Big win.
Here comes the less exciting news: Frank Ntilikina needs to make progress soon.
Look, the point guard is the vehicle that gets the most out of the talent on a roster. And while the success the Knicks have had so far is largely in debt to those talents, the player who has unlocked those talents and turned them into wins is Jarrett Jack.
With few meaningful years left for Jack, the worry is that these current New York Knicks won’t survive a step back season should Ntilikina get thrust into a larger role next year. Even though he turned in nice games against the Lakers and Nets, Ntilikina really has to work on his shooting this offseason — a largely psychological skill at this level.
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Bottom line: Hornacek has to find a way to get Ntilikina more of a role without losing the steam and confidence that comes with winning. So when asked, “Is this team the real deal?” the answer is for now, “Yeah, but there is just no knowing where this could be going.”