
After playing two preseason tilts vs. the Detroit Pistons, the Knicks have found themselves at a 1-1 record. There have been promising performances by some Knicks and miserable minutes by others. It is clear Tom Thibodeau has focused mostly on defense in the few practices he was able to hold leading up to the preseason. New York held Detroit to 84 points in the opener, before slipping and allowing them to score 99 points last night. R.J. Barrett has provided the most pleasing play of any Knick thus far, which is very encouraging for the Knicks who need Barrett to elevate his play in his sophomore campaign. The Knicks have been put in a precarious position due to the league’s sped up offseason. A brand new coaching staff has had little time to implement their tutelage, meanwhile many new acquisitions haven’t had much time to gel with the rest of the roster. Despite it being so early and just a couple of preseason games vs. a subpar opponent, their is still plenty to take away from the Knicks first two games.
The Positives
R.J. Barrett has been the beacon of hope for the Knicks thus far. He’s averaging 20 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on an efficient 51.5% shooting. The most impressive part is that he’s scored so efficiently, despite shooting 11.1% from three on 4.5 attempts per game. Once Barrett gets the long ball going, he will clearly be the Knicks best option offensively.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsRJ put up a strong performance in Game 2 of NBA Preseason:
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2020
25 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST | 4-5 FT#NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/Kf0ss1SsGp
The additions of Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel have been plusses as well. Burks is averaging 11 points per contest in just 19.1 minutes per game and owns a +5 +/- (3rd on the team). Noel leads the Knicks in +/- (+10.5), while averaging 9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and a steal per game in just 22.9 minutes of action.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAlec Burks had 15 points in 3 Quarters (21 minutes). He didn’t step onto the floor in the 4th Quarter. The Knicks only scored 16 points in the 4th & were out scored 24-16. It’s just preseason so I’ll give Thibs a pass assuming he was just trying out different lineups… I hope
— Knicks Lifers (@Knicks_Lifers) December 14, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsNerlens Noel with the spike on the move at the rim. He's looked good at times tonight after the getting the start as the Knicks center. pic.twitter.com/3VnZ65tX83
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) December 12, 2020
Obi Toppin has displayed a very high motor, an ability to put the ball on the floor, several post moves, and his freak athleticism already. His numbers don’t reflect the ceiling he’s shown, although his shooting and defense clearly need some work. He is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game which is encouraging as his rebounding was a question heading into the draft.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js11 & 7 in 20 minutes for Obi Toppin's debut. pic.twitter.com/6TZw7EV07O
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 12, 2020
The Knicks defense has been very impressive under the defensive guru, Tom Thibodeau, excluding allowing a 31 point explosion by the Pistons in the 1st Quarter last night. The Knicks have held the Pistons to 91.5 points per game (84 on opening night) with a shooting line of 37.2% from the floor and 29.7% from three. The Knicks have forced 41 turnovers between the two games, led by Mitchell Robinson who has 4 steals (all in the opener).
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2020https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Negatives
The Knicks were one of the worst shooting teams across the board last season, shooting 44.7% from the floor, 33.7% from three, and 69.4% from the charity stripe. Those ranked 25th, 27th, and 30th (last) amongst the NBA in the 2019-20 regular season. Leon Rose addressed the Knicks shooting woes with the additions of Alec Burks and Austin Rivers. Rivers unfortunately has been out due to a lingering groin injury, but Burks has proven to be a nice addition already.
Despite the hot hand of Burks, who’s shooting a slash of 50%/50%/100% (FG%/3P%/FT%), the Knicks as a team are shooting an abysmal 42.5% from the field, 23.2% from deep, and 57.8% from the line. The key contributors to the Knicks inefficient shooting have been Julius Randle (40.9% on 11 attempts per game from the field and 60% on 7.5 free throws per game), Obi Toppin (27.8%/12.5%/57.1%), and Kevin Knox (25%/0%/50%). Barrett has shot a solid 51.5% from the floor and a livable 71% from the line, but is struggling from three (11.1% from three on 4.5 attempts per game). Randle’s inefficiency plagued the Knicks a lot last year between his shooting numbers (46%/27.7%/73.3%), along with averaging 3 turnovers per game. Thus far, the Knicks go-to scorer is shooting poorly once again and averaging a troubling 3.5 turnovers per game. It’s only been two games, but Randle severely needs to improve his efficiency offensively for the Knicks to scratch the surface of .500 basketball this season.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsI thought Fizdale let Randle dominate the ball too much last season. Starting to think it wasn't Fizdale. He's definitely a weapon – but that point forward role…
— Steve Popper (@StevePopper) December 14, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsKnicks shooting through 6 Quarters of Preseason basketball
— Knicks Lifers (@Knicks_Lifers) December 14, 2020
55-125 (44%) from the field
10-38 (26%) from three
12-26 (46%) from the line
It can only go up from here
Equally troubling, Kevin Knox hasn’t made a three-point shot through two games and Mitchell Robinson has tallied an impressive 9 fouls in 41.2 minutes of action.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsMitchell Robinson really needs to take the next step and stop committing silly fouls. He can’t stay on the floor and it’s plaguing his progression. He’s now played in 34 minutes this preseason and has committed 9 fouls! Not a strong case to be the starter opening night.
— Knicks Lifers (@Knicks_Lifers) December 14, 2020
Another alarming statistic that the Knicks severely struggled with last season is assist to turnover ratio. The Knicks are currently averaging 21 assists to 23 turnovers per game this year (0.91 AST/TO). That’s staggeringly worse than the 1.54 AST/TO (25th in the NBA) they posted last season. Given, the Knicks shooting and turnovers can be due to rust, but it’s certainly concerning as their troubles have come against the Pistons who were 22nd in the NBA in Defensive Rating last season. Not to mention, the Pistons lost three of their top defenders from last year (John Henson, Reggie Jackson, and Christian Wood), who were their top 3 players in Defensive Rating who played over 15 minutes per game in 2019-20.
Tom Thibodeau had said he wants the corner-three to be more prevalent in the Knicks offense leading into the season. New York has only attempted 10 corner-threes in two games, while shooting them at a spectacular 50% clip. However, New York has attempted 46 threes from above the break and are shooting them at a horrible 17.4%. A few other worrying shooting statistics are- the Knicks are 1-6 (16.7%) on floaters, 21-80 (26.3%) on all jumpers, and 7-42 (16.7%) on attempts from 25-29 feet.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAlec Burks is ballin' out there pic.twitter.com/4EawJ72hXB
— NEW YORK KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) December 14, 2020
Now What?
The Knicks have gotten productive and poor minutes from their Point Guards. Elfrid Payton is 2nd on the team in +/- (+6), while averaging 7 points, 4.5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. However, he’s committed 6 turnovers and is 0-3 from three in two games. Dennis Smith Jr. has played some of the best defense of his Knicks tenure and has averaged 2.5 assists along with a steal in just 18.6 minutes per contest. Like Payton, Smith Jr. has struggled with shooting and turnovers (20% from three and 5 turnovers). Frank Ntilikina and Immanuel Quickley both appeared to play a glimpse of Point Guard last night, but neither were offered much of an opportunity. Ntilikina has played solid defense and is 2-3 from three, but he’s averaging 4 fouls and 2.5 turnovers per contest in just 15.5 minutes of play. The Knicks desperately need at Point Guard to step-up and run the offense. They are responsible to get the Knicks top playmakers going in the spots of their liking (Barrett, Randle, Toppin, etc.).
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsDennis Smith Jr. played 537 minutes last season…and drew exactly 1 charge.
— Jonathan Macri (@JCMacriNBA) December 12, 2020
He was in the game for 3 minutes last night and drew an offensive foul. Between that and his spirited defense, maybe a sign of things to come.
(And ICYMI, my DSJ breakdown here:https://t.co/M69hfYscCV) pic.twitter.com/VvjABbfPs9
Excluding the Knicks questionable guard play, Randle needs to be more efficient and the Knicks need to make shots. Austin Rivers could be the answer for the Knicks at point and with their issues from three. Rivers is more of a SG, but could fit at Point Guard if he plays alongside other ball handlers such as Barrett, Burks, and Ntilikina. Whoever is at the helm of the Knicks offense, they need to create open looks for their teammates by getting into the paint and drawing the defense, while knocking down the open three when opponents dare them to shoot. The key to the Knicks success offensively lies in the hands of their Point Guard. The question remains, who is the right man for the job?
The Knicks will look to their defense to try and pickup their 2nd win of the preseason vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers at MSG, Wednesday at 7:30PM.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsNothing easy. pic.twitter.com/B8zEST7Q5Y
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 12, 2020