Bobby Portis

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett eyeing “Rookie of the Year” award for 2019

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

While the early favorite for the 2019-20 NBA rookie of the year award is New Orleans Pelican, Zion Williamson, New York Knicks rookie, RJ Barrett shouldn’t be left out of the conversation.

New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett stated:

(Rookie of the Year) is definitely important. It is something I’ve been thinking about since I was a kid, so I thought the only way to do that is to work hard.

Barrett, who was selected third overall in the most recent draft by the Knicks, averaged 22.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 13.6 rebounds in his lone season with Duke. As the secondary option to Williamson with the Blue Devils, Barrett wasn’t able to fully show his potential. Without Zion taking over college basketball, Barrett would’ve likely been the unanimous first overall pick.

However, he fell several slots to a team that has prioritized building through the draft and youth players. The Knicks were unable to bring in any superstars this off-season, but they signed several veterans in Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, Reggie Bullock, Elfrid Payton, and Bobby Portis.

While none of those names stand out like Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, they will help the Knicks youth develop and refine their skills over the next season. Expecting the Knicks to be a playoff-contending team might be a stretch, but if Barrett can live up to his potential and produce enough to be considered for the Rookie of the Year award, they could be in a position to steal a spot in the postseason.

RJ Barrett will be a crucial cog in regards to the offensive production for the team, but the Knicks cannot rely on him to carry the squad in games. A priority moving forward should be to develop the rookies so they can play alongside potential signings in the future. The 6-foot-7 forward will hope to continue his offensive dominance in the NBA, but adjusting to the physicality and speed of professional players will be a challenge. Luckily, he has the mentors to help him reach his potential.

One reason the New York Knicks could make the playoffs

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New York Knicks

When people talk about the NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks are not in the conversation.  The Knicks are picked to finish last in the stacked Atlantic Division.  So, making the playoffs is stretch.

However, the newest members of the Knicks, Bobby Portis, Elfrid Payton and Wayne Ellington confirmed that this team as a bunch of ‘dogs’.  They are referring to the team having a gritty, determined vibe that will work hard.  Ellington recently said that this Knicks squad will be looking to ‘shock’ some people with there play.

Despite talks, there are Knicks fans out there that do believe the team has a shot at making the playoffs.  Since it seems like there is a two-team race for the East, Bucks and Sixers.

If the Knicks are to make in the playoffs, their bench is going to be that one reason.

As it appears now, the Knicks have one of the best benches in the leagues.  Well, at least depth wise.  Portis already spoke on the ‘dogs’ on this team, how he wants to win the Sixth man of the year and be the bench ‘leader’.  For now, we can defer to Portis for all the bench needs.

The bench will consist of Portis, Ellington, Payton, Daymean Dotson, Taj Gibson, Kadeem Allen, Ignas  Brazdeikis and Allonzo Trier.  There will be some speculation of who starts when it comes to Marcus Morris Sr. and Kevin Knox.  For defensive purposes, Morris should start with Knox being the first player off the bench, then Portis.  But, lets table that for now.

The bench will provide energy, defense and scoring.  Offensive production from the bench should be high considering the athletic capabilities each player presents inside and beyond the arc.  Not only has the bench improved, but the 3-point shooting has improved through their off-season acquisitions.  Key additions for that Ellington and Reggie Bullock, after his surgery and rehab.

If the Knicks want any chance of making the playoffs, the bench is going to have to back up their statements.  ‘Picking up their man for 94-feet’, being ‘dogs’ and looking to ‘shock’ people.  That mentality will have to be consistent throughout the year.

The starters should be fine.  Key word should.  The bench players will pick them up, if needed, as long as everyone understands their role and they plays as team.  Experts will be looking at the benches productivity for the reason the Knicks make the playoffs, if they do.

New York Knicks: Embracing the ‘Underdog’ Mentality

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New York Knicks, Wayne Ellington

The ‘underdog’ mentality is taking over the New York Knicks.  Newly acquired Bobby Portis was the first bring this mindset to the forefront.  Now, another new Knick is embracing this attitude.

Wayne Ellington signed a two-year, 16 million dollar deal with the Knicks over the summer.  In an Q & A with Hoops Hype, Ellington agreed that the Knicks “really do” have a bunch of dogs.  He continued, “That’s the DNA of this team, man. Win, lose or draw, at the end of the game, the opponent is going to feel us. They’re going to feel like they had a fight that night.”

Ellington got this mentality when he spoke with Portis and, also, newly acquired point guard, Elfrid Payton.  According to Ellington and those two, the team is going to be “relentless.”  They will be bringing a gritty defensive mentality and they’ll “be picking guys up all 94 feet” Ellington mentioned.  Seems like a 90’s Knicks mindset as well.

Despite what many fans may think, there is a lot of optimism surrounding this team.  The Knicks have the talent to be able to make some noise in the East this season.  The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are the clear favorites, but the rest is wide open.

The Knicks will be ready to shock some people this season.  Ellington even stated that during his Q & A with Hoops Hype.  Ellington added, “Everyone was obviously focusing on the other team in New York because of the signings they had this summer, but I think we’re going to shock a whole lot of people.”

The ‘underdog’ mentality seems to be taking over the New York Knicks this season.  The players seem to be embracing it and shows that the players will be coming together as a team to turn some heads.

New York Knicks: The Portis, Fizdale Effect

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New York Knicks, Bobby Portis
One of the newest New York Knicks has been very outspoken.  Bobby Portis signed with the Knicks this off-season and seems to be an open book.
Portis has been very vocal with his ‘underdog mentality’ and being the ‘leader of the bench’.  He recently tweeted out that he is ready for for the season to start.  Portis is quickly becoming a fan favorite before the season started.
The positive, determined mindset that Portis is bringing is a breathe of fresh air to the organization.
Portis also gave his reasoning for why he signed with the New York Knicks in a interview with David Yapkowitz of Basketball Insiders.
He said, “Just the feel, they have a great coach in David Fizdale, they got a lot of young pieces out there I think I can come in and fit with.”  Portis continued, “I love that they signed Julius [Randle], that’s another guy that can bang and really play at a high level.  I love everything David was talking about with me in the meeting that I had with him.”
Fizdale has earned respect from numerous players around the league.  He built this reputation after being apart of a 2 Miami Heat championships, which included the likes of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
If a coach is to gain the respect from those 3 NBA greats, he must be doing something right.
However, the first season in Fizdale’s Knicks tenure was tough.  The team had the worst record in the league and received the 3rd overall selection in this past draft, RJ Barrett.   The combo of Portis and Fizdale can be something special for the Knicks.  Their energy for the game is exactly what this team needs.
Despite being the leagues worst team last season, you could still see the passion was constantly present for Fizdale.  He was scene running up and down the floor and cheering for his guys despite only winning 17 games.
The energy, determination and ‘underdog’ mentality will radiate off Portis and Fizdale to the other players.  It will be contagious.  With this new attitude Portis is bringing along with Fizdale’s energetic style, the Knicks will be looking to turn some heads.

New York Knicks: How Mitchell Robinson is improving his game

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

One of the most prominent young players for the New York Knicks is Center, Mitchell Robinson, who is looking to make a more significant impact in his sophomore season. Robinson, the 36th pick in last year’s NBA draft, was not expected to be such a defensive force in this rookie campaign. He finished with 2.4 shots blocked per game over 66 games in 2018.

Mitchell also averaged 7.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, two statistical totals that he will look to elevate in his second year as a professional.

The 21-year-old big man has one glaring weakness, though. He struggles with foul trouble, something that he will look to alleviate with more experience and knowledge under his belt. The Knicks being in rebuild mode allows him to focus on that side of his game and not worry about the pressures of New York.

“I slide my feet more than I did (at the beginning of his rookie season). The game kind of slowed down for me at the end of last season. So the only thing I can do now is pick up where I left off last season, which is continue to stay out of foul trouble and get better.”

The Fanbase will be focused on RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox, two first-round selections while Robinson continues to excel and develop in front of our eyes.

Having veterans like Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, and Bobby Portis to help him refine his skill set and adapt to the quality and physicality of the NBA is essential. At 7-foot-1, he is the tallest player on the Knicks and offers them an advantage moving down the court and in the alley-oop game.

Robinson understands that he has a lot of work to do to improve and take his game to the next level. However, he has the support and time available, which gives him an increasing chance of success and dominance in the NBA. You can expect an exciting future and long career for the Knicks big man.

Is the New York Knicks depth enough to carry them to the playoffs?

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New York Knicks, Noah Vonleh, Frank Ntilikina

Can the New York Knicks survive off their depth?

While the New York Knicks have a questionable starting lineup, their depth is encouraging and has the quality to be one of the most productive in the NBA. However, without an adequate starting unit, it will be challenging to succeed at a high-level and earn a spot in the postseason.

Some might argue that the Knicks starting five is full of talent and capable of surprising us all. A more realistic bunch might hit on some of the questions marks that remain on the team. For example, the lack of chemistry the team currently has, the youth that they will put out onto the court, and the inconsistencies at their point guard position.

Dennis Smith Jr. might have a ton of optimism surrounding him, but he isn’t an elite scorer despite being an above-average athlete that comes up with momentum-changing plays on occasion.

Behind Smith Jr., the Knicks have Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton, two reserve-caliber players that won’t crack the starting team, theoretically giving Dennis the advantage.

It is expected that RJ Barrett, the Knicks third overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft, will be a starting player this season. There are plenty of challenges for him to overcome, and they will be displayed on the court daily. His lack of experience will limit the ultimate success the Knicks can have, but their depth might be able to supplement some of his deficiencies.

The players coming off the bench—Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington, Damyean Dotson, Allonzo Trier, Noah Vonleh, Payton and Ntilikina.

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Second-round pick, Ignas Brazdeikis, has also looked impressive this off-season giving him a potential shot at playing time in 2019-20.

The reality is, the Knicks don’t have any superstars on their team after losing out to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but they do have plenty of productive players that can compensate to a degree. While the playoffs might be an optimistic goal at this point, they have the potential to raise a few eyebrows down the stretch.

New York Knicks: Does Bobby Portis pose a threat to Mitchell Robinson?

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

The New York Knicks brought in Bobby Portis to help add veteran quality and leadership to a team that relied heavily on its youth in 2018. It also injected another talented player into the frontcourt which ultimately could pose a threat to Mitchell Robinson, despite Portis knowing Robinsons is the preferred starter.

During his Knicks meetings June 30 in L.A., Portis was told that Robinson was starting center:

“Julius [Randle] and Mitchell will probably be starting power forward and center, but we have a lot of weapons coming off the bench that will be fun to watch,” Portis said. “I go out and play with a ton of passion and play the right way. In the number of minutes, 20 to 26, I can affect the game in a lot of positive ways.”

While Portis seems to be slotted into a reserve role, he has the quality to start if need be. Crowding the frontcourt might not have been the most efficient thing, but it adds a particular factor to a Knicks team that struggled offensively last season.

Bobby is more of an offensive-minded player, as his defense is average on his best day. Robinson, on the other hand, has immense potential, and the Knicks need to be aware of that reality. He averaged 7.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game last season. After Kristaps Porzingis was traded, he racked up and impressive 9.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game in 24.5 minutes.

Having a veteran option like Portis not only to help when called upon but to act as a de-facto mentor for Robinson, will be extremely beneficial. The issue at hand, however, is the playing time allocations.

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Is it possible that Portis steals essential playing time from Robinson, despite the positive influence he will undoubtedly have?

I anticipate the Knicks favoring Mitch heavily as they see what he’s capable of and the talent he brings to the floor. This is the time to go all out and allow the players to compete among each other for playing time, as year-two should see a substantial jump in overall quality.

New York Knicks: How will Bobby Portis make an impact in 2019?

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New York Knicks, Bobby Portis

The newest member New York Knicks is bringing the heat. Newly acquired center/power forward Bobby Portis has been quite vocal since signing with the Knicks.

Portis has already talked about the Knicks’ bench being one of the best in the league. He was also quoted saying he loves being the underdog, which is what the team will inevitably be this season.

Portis recently said that second-year player and one of the bright spots from 2018, Mitchell Robinson, will be the starting center for the New York Knicks. Rightfully so, Robinson deserves to showcase his abilities and earn starting minutes as a result of his impressive defense throughout his rookie campaign.

When he spoke with the Marc Berman of the New York Post, Portis said, “I don’t care about starting or coming off the bench.”

This is a direct testament of his mentality towards the 2019-20 season and the type of player he is and can be for a team in need of veteran leadership.

With these stats, 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and shot 39.3 percent from beyond the arc, Portis should be the leader on the bench. Those stats and being productive on defense will put him in the conversation for the sixth man award.

The New York Knicks need to talk with their actions:

All of this optimism that Portis is bringing to the Knicks is great, but fans need to see it on the court. The Knicks have nothing to lose this season, literally. The only way is up, so Portis will need to prove his worth on the court and help the younger player develop even further.

While there will certainly be hurdles and challenges to overcome, the signing of numerous veteran players should allow the starting team to mesh efficiently and continue on towards a complete rebuild.

The New York Knicks have the best depth in the league, but will it be enough?

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New York Knicks, Damyean Dotson

Will the New York Knicks succeed based on the quality of their depth?

The New York Knicks took an interesting approach to their success during the 2019-20 season, building out the depth of the roster and failing to bring in any real game-changers. The closest they got was with Julius Randle, an above-average scorer with awful defensive traits.

The depth on the unit, however, looks fantastic. The acquisitions of Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington, Elfrid Payton, Reggie Bullock (who likely won’t play), and Taj Gibson, really gives the team some reliable playmakers beyond the starters. The Knicks might have the deepest bench in the league when you consider the ample youth that will be left behind due to the signings of Randle and Marcus Morris.

Portis, a dual position player, stated according to Clutch Points:

“I think we’ll be a top-ranked [bench] after the Clippers with Lou [Williams] and Montrell Hazell — that’s pretty strong. With our bench we have really good weapons in me, Marcus [Morris], Taj [Gibson], Allonzo Trier, Wayne Ellington. The list goes on.

Depth is an essential thing in the NBA, given the unpredictability of injuries and inconsistencies from players. Having missed out on superstars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the least the Knicks could do was bless the fans with a deep bench.

A bevy of power forwards seemed for fitting — Portis, Randle, Morris, and Gibson. While already have one on Kevin Knox on the roster. It’s anticipated that both RJ Barrett and Knox will continue as starters on the team with Dennis Smith Jr. featuring as the point guard. We can also estimate that Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson will also act as starters.

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Morris will rotate in with Knox a considerable amount and Portis with Robinson. It’s hard to predict how head coach David Fizdale will utilize his players, especially with a plethora of talent at power forward.

There’s little doubt the starting roster will be better this season – capable of more than 17 total wins. They’re looking to compete for a playoff spot; however, it might be a bit soon in the rebuild.

Grading the New York Knicks offseason acquisitions

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New York Knicks sign Julius Randle.

The New York Knicks certainly made a splash in free agency, all without signing a superstar player to help rebuild the franchise from the ground up. With the amount of youth featuring on the team, it was essential head coach David Fizdale injected some veteran leadership into the starting team and roster-depth.

Here are the grades for the New York Knicks signings:

Marcus Morris: B

Averaging 13.9 points per game last season, Morris puts up solid numbers on the offensive side of the ball, however, he’s a bully in the paint and can also drain threes (.375% in 2018). My concern with Morris is that he will burry Kevin Knox on the bench and will take essential playing time away from the second-year player.

Competition is part of the game, though, so Knox will have to stand up to the challenge and play his best basketball.

Julius Randle: B+

At just 24-years-old, Randle is an up and coming athlete that averaged 21.4 points per game and 8.7 total rebounds per game last year. He’s an above-average player and will likely be the most influential and impactful signing the Knicks make this year.

As a natural power forward, he will slot right into the starting role. The issue is his defense, as he seems to be lazy at times and will let offensive-minded players take advantage of that weakness. That’s a part of his game he must work on.

Wayne Ellington: C+

The Knicks needed to add shooters badly after an extremely rough offensive outing in 2018 as a whole. A solid shooter from three (.371% in 2018), Ellington can make an impact in a hurry on offense. He averaged a bit over 23 minutes per game last year, making him a capable rotational player.

He has value on offense, something the Knicks desperately needed to assist this offseason.

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Elfrid Payton: C

Payton is a decent player, but the Knicks are still looking to start Dennis Smith Jr. who’s been working tirelessly on his perimeter shot with shooting coach Keith Smart in Westchester. Elfrid can be a suitable backup for Smith Jr., but his presence pushes Frank Ntilikina back on the depth chart.

It seems as if the Frenchman has seen his last starting opportunity in the Big Apple. Averaging 10.6 points per game from Payton should be good for the offense.

Taj Gibson: B

I love this signing, as he will be the primary mentor for Mitchell Robinson. The 10-year veteran center can instill some important knowledge into the young player, something he will need to take his game to the next level.

Playing in 24 minutes per game last season, Gibson still has some juice left in the tank, but I imagine him playing a secondary role in 2019-20 while the Knicks stick with Bobby Portis and Robinson at the center spot.

Bobby Portis: B-

The Knicks brought in Portis to essentially compete with Robinson for the big-man spot. Portis played 77 percent of his minutes at center last season, which will give him the upper hand in securing the role. The only issue is his defense, which is utterly terrible.

He’s a solid scorer averaging 14.3 points per game last year, but he averaged less defensive rebounds than Julius Randle at 6.4. I anticipate Robinson earning more playing time, but we can’t rule out Portis as a potential starter.

Reggie Bullock: C

We likely won’t see Bullock for quite some time after having a cervical herniated disk operation. The recovery time is about six months before he can even participate in physical contact drills.

Being that he will likely make a very minimal impact at most on next season, the $4 million he will earn will have been an absolute waste. The Knicks struck out big time with Bullock who will have to fight the team option next year.