david fizdale

New York Knicks: What’s David Fizdale doing with the point guard position?

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New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale has taken an interesting approach toward the point guard position to start the season, utilizing his trio of options situationally, favoring veteran Elfrid Payton.

The former New Orleans Pelican was reportedly promised the starting job, and he surely won it in the first game of the regular season, putting on a defensive clinic. Dennis Smith Jr., a player who the Knicks brass had high hopes for, has been abysmal to start the year, but he’s more than capable of turning his bad luck around.

The New York Knicks must commit to a point guard and not re-invent the wheel:

However, third-year player Frank Ntilikina has been stuck in a rotation that has seen rookie forward, RJ Barrett, earn more minutes at point guard. The reality is, Ntilikina doesn’t have the size or strength to battle at the rim, and his lack of elusiveness around the basket doesn’t make him a reliable offensive threat.

The Frenchman is a defensive stud, though, playing situationally to lock down the opposing team’s point guard. Some would make the argument that Ntilikina should be starting, and the momentum could help instill confidence and elevate his game. Against the Magic on Wednesday, Fizdale once again took an interesting approach towards the position.

Fizdale started the game without a point guard but had Barrett feature as the primary keeper. This move failed miserably, as the New York Knicks put up a whopping 83 points on the night. Ntilikina ended up playing 29 minutes and scored seven points, finishing with a +2 +/- on a night where most players were in the negative.

Keeping Frank out of the starting lineup could affect his confidence, but Fizdale was adamant that he understood the approach:

“No, not at all. He’s not even thinking like that. He understands exactly what I’m doing. I communicate to these guys why I’m doing what I’m doing. He’s going to have to play a ton of minutes [Wednesday]. I can’t afford to lose him to foul trouble. So I’ll spread him out. Frank’s our lone pure point. I don’t want to mess around and get either one in foul trouble.’’

Moving forward, I would like to see more of Ntilikina and his defense. However, he must begin producing more on offense to become a constant option — an all too familiar storyline.

 

New York Knicks: Ntilikina has to build off a “fantastic” scoreless outing

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New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

Bobby Portis wasn’t the only member of the New York Knicks receiving praise for their first victory.  Frank Ntilikina received loud ovations from the Garden faithful Monday evening.

Ntilikina went scoreless, 0-6, from the field but that didn’t stop the cheers from raining down.  He provided a good defensive tone in the second half as the Knicks stormed back for the win.

Coach David Fizdale was able to give Ntilikina more minutes due to the unfortunate circumstances with Dennis Smith Jr.  Fizdale praised the Frenchman with his play stating it was “Fantastic.”

It always seemed like whenever the Knicks tried to get back into the game in the second half the Bulls would answer.  That was ultimate Ntilikina started to play lock-down defense on Bull defenders.

Zach LaVine was shut down by Ntilikina in the second half.  At one point, LaVine tried to take the game into his own hands but Ntilikina had other thoughts.  Ntilikina keeping his defender in front of him was beautiful to watch.  If he wasn’t able to do so, the game might not have went in the Knicks favor.

Despite going scoreless from the field, that was a game Ntilikina needs to build upon.  The Knicks instilled trust in Ntilikina by picking up his fourth-year option for next season.  Fizdale started to show that he’s giving Frank trust by keeping him in for defensive purposes in crunch time.

The Knicks got their first victory of the season due to the performances of RJ Barrett, Portis and Ntilikina.  His play was encouraging despite not scoring any points.  Some fans may think that Ntilikina wasn’t a key player in Monday’s victory.   But if it wasn’t for his defensive ability at the end of the game, the New York Knicks might still be winless on the year.

New York Knicks: Is Kevin Knox finally reaching his potential?

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New York Knicks, Kevin Knox

The New York Knicks have started the regular season off with a 1-3 record, but there is plenty to be excited about, especially in regards to the younger players. Rookie RJ Barrett has been stellar, averaging 20.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, far improved from his shaky preseason.

However, the development of Kevin Knox has been significant, consider one year ago he embarked on a historically lousy rookie campaign. Knox has alleviated some concerns by increasing his muscle mass and being more aggressive towards the basket.

He has yet to start a regular-season game, but his influence off the bench has been helpful. Averaging 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, his totals have just about replicated his 2018 numbers with five fewer minutes on the floor. That’s a great indication of improvement, and we should expect to see more in the future from the 20-year-old power forward.

After 57 games as a rookie, Knox’s talents coming off the bench might better suit his style of play. A quick influx in work rate and aggressiveness has proven to be substantial for the Knicks, as he’s shooting 56.3 percent on three-pointers after knocking down just 34.3 percent in 2018.

“You see him. You remember last year. He was unsure, which a lot of kids are that first year. Now he’s starting to understand,” coach David Fizdale said following Monday’s win over the Bulls. “He sees the game a little slower. I think he’s physically more confident. He spent a lot of time working on his shot and simplifying his shot. When it leaves his hands, I feel like it’s got a really good chance of going in.”

Coach Fizdale is right; the game slows down as young players refine their abilities and gain essential game experience. The more time Knox has on the floor, the more he can become a more intricate puzzle piece.

New York Knicks’ Kevin Knox commented on his improvement this season:

“I’m taking some of the bad shots out of my game and just knocking down some of the open ones,” Knox said. “I’m trying to get my field-goal percentage up overall.”

Shot selection is a relevant category that Knox struggled with in his rookie year, but that’s expected. Overall, he’s done a much better job taking open shots and utilizing space on the floor.

New York Knicks: Fizdale Admits Randle Has Been Pressing Early This Season

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

New York Knicks coaching staff Including David Fizdale are working on molding all the new pieces together. All the new additions on a roster causes lack of cohesion which results in lack of trust to a certain extent both offensively and defensively. Julius Randle has been a turnover machine early this season, however, Knick fans shouldn’t worry too much because it’s normal for a young player with a new contract in a bright lighted city like New York to be overanxious. As time goes on the New York Knicks power forward will continue learning his teammates which will allow the game to become easier for him and vice versa.

David Fizdale told Ian Begley of SNY.tv,
“He’s pressing. I thought he was really pressing. He’s one of our horses. I think a lot of it was just he was so hyped up for the game,” Fizdale said. “I might’ve played him too many minutes. Some of his plays were tired plays, I think. I’ll go back and watch the film and see how I can help him.”

David Fizdale also tells Ian Begley about the potential and depth of the New York Knicks roster. The Knicks coach states,

“We have depth, we’ve just got to get them all to play on the same night and get them clicking on the same night. But that’s going to take time obviously. We’ve had three weeks together. But the fact we have the kind of grit that doesn’t lay down, those are two playoff teams we lost to on the road that we had a chance to win those games.”

Julius Randle and the Knicks coaching staff could be in for a long season if things don’t work out. However, the opposite is also possible if the Knicks can right the ship later in the season. Knicks improving will all depend on whether or not players are still buying into Fizdale’s system.

New York Knicks: The silver lining that has all of us salivating

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

Over just three games, the New York Knicks have already shown us where their weaknesses lie, and ‘who’ their strengths tend to be throughout a game.

To start the year against the San Antonio Spurs, veteran point guard Elfrid Payton put on a defensive show with five steals, solidifying himself as the go-to starter for the Knicks. However, the player that has most impressed is none other than rookie, RJ Barrett.

The Duke product has averaged 21 points per game in three games, including 2.7 assists and five total assists. He has been active all over the court, showing his hustle and tenacity towards the rim. Nobody expected Barrett to start his first season with a bang, considering his struggles in the preseason.

Following the Knicks’ 118-95 loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, head coach David Fizdale commented on Barrett’s 26 point (9-20 shooting), seven-rebound performance.

“He’s a stud, that’s the only way I can put it. He’s a stud,” Fizdale told reporters postgame.

The New York Knicks have a potential star in their presence:

The loss to Boston was the first time in his young career in which he led the team in scoring, and we can expect him to do that plenty more times this season. The positives are just bleeding from Barrett’s game — his shooting as been stellar, especially from downtown.

He’s knocking down .538 percent of three-point shots (4.3 attempts per game). Also, his field goal percentage is fantastic at .510. We can expect these numbers to crash down to reality eventually, but his hot start to the season provides optimism for a Knicks team that’s in dire need of a true superstar.

RJ’s priority this season is to develop and refine his abilities because he will play a significant part in convincing established superstars to bring their talents to the Big Apple. The organization didn’t have the effective lure this past offseason, leaving them with Julius Randle and Marcus Morris, two quality veterans, but not game-changing players.

Barrett’s influence will only continue to grow in size, and he’s aware the future lies on his shoulders. So far, so good, RJ.

New York Knicks: Allonzo Trier asking to be left behind be coach Fizdale

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New York Knicks, Allonzo Trier

When New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale released the starting lineup on Wednesday night, today anticipate second-year player Allonzo Trier featuring in the opener.

Trier played all by seven minutes before being yanked from the game. He missed three consecutive shots and failed to gain a second opportunity. His scoring ability disappeared, and his isolation moves seemed to transform into a team-first attitude, which backfired in a strange yet resolving way.

The former undrafted guard couldn’t make an impact on the Knicks’ 2019-20 opener, and that surely doesn’t spell the end for Trier this season. He might end up playing a pivotal role in future contests, but his performance on Wednesday was disappointing.

Walking away with a -6 +/- on the night, Allonzo will look to bounce back on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. Fizdale utilized Allonzo in a point-guard role, which isn’t his most influential position. It seemed as if Fiz wanted to inject the point guards into the game in similar functions, giving them equal time-slots to prove their worth.

Veteran Elfird Payton blew Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina out of the water. The combination of Frank and Dennis put a hefty two points on the board over five attempts. They also totaled an impressive one assist. Payton finished with 11 points, eight assists, five steals, and four rebounds.

Payton’s excellent defense was the highlight of the night beyond the three dismal performances listed above. Fizdale will undoubtedly go with Elfrid moving forward as the starter, and their assumptions became a reality after telling the former Pelican he would be in line to receive ample playing time.

Should the New York Knicks let Allonzo Trier revert to his usual self?

The Knicks have tried to amend Trier’s style of the play, forcing him to be more of a team/pass-first player, instead of utilizing his legendary iso moves. In the grand scheme of things, this development benefits the team, but Trier will need to adapt to his new role and find a rhythm as a more generous player on the floor.

EXTRA:

“This year he hasn’t done it,’’ Fizdale said of Trier holding the ball and going in iso mode. “I think he’s [had] two possessions where he had maybe taken multiple dribbles in a possession. He doesn’t want the nickname and he wants to change that perception of him as a guy that holds [the ball]. He wants to be just Allonzo Trier. He’s been going about it the right way and he’s been showing that in practice.”

“He doesn’t like that nickname anymore. He’s done with it.”

 

New York Knicks: Elfrid Payton wins starting point guard spot by a landslide

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New York Knicks, Knicks

If Dennis Smith Jr. was looking to become the New York Knicks starting point guard for the 2019-20 season, he likely should have brought his A-game to the opener against the San Antonio Spurs. Facing off against a quality team, Smith played just 10 minutes, mainly because he heaved up three ill-advised shots, and connected on a drive to the rim.

Smith finished 1-for-4 with one assist in limited action, but his porous shot selection told his ever-lasting story of bad decisions and mental mistakes. With all of the athletic tools to become a bonafide star, he continues to take low-percentage shots and play with a selfish mentality.

This ultimately allowed Elfrid Payton to take the starting job right out from under him, and he did just that in the Knicks’ first game o the year. Playing 26 minutes, Payton was 4-for-9 with 11 points. His primary influence came on defense, though, as he picked up five steals on the night, earning a +14 +/- rating.

Payton was the spark the Knicks needed to mount a significant comeback and lead the game by seven at one point. With fatigue setting in, the Knicks allowed the Spurs to storm ahead by double digits late in the game, putting a chance a victory out of reach.

The point guard position battle is looking complete for the New York Knicks:

Head coach David Fizdale started his second season with the Knicks featuring a very peculiar starting five. He virtually dropped a point guard from the lineup and tossed Alonzo Trier out there to do a whole lot of nothing. Trier had zero points on three attempts. He was pulled after just seven minutes and didn’t see the floor after his initial start.

Second-year man Kevin Knox earned more playing time as the game went on, hitting back-to-back three-pointers at one point.  He alternated with Marcus Morris a fair amount. Rookie RJ Barrett filled in at the point guard position for a few minutes, given Fizdale’s lack of trust in Smith and Frank Ntilikina, while Payton rested.

The veteran will undoubtedly star the next game for New York, and it’s well deserved after an impressive performance in the loss.

The New York Knicks 2019-20 season preview and prediction

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The 2019-20 New York Knicks season is finally here.  It has been one roller coaster of a summer.  The Knicks were suppose to be the big winner this off-season in free agency and we all know how that played out.

The Knicks did make moves to get the right players for this team.  They’ve added the likes of Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington and Elfrid Payton.  GM Scott Perry thinks they added to correct players for what the Knicks are trying to accomplish.

The New York Knicks will be battling up-hill all season long.  No one is expecting much out of them this season.  Las Vegas has put the Knicks season win total at 27.5.  The main goal for this season is to continue developing their young core.  This consists of RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and Dennis Smith Jr.

However, that is not going to be the overall goal for this team.  Morris, Portis, Ellington and Payton are on the record talking about their “dog” mentality.  That mentality was present for the first preseason game then absent for the following games.  Maybe that is going to change once the season begins?  Because the Knicks are looking to “shock people.”  They got to back up all their talk from this summer, that’s maybe the biggest thing of all.

If the Knicks do play to their potential, as a team, they are capable of winning at least 30 games.  The playoffs is a gigantic stretch this season.  Anything over 30 wins will be considered a win of a season for the Knicks.

The Knicks also still don’t have a official starting point guard, it’s expected for be announced today.  It’s between Smith Jr. Payton and Ntilikina.  It appears it’s leaning towards Smith Jr. but he isn’t 100% healthy to begin the season.  Not the smartest move throwing him out there.

Coach David Fizdale also mentioned that he will be going with a 10-man rotation.  It makes sense to do that once the season gets rolling but not right off the bat.  The Knicks talked about having one of the deepest benches in the league.  Why would you not rotate everyone and see what works the best?  Some of Fizdale’s decisions are questionable.

The Knicks will be better then what they were last year.  They just can’t play down to opponents or get down on themselves.  Fans already got a glimpse of that in the game against the Washington Wizards at the Garden.  The Knicks didn’t starting really playing hard until the fourth quarter was nearly over.  All we can say was it was preseason but that look like the old Knicks.

The season should be different and better than last season.  The Knicks have to play as a team and grow together.  Fizdale needs to coach to his strengths and have an offensive scheme if they want to make any progress this season.  Our prediction for the New York Knicks, 31-51.

New York Knicks: Is Allonzo Trier bound for a life on the bench?

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New York Knicks, Allonzo Trier

Averaging just 16.0 minutes per game during the preseason, New York Knicks second-year player, Allonzo Trier, as found himself in a sticky situation. After showing great potential in his rookie campaign, averaging 10.9 points, 1.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per contest, head coach David Fizdale has elected to put him in a backup/reserve role.

Trier’s lack of playing time and overall influence is concerning, and that is undoubtedly a consequence of signing numerous veteran free agents who can contribute more efficiently. Trier was a one-person show last season, resulting in his nickname “Iso Zo.” His ball movement lacked, but he showed spurs of elite scoring potential.

It’s certainly possible the Knicks’ coaching staff already know what they have in Trier and wanted to test out different veteran combinations to shake out the starting team, but it’s also possible they don’t think the sophomore guard is ready to a be a key contributor.

The New York Knicks needed to work some kinks out of the rotation:

If the Knicks brass is using this time as an experimental one, Trier shouldn’t be worried about his playing time come the regular season. It is expected that he will make an impact with his tenacious defense and scoring abilities. Trier’s three-point shot will be more of a focal point during the 2019-20 season after averaging only 2.1 attempts last year. He hit on 0.8 of his 2.1 efforts, suitable for a .394 percent conversion rate.

Allonzo can be a great sixth-man off the bench if given the opportunity. He will have to battle with established veterans for consistent playing time, but he can serve a valuable purpose. First things first, though, he wants to eradicate his nickname.

“This year he hasn’t done it,’’ Fizdale said of Iso Zo Mode. “I think he’s [had] two possessions where he had maybe taken multiple dribbles in a possession. He doesn’t want the nickname, and he wants to change that perception of him as a guy that holds [the ball]. He wants to be just Allonzo Trier. He’s been going about it the right way, and he’s been showing that in practice.”

The perception of Trier can be selfish at times, and this is a good step towards changing that narrative.

New York Knicks starting point guard is still up-in-the-air

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New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale is not announcing the start point guard until game day.  This has been a position that has been up-in-the-air from the beginning.

Dennis Smith Jr. was the clear favorite to be the starting point guard.  However, due to his lower back injury, that is now in question.  Smith Jr. is not 100% and his ‘new and improved” is not up to NBA standards.  He shot 2-for-12 from the field in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton both have not separated themselves from one another to require the starting job or more minutes.

Ntilikina is the better defender but his offensive skills are still lacking.  He should get more minutes regardless because he his 7-foot wingspan can be a problem against the opponents guards.

Payton can run the offense smoothly but does not move the needle much offensively or defensively.  He could get the starting nod solely based off his experience.

RJ Barrett is the more interesting part about this point guard scenario.  When was running point, the offense ran the best it has with any other guard.  However, Barrett is not a natural point guard.  If anything, he’s a shooting guard.  Barrett has earned a starting spot regardless.  He continues to improve every game and shows he’s a building block for the foreseeable future.

The Knicks unofficial leader, Julius Randle, has given the edge to Smith Jr. and rightfully so.  His athletic ability, when healthy, makes him a no-brainer to start.   However, with his back still not 100%, the starting spot isn’t his yet.

The New York Knicks will be exploring a variety of guard combinations to begin the season.  The Knicks should start Barrett and Ntilikina because they will give the Knicks the best of both worlds.  Barrett contributes on offense and defense.  Ntilikina is a lock-down defender and has the basketball IQ to make plays when needed.