david fizdale

New York Knicks: David Fizdale swiping plays from France national team

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale is stealing plays from France’s national team.  Fizdale openly said that he was doing so too.

He was watching Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina play, very well, for his home country France in the FIBA World Cup.  Fizdale said that he, “Watched 90% of France’s games.”  He continued speaking on Frank’s performance, “I think that’s what he needed. He needed to feel that success.”

Fizdale told New York Post Marc Berman, “I studied the heck out of him.”  “He can be on the ball. He can be off the ball. He can guard multiple guys on the court” Fizdale said.

On the topic of stealing plays, Fizdale said, “I stole a couple of their sets, too.  I’m a thief, stealing from the coaches.”  However, when Fizdale said he was ‘stealing plays’ he was saying that he was looking at how France utilized Ntilikina and will try inject that into the Knicks system.  Fizdale is trying to whatever is takes to make the New York Knicks competitive again.

Ntilikina spoke on behalf of his experience in the World Cup and said he “Learned a lot.”  He sure did, as fans saw his confidence and aggressiveness get bigger and bigger each game.

It won’t be easy to implement everything that France did to help Ntilkina succeed, but there is hope.  A lot of players on the Knicks will be competing for minutes.  Fizdale can’t just role out the red carpet for Ntilkina since he had a good summer.

Yes, the NBA is different from the FIBA World Cup.  But, it was the confidence Ntilikina’s coaches had in him that made the difference.  If Fizdale is able to harness what France did for Ntilikina, the Knicks could have another gem on their hands.

New York Knicks: Who will be the starting guard during the 2019-20 season?

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks starting lineup will not be set in stone any time soon.  From all of the new faces putting on a Knicks uniform, the starting lineup will be continually changing.

Here are three New York Knicks players we know will likely be in the starting lineup:

The point guard should be Dennis Smith Jr., and it is his job to lose. At power forward, Julius Randle and the new Knicks center and blocking sensation Mitchell Robinson.

After that trio, the shooting guard and small forward positions are up for grabs.

Damyean Dotson was a strong candidate to begin the season as the starting shooting guard. However, due to his right shoulder not fully healed, Dotson might not be ready for the start of the season. That leaves it wide open for other players.

Next up would be, Allonzo Trier, Frank Ntilikina or RJ Barrett.  It is going to come down to who performs better during camp and the preseason. The same goes for the small forward position.

However, since trading away Tim Hardaway Jr. in the Kristaps Porzingis trade, the Knicks are without a go-to scorer.  Hardaway Jr. was not the best go-to option, but it was feasible for the time.

Ntilikina is coming off a strong performance in the FIBA World Cup for France. His offensive production improved, but you would not know that from just looking at his stats. Ntilikina averaged 19.5 minutes, shot 43.6% from the field while averaging 8 points per game. His numbers do not reflect the aggressiveness and confident outlook he gained through the World Cup.

Ntilikina could a reliable option to start at shooting guard since he brings an excellent defensive approach to the starting lineup.

The Knicks are looking forward to Trier taking a big step forward this season. Well, the Knicks are looking for a lot of their guys to make a big leap forward.  Everyone knows that Trier can score, but it is the defense that will need to improve this camp and preseason to let him be a starter.

Then, there is the 3rd overall pick Barrett. The skills and potential are there, but not at an NBA level yet.  It will take time for him to develop a more consistent shot.  His confidence grew as the Vegas summer league rolled on, so fans know he is just scratching the surface.

Some fans would want to see Barrett start immediately since he was the 3rd pick.  Also, he appears to be more mature then people think and if he wants to learn the hard way then what better way to toss him into the fire in the NBA.

Our picks for shooting guard who be to first start with Ntilikina.  Show him that you have the confidence in him, stemming from the World Cup to be a starter in the league.  He needs trust in his coach and player to succeed.  If that does not work, juggle Barrett and Trier until you find the right fit.

Coach David Fizdale will be experimenting with the lineup a lot at the beginning of the year.  Smith Jr., Randle, and Robinson appear to be the only three that will be the consistent starters.  It will be a battle for remaining shooting guard and small forward positions.  Fizdale will juggle with those two positions to find out what works best with the other three starting locks.

New York Knicks “trying out” Frank Ntilikina is ridiculous

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New York Knicks, Frnak Ntilikina

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the New York Knicks are using the beginning of training camp as a “tryout” for Frank Ntilikina.  It makes sense in some aspects, but honestly, it is ridiculous.

Ntilikina is coming off a strong showing in the FIBA World Cup for his home country of France.  He showed improvements with his shot, confidence and aggressiveness which were big concerns for the Knicks.  His coach and teammates raved about Ntilikina’s ability and work ethic.

There were even rumblings of him being the future face of France basketball.  The talent is there, but maybe not yet.

France was able to show confidence in Ntilikina throughout the World Cup, something that the Knicks have not done.

Coach David Fizdale said, “That was always tough to juggle and working him back in, getting his confidence back and stuff like that” after missing 40 games last season due to injury.   “I’m really happy with the way he came in. He had a great summer and today he had a real competitive practice”, Fizdale said.

But, Ntilikina is now 100% healthy and playing off the high he received in the World Cup.  He was given the opportunity to grow into a better basketball player and he did just that.  However, the Knicks coaching staff are speculating if his play will translate to the NBA.

Ntilikina was playing against NBA competition, for the most part.  He took a big leap forward with hitting gigantic shots to seal the game against the USA.  The raw emotion Ntilikina expressed afterwards could suggest his hard work is paying off.

The Knicks need to give Ntilikina the same opportunity that France did.  Ntilikina only averaged 19.5 minutes per game and he made them all count.  But, the Knicks saying they are “trying out” Ntilikina is saying that they do not have the same confidence in him as France did.

The Knicks should have looked into how France got the most out of Ntilikina and build off that, apparently Fizdale has.  Ntilikina was a lottery pick, 8th overall, in 2017 and at times it seems like they give up on Ntilikina.  A team should not give up on a lottery pick  so easily like it seems the Knicks do.

It also goes to show the lack of confidence the Knicks have in Ntilikina by not picking up his fourth-year option yet.  They have until October 31st to do so or he becomes an unrestricted free-agent.

The Knicks are still going to evaluate Ntilikina.  He continues to grow as a basketball and shown signs of improvement, he is only 21-years-old after all.  Seeing his performance in the World Cup should have been enough to pick-up his option.

Yes, the NBA is much different as compared to the FIBA World Cup.  But, Ntilikina has shown that if given the confidence and ability to work through his mistakes, he can be a vital piece to a successive team.

Yesterday, Fizdale finally talked about Ntilikina, expressing a positive outlook in him heading into the season.  Ntilikina himself noticed how much confidence he gained from the World Cup.  Now, build on that Fizdale.

New York Knicks: Two reasons Dennis Smith Jr. will win the point guard battle

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New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

The New York Knicks will enter training camp with a position battle at the point guard spot, as Dennis Smith Jr. will look to fend off Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina before the beginning of the regular season.

Smith has been working all off-season to improve his jump shot and scoring production, considering his lackluster numbers in recent years. He has averaged just 14.5 points per game since his inception in 2017, and that has hurt his playing time and overall efficiency on the floor. He could see a significant challenge from Payton, who is a much better all-around point guard. His assist totals dwarf the numbers posted by Smith Jr (5.0) over the last two seasons. Payton has earned an average of 6.9 assists per game in that same timeframe.

Despite the glaring statistical margins, the Knicks will likely stick with Smith as the starter considering his youth and potential. Elfrid is entering his fifth season, and if it means elevating Smith’s game exponentially, the Knicks would be smart to stick with the former Dallas Mavericks.

There have never been any questions about Smith’s elite athleticism, especially when remembering his impressive bout in the Slam Dunk Contest (second place prize). That skill set will only get him so far in the NBA, making his mid-range game that much more critical.

The New York Knicks have their best man on the job:

Knicks’ assistant coach Keith Smart has spent time with Smith this off-season in Westchester helping him improve his jumper. The point guard enters the 2019-20 season with a 40.7% field goal rate and only 31.6% from three. These mechanical tweaks should make a difference, and Smart is the most capable coach to help elevate his game.

Despite the hopeful uptick in production from Smith, head coach David Fizdale is not going to give him the starting role, but rather let him earn it.

“I think it’s going to be great competition,” Fizdale said, as per the NY Post. “I think we’ll have between [Elfrid], Dennis and Frank, those guys will be fighting each other every single day for those minutes. Really at that position, I’m looking at are they defending their position at a high level, are they pushing our pace, are they organizing us while staying aggressive and really being the floor general for our team.”

New York Knicks: 3 important questions heading into training camp

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New York Knicks, Kevin Knox, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks are venturing forward towards training camp with several questions looming over the starting roster. The signing of numerous veteran free agents will undoubtedly help the Knicks and their playoff-contending hopes.

However, they were for forced to dip into the second tier free agent maker after missing out on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The Knicks, though, are in a good position with their youth and have solid momentum as they continue to rebuild their team. The focus now should be on solving the remaining issues and providing answers to essential questions.

Here are three questions the New York Knicks must answer:

1.) Do the Knicks have an identity

Realistically, the Knicks don’t have a real identity, but they are laying the groundwork to develop one. The upcoming season will allow them to play themselves into a personality and solidify chemistry between the veterans and youth players. Options like Julius Randle and Marcus Morris will be essential to the growth of the team and will also help players like Kevin Knox and RJ Barrett reach their potential. Another significant factor in their progression is head coach David Fizdale, who lost several games early because of late-game flops and was at the head of a 17-win season last year.

The team’s offense was lackluster, the defense was nonexistent, and they couldn’t win it home with their fans cheering them on. Now, he must navigate how to help his team help themselves and piece together a quality starting lineup.

2.) Is Kevin Knox the real deal?

After a historically bad rookie season, Kevin Knox is looking to take his game to another level. He would likely play small forward for the Knicks in his second season in the NBA, but his struggles will remain to a certain degree. Giving up on the 20-year-old would be foolish at this point, considering he added essential muscle mass and worked on his jump shot to elevate his game. The Knicks signed several forwards this off-season complicating Knox‘s future and available playing time. Carving out a role for Knox should be a priority, though, considering his youth and what he’s capable of.

3.) Who should start at point guard?

The consensus is that Dennis Smith Jr. will be the starting point guard for the Knicks during the 2019-20 season. However, his scoring production has been lackluster over in the first two seasons of his career. He has averaged just 14.5 points per game, and his assistant totals are incredibly disappointing. In comparison to newly signed point guard, Elfrid Payton, his numbers don’t necessarily match up.

Payton averaged 10.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 9.3 total rebounds per game in 2018. He’s a solid all-around player while Smith is more of an elite athlete. Smith has the capability and skillset to develop into an above-average point guard in the NBA, but unlocking those abilities is the challenge.

He was frustrated as a part of the Dallas Mavericks, and New York offers a fresh start but also a significant challenge. The Fanbase in New York is brutal and will criticize a player at every corner. I wouldn’t rule the potential of Elfrid starting the season; however, I do not believe the Knicks will compromise the potential of Smith Jr. moving forward.

New York Knicks: What Style of Play Should Fizdale Implement on Offense?

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

The New York Knicks have a very deep roster heading into the 2019-20 NBA Season. Coach David Fizdale most likely will implement an aggressive offensive style in terms of pace. However, it will all be predicated on getting turnovers due to ultra-aggressive defense. Fizdale will try taking advantage of the Knicks depth by playing aggressive on both ends of the court.

A forceful attacking offense will be implemented for the Knicks deep roster by the coaching staff. The challenge will be to attack yet be under control. An uncontrolled attack offensively will lead to more turnovers and hindering shots from poor sloppy possessions.

According to the type of personnel the Knicks have, aggressively attacking the basket night in and night out and forcing their way to the free-throw line will be important for their offense. Plus, this attacking style and continuous trips to the stripe will help alleviate the Knicks defensively due to stoppage in action, which lessens chaos and allows the Knicks to get on defense formally. The offense will help the Knicks defense and vice versa. None of this is possible without great passing. Knicks were at the bottom of the league last season in assists. Players like Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton will certainly help in that department.

The New York Knicks made acquisitions this past offseason to improve their shooting, however, they still lack in that department. That basically shows how atrocious the Knicks were at three-point shooting before the offseason acquisitions. With a projected starting lineup of Dennis Smith Jr., RJ Barrett, Marcus Morris, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, shooting won’t be a strong point, however, getting to the rim and above the rim will be key for the Knicks. Fizdale’s smartly aggressive offense will put the Knicks in a position to succeed nightly if everything comes together including unselfishness amongst one another on offense.

New York Knicks starting lineup is not decided yet

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

The New York Knicks starting lineup has not been determined yet.  Coach David Fizdale told his players just that, according to Kevin Knox.  The starting lineup is still up in the air, as it should be.

The only two players that ‘should be’ locks to start this season are Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson.  Training camp will then determine the other three starters, if Fizdale would give Randle and Robinson the nod.

According to Knox, the practices have been intense and the team is bonding.  They have been playing hard, making each other better while also growing as a family.  The team will have to fight for the spots and it appears they are already competing for such spots.

The point guard situation seems to lean towards Dennis Smith Jr.  Elfrid Payton has been working to take some of the minutes away from Smith Jr., but it is ultimately Smith Jr.’s job to lose.  He has the most potential out of all point guards.

Marcus Morris could start at the 3 position to provide a good balance on offense and defense.  He is not going to be a go-to scoring option, but he will provide solid points while being a ‘dog’ on defense.  Morris is an above average shooter in the grand scheme of things, 43% career field goal percentage.

With Smith Jr. at the 1, Morris at 3, Randle at 4 and Robinson at 5, who is the shooting guard?

This is a tricky one has the Knicks struggled having a reliable 2 guard since trading away Tim Hardaway Jr., despite questionable shots and a contract.

Rj Barrett is not good shooter to start for the Knicks yet.  In time, his shot will improve and he will become a starter for the Knicks.  Kevin Knox is too big to play the 2.  Morris could get the over nod him, depending on how he continues to improve and develop in training camp.

One viable scoring option at the 2 guard could be Daymean Dotson.  ‘Dot’ is one the Knicks best two-way players, despite Randle.  When Dotson finally got the start towards the end of the season, he was able to show his scoring capabilities.  That was in addition to providing good defensive skills on some of the opponents top play-makers.

The shooting guard will be the toughest position to determine.  That position will be played with a lot throughout the season until Fizdale finds the correct fit.  Except big battles in training with everyone pushing each other to be better and improve on the league’s worst record last season.

New York Knicks: Is David Fizdale a First-Class Coach, or is He Just a Good Salesman?

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

New York Knicks‘ head coach David Fizdale is entering the 2019-20 NBA season with young talent and hope. There is hope for improvement in the atmosphere and hungry Knick fans can’t wait to see the young developing talent on the basketball court.

There are some whispers that Fizdale is a better salesman than he is an actual coach. However, the Knick head coach is respected around the league by NBA vets. He also has a decent track record excluding last season with the Knicks. There will be moderate pressure on Fizdale entering this 2019-20 NBA season.

Fizdale is definitely a good salesman towards the media. He’s good at giving the politically correct answer when the cameras are rolling, however, behind closed doors when dealing with the players, you’ll get an entirely different Fizdale. He is definitely the voice of this young Knicks team.

There were complaints about how Fizdale worked the lineup rotation during last season. People were complaining about one particular payer in Emmanuel Mudiay. The frustrated fans wanted to know the reason behind Mudiay receiving plenty of minutes at point guard. They’d often ask why doesn’t Frank Ntilikina receive those minutes instead. Some fans hated the fact Tim Hardaway Jr. never came off the bench. There were fans who thought Kanter should barely get playing time due to his defense, then quickly forgets when Kanter scores a monster double-double.

The huge point people tend to miss is that the New York Knicks went through last season with intentions to improve and treat the regular season like practice. Number one goal last season was to gain experience for young players like Knox. Dennis Smith, Allonzo Trier, and Mitchell Robinson. Another goal which worked out for the better was obtaining a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Overall, David Fizdale must be somewhat of a salesman with the media. Of course, it’s part of the job especially if you need players to buy into the system you’re coaching. The plus side is if the coach didn’t believe in his vision, he most likely would believe he could coach the team.

New York Knicks: How Will Coach Fizdale Manage Depth?

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

The New York Knicks are now very deep. Some knick fans fear the current roster is a little too deep. During the 2019-20 NBA offseason, Scott Perry, Steve Mills, and the New York Knicks determinedly established depth, especially at the forward position. The Knicks signed forwards Marcus Morris, Bobby Portis, and Taj Gibson. They also drafted combo forwards RJ Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis. Both draft picks are versatile. RJ can play point-guard and shooting-guard. Brazdeikis can possibly play shooting-guard, small-forward, and power-forward.

The New York Knicks backed away from a contract with undrafted forward Kris Wilkes due to health concerns and are now contemplating the possibility of replacing Wilkes with the shot-blocking athletic forward/center from Oregon by the name of Kenny Wooten. Former Oregon Duck, Kenny Wooten will be at training camp seeking a two-way deal. The Knicks signed a plethora of forwards, however, they are all versatile. The versatility of these players will allow Coach Fizdale to get very creative with lineups on a nightly basis.

David Fizdale’s depth management will definitely be based on the cohesion of certain players on the court. This is exactly what training camps and preseasons are for. It gives the coach a feel for guys strengths/weaknesses and what formulas to use for success. Chemistry is key for such a deep roster. It also doesn’t hurt that players started a chain text amongst one another and began taking the initiative to work out together at various locations.

Overall, David Fizdale has been a well-respected coach around the league due to his communication skills. Being clear and direct with your message is crucial when dealing with personalities. Fizdale may give the media the sugar side but behind closed doors, I guarantee David Fizdale demands a culture of winning in that Knick locker room by any means necessary.

Who should start for the New York Knicks this season?

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

The New York Knicks have a lot of options when deciding their starting lineup.  For what we know now, Dennis Smith Jr., Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson are locks to start.  The other two spots are up for grabs.

There was a discussion, inside Empire Sports Media, about who would start between Kevin Knox and Marcus Morris.  It all depends on what type of system David Fizdale wants to run.  Taking the offensive attack and up-tempo, you go Knox.  A more defensive, gritty approach, Morris gets the nod.

If you were to start Morris over Knox, the final spot should go to RJ Barrett.  Barrett would be able to spread the floor and create his shot with Morris in the lineup.  Plus, Barrett is trying to prove the doubters wrong and help turn the Knicks around.  If Knox started, Daymean Dotson would be the preferred choice.  Dot would also spread the floor, while providing positives on both sides of the floor.  Dotson would be a upgrade in defense as compared to Barrett, for now.

You can even throw Frank Ntilikina in the fire to provide more lock down defending.  If the season does not go according to plan, Fizdale should consider starting Ntilikina since his play and confidence seems to be growing throughout the FIBA World Cup.

However, the most balanced Knicks starting lineup should consist of, Smith Jr., Ntilikina, Knox, Randle and Robinson.  Frank and Mitchell provide the elite defending on the floor, with the rest also holding their own.  Randle is the number one scoring option and Knox and Smith Jr. take the offensive leap everyone is hoping for.  The Knicks will have players to get points this season.  The area of concern is being able to sustain consistent defense from start to finish.

Some, well many, believe the Knicks are not going to be a good team this season.  When you really break it down, the Knicks have the foundations as a team to be very good and successful for years to come.  This could be the start of the come-up for the New York Knicks.