frank ntilikina

The New York Knicks got bullied by the Atlanta Hawks

by
New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

There’s been plenty of speculation if the New York Knicks team can make the playoffs this season.  After last night’s performance, it is clear that they are not even close.

The Knicks were playing careless, lackadaisical basketball up until the middle of the fourth quarter.  It was an exciting ending but the Knicks fell short to the Atlanta Hawks 100-96.

Dennis Smith Jr. played is first game of the preseason, but he didn’t look healthy at all.  Smith Jr. has been dealing with lower back injury for weeks.  He looked sluggish to begin the game with two quick fouls, lackluster defense and an iffy improved shot. He was chasing around Trae Young more then anything.  Smith Jr. should rest that back until he’s actually 100% because he was far from that.

The other point guard battling for time, Frank Ntilikina, played well defensively.  He was able to shut down Young in the second half with his 7-foot-wide wingspan.  Offensively, he struggled and didn’t appeared confident in his shot after missing a few.  Ntilikina made two big plays down the stretch to get the Knicks in striking distance, but it wasn’t enough.

The point guard will be interesting as both guards didn’t separate themselves from one another last night.  Elfrid Payton did not play last night per Coach David Fizdale’s decision.  He is still in the mix for time as well.

RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Marcus Morris were the main stand outs for the Knicks.  Barrett continues to improve in some aspect every game.  Barrett even ran point and the offensive appeared to have more pep in its step when he did.  He was able to push the ball up the floor and had the offense in a good rhythm.

With the point guard position is total question, fans wouldn’t be surprised if Fizdale went more with Barrett at point and Ntilikina over Smith Jr. while his back heals.  Both can split time running point.

Randle continued his solid preseason.  He hasn’t blown fans out of the water with his play, but it’s there.  Randle can do a little bit of everything and is very aggressive driving and having the ball in the low-post, which is great for the Knicks.  Morris continues to make scoring look effortless for the Knicks, but he seemed off energy wise last night as well.

Kevin Knox also played well coming off the bench last night.  He shoot it well and had good court vision in transition. Last season, he would have drove into multiple defenders.  Last night, he was able to do that but finally find the open man.  Good progress so far for Knox.

Despite the few positives, there was plenty more negatives.  The Knicks boxing out was the most frustrating.  They were not getting a man and the Hawks had a field day on the offensive glass, 16 offensive rebounds.  Also, the Knicks, and even the fans, were out of it last night.  There was a lack of enthusiasm and energy from both.  The Knicks bench didn’t seem like they were in the game either.  It’s the preseason we know, but still.

The Hawks dominated the Knicks in all aspects of the game last evening.  Literally every aspect, field goal and 3-point percentage, assists, all rebounds, turnovers, fast break points and points off turnovers, etc.  Stats don’t mean much in this preseason game as it was tough to watch for the Knicks.  These dogs that were suppose to do the bullying looked like a bunch of poodles last night.

Let the New York Knicks battle for the guard positions begin

by
New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

The back-court for the New York Knicks always seems to be crowded.  And now, it’s about to get more congested with the return of Dennis Smith Jr. and Daymean Dotson.

Smith Jr. has been nursing a lower back injury and Dotson is coming off shoulder surgery this off-season.  The two should make their preseason debut this Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Just as the Knicks welcome back Smith Jr. and Dotson, Frank Ntilikina is ‘probable’ with a groin injury.  This the same nagging injury that he dealt with all last season, limiting him to 43 games.

Coach David Fizdale said that sitting Ntilikina, and everyone really, is more a precautionary measure.  The Knicks are starting the season off with a lot of injuries.  The one’s mentioned above, Reggie Bullock’s back injury and Mitchell Robinson’s overall health, which is always in question.  It’s not the start to a season you want.

However, all of the Knicks current guards can make a case to start.  Dennis Smith Jr. was the leader in the clubhouse to start the season as their point guard.  He has been putting in the work this summer to improve his shot and they hope it pays dividends.  Plus, Smith Jr. clearly has the most upside and explosiveness to run the offense.

Elfrid Payton began making his case this preseason to steal minutes from Smith Jr.  Payton appears to run the offense well, but that’s it.  He doesn’t have the offensive capability like Smith Jr., but the offense seems to sort-of smoothly with Payton.

Ntilikina started to make his case for more time with his play during the FIBA World Cup.  Coach Fizdale noticed his progression and will try to incorporate that into the Knicks system.  Ntilikina’s progress appeared through his aggressiveness and confidence in taking his shot.  Now, it’s about staying confident in his game and healthy to perform.

RJ Barrett will have competition with Dotson’s return.  But, it’s unlikely that Dotson will not overtake Barrett since he’s coming off his shoulder injury.  Dotson will get his opportunity, when healthy, especially since he’s a above-average defender and can provide offensive support.

Let’s not forget about Allonzo Trier either.  Trier has proved he can be immediate offense off the bench.  Even when he got the starting nod last season, he made the most of his time.  Everyone knows what he brings to the table offensively.  But, if Trier can improve his defense, he makes a strong case to be the first guard off the bench.

The New York Knicks will be juggling with different guard combinations to start the season.  Fizdale will try to find what works best for the team and where he gets the most out of his guys.  Don’t expect all the guards to easily cave, it’s going to be a battle.

New York Knicks: Trading Frank Ntilikina is just another rumor

by
New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

This New York Knicks rumor has picked up a lot of steam the past couple days.  The Detroit Pistons are, allegedly, having interest in Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina.

Rumors about NBA players on the move seem to pop up out of nowhere these days.  Trading Ntilikina has always been subject to rumor for the past couple seasons.  The one rumor last season was him being traded to the Orlando Magic.  Then, the rumor resurfaced again before and on this past draft night.  But, those obviously didn’t happen.

Just because one reporter in Detroit tweets this rumor, doesn’t mean it’s actually happening.

Ntilikina is still only 21-years-old and coming off a strong performance for his home country of France in the FIBA World Cup.  He is showing that hard work pays off and that he has the potential to be something for the Knicks.  However, the Knicks need to have the same confidence in him like France did.

In the World Cup, Ntilikina shown that he can handle the ball, make shots and, of course, be a lock down defender.  Coach David Fizdale said that he watched 90% of Ntilikina’s games.  He hoped to utilize him the same way that France did, but that has been inconsistent already.

The New York Knicks back court always is crowded.  Dennis Smith Jr., Elfrid Payton and Ntilikina all will be competing for minutes this season.  Lets not forget about Allonzo Trier either.

Trading away Ntilikina would not be a smart move on the Knicks part.  The Knicks need to continue to invest in Ntilikina and give him the confidence that France did.  If they do, it is apparent that he can perform.  Also, it’s always the Knicks luck that if they did trade away Ntilikina, he would become a very good rotational player or starter, if given the opportunity.

The Knicks need to continue to work with Ntilikina and give him the minutes to succeed.  With the amount of quality bench players the Knicks have, he will have his moment to prove his worth.  Fizdale has to have confidence in Ntilikina this season for the Knicks to pick up his next season option before the end of October.

New York Knicks preparing to inject offensive spark into team

by
New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

The New York Knicks can finally begin the point guard position battle with youth player Dennis Smith Jr. returning to the lineup. The former Dallas Maverick suffered a lower back strain which kept him out of the first two preseason games for the Knicks, but he was a full participant during Sunday’s practice and will feature in his first game on Wednesday night against the Hawks at Madison Square Garden.

“He’s doing what he left off doing, which is really competing defensively, pushing the pace, attacking, organizing us,” coach David Fizdale said. “He had a really good practice.”

Head coach David Fizdale is hoping that Smith can add a spark to an offense that scored 99 points in a loss to the Washington Wizards last Friday.

Smith’s athleticism and work ethic to improve his jumpshot this off-season should increase the efficiency of the unit and help the offense put more points on the board. Fizdale has all of the confidence in the third-year guard’s first full season with the Knicks.

“Everything I asked him to be better at, I felt like he was showing signs of being better at,” Fizdale said of Smith’s training camp. “Whether it was his conditioning, his shooting or getting us organized and making plays for other people. Hopefully we can keep that going and pick up where he left off.”

He will compete against veteran Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina this off-season for the starting point guard job. Payton has been featuring as the starter in the absence of Smith, but he hasn’t produced much with his opportunity.

Peyton scored just five points over two games and didn’t leave a significant mark on either. Fizdale likes his work rate and defensive abilities, but scoring is not his strong suit.

The New York Knicks need to help Dennis Smith Jr. help himself:

Smith has been working tirelessly on his efficiency from the field and making the most out of his athleticism will be the priority for the 2019-20 season. If Dennis can reach his potential, the Knicks will be set at the point guard position and will lean on Smith to contribute in a big way moving forward.

One aspect of Smith that has increased during his time with New York is his assist rate. He averaged 5.4 assists per game over 21 contest last season after being traded to the Knicks — the highest in his career. Spreading the ball around and being efficient on the floor needs to be a focus for the point guard. Assists have always been a struggle for him and that is half the battle at his position.

 

 

New York Knicks could reportedly be shopping PG Frank Ntilikina

by
New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

With New York Knicks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. out with a lower back injury, veteran Elfrid Payton and third-year player Frank Ntilikina will be handling a majority of the playing time during the preseason. However, rumors and reports of the Knicks’ potentially moving on from the Frenchman have arisen.

According to Forbes, the Detroit Pistons could be interested in trading for the Knicks point guard. He’s a sensible target for Detroit, as he is just 21 years old and they’re looking for cheaper talent they can develop.

Ntilikina is a former first-round pick during the Phil Jackson era who was never able to reach his potential at the NBA level, as of yet.

Should we remain hopeful for the New York Knicks point guard?

Averaging just 5.9 points and 3.1 assists per game over two seasons, Frank is looking to elevate his statistics and provide more production during the 2019-20 campaign. He proved his worth during the FIBA World Cup with France, overcoming a tough USA team that featured Kemba Walker. He outplayed the All-star and hit several timely jumpers to drag his team to an improbable victory.

His efficiency during the World Cup gave fans hope that he could finally reach his potential this upcoming season, and with Smith out with injury, it gives him additional minutes to show just that.

In the first preseason game, Ntilikina earned nine points, three assists, and five rebounds over 23 minutes of play. Payton played just two minutes more at 25 minutes and scored only five points. The younger options seem to be more productive on the floor and could earn additional minutes with Smith out until the regular season.

In the second game of the preseason against the Washington Wizards in which the Knicks lost 115-99, Ntilikina scored five points while Payton put up a fat zero on the scoresheet.

The Knicks may elect to shop Ntilikina, according to SNY’s Ian Begley. However, they don’t have enough depth to justify his departure and the value other teams believe he is worth will not match up to the expectations for the Knicks.

 

 

Why the New York Knicks will feature their veterans a ton during the preseason

by
New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks enjoyed their first preseason game of the season on Monday night, beating the Washington Wizards 104-99. The starting lineup featured predominantly of veterans, specifically the free-agent signings this offseason.

Head coach David Fizdale is making the right decision my utilizing his vets early on, as ensuring they have solid chemistry to start the regular season is essential. They will be the focal point of the offense and defense, especially Julius Randle and Marcus Morris, two players who will likely be starters.

Fizdale did, however, play two of his three lottery picks off the bench (Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina) against the Wizards, which wasn’t much of a surprise considering their struggles last season.

Ntilikina will be the backup to Elfrid Payton as Dennis Smith Jr. heals from a lower back injury that bothered him during the 2018 season. Fizdale was excited about the potential of Payton as their newly signed point guard, stating:

“His competitiveness. He just has a serious competitive gene. He hates to lose. He’s never out of a possession, offensively and defensively,” Fizdale said, per the NY Daily News. “He’s always trying to figure out how he’s going to win the possession. It just stands out to see that on the court.”

If Smith Jr. wins the starting PG spot, Payton will be the No. 2 option, providing consistent defensive quality and a keen sense of ‘assisting his teammates. He’s also a capable scorer that will contribute in that fashion as well.

As for the 6-foot-9 Marcus Morris, Fizdale described how he planned to use his talents:

Small forward “is what he’s going to play more of this year. We’re going to take him back to when he first came into the league,” Fizdale said. “We like the idea of having size at that position… he has a skillset that allows him to play multiple positions.”

I anticipate both Morris and Kevin Knox will split time at the small forward position and rotate. Fizdale could also choose to play the hot-hand, and Knox is prepared to elevate his game after putting a significant amount of muscle on before the preseason.

There’s a lot to be excited about this upcoming season with the youth and veterans combining efforts. There seems to be a better sense of accountability brewing between the players.

Under looked parts from first New York Knicks preseason game

by
New York Knicks

A lot of positives came out of the New York Knicks first preseason game.  The Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards handily, despite the score.

One part that appears to be swept under-the-rug is Julius Randle having 7 assists.  Randle appears to be a very underrated passer.  At times, he did try to get too fancy and had costly turnovers, overall.  But, Randle was able to draw attention then dish it with ease.  With this aggressive style of play, Randle should be able to become an above-average with how he stretches the floor, drawing defenders.

Another player that may be under looked, Wayne Ellington.  He played 22 minutes in his New York Knicks debut, adding 12 points.  Ellington was three-for-seven beyond the arc and was not shy to find his shot.  It was unclear what his role was going to be coming into the season, but Monday was a possible glimpse of him being a vital role player.  Ellington has great shooting form and will give the Knicks that sharp-shooter they need off the bench.

Quickly, as a team last season, the Knicks shot 34% from beyond the arc.  Monday, the team shot 42.9%.  Yes, it was one preseason game, but they could be on the right track with this group.

Lastly, the Knicks team chemistry was great.  The chemistry has been well documented throughout the summer thanks to social media.  The Knicks have been going for dinner, movies and working out together.  Everyone appears to be bonding, challenging each other and battling, which will only improve their play on the court.

The Knicks appear to be confident in one another and want everyone to succeed.  Players seem know where others are going to be after a short time playing together.  Again, one game.  But, imagine what this team would look like after months of playing with one another?  Could turn out better then people think.

Barrett Shines, Morris ejected; New York Knicks first preseason game

by

The New York Knicks opened the preseason in Washington last night.  The Knicks were without their, possible, starting point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who is resting his strained back.

The injury to Smith Jr. is nothing serious, just precautionary measures.  This opens up time for Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton to showcase their skills and heat up the battle for point guard minutes.

The Knicks, led by RJ Barrett and Marcus Morris with 17 points each, defeated the Wizards 104-99.

However, Morris was ejected for swinging his elbows then hitting Justin Anderson on the head with the basketball.  In his post-game interview, Morris said, “We not taking no sh*t.”  Morris’ actions were uncalled for, but the fact that the Knicks have an enforcer is nice, in a way.  It’s the New York Knicks turn to fight back.

Barrett was a bright spot throughout the entire game for the Knicks.  He was shut down Bradley Beal in the first half, but struggled offensively.  The second half was when Barrett settled in.   His teammates kept feeding him the ball, as Barrett had the hot hand in the second half.  He was aggressive and knocking down shots.  Barrett was 6-13 from the field, 46%.

The Knicks leader, Julius Randle had a strong Knicks debut.  Randle looked strong and quick when taking the ball down-low.  At times, he got a little too fancy with the passes, but was able to make provide solid assists to his teammates.

Mitchell Robinson was every where in the first half.  Blocking shots, rebounding, stretching the floor and dunking.  He also did a fine job at not fouling as much.  Of course, he had some dumb cheap fouls in the second half, but nothing crazy.

Frank Ntilikina played very well, despite a not so good stat line.  The main thing was Ntilikina was aggressive and not afraid to drive and take his shot.  This version is Ntilikina is a lot better than last season, coming off that high of performing well for France in the FIBA World Cup.  If he can perfect, the mid-range jumper, it can be deadly.

Taj Gibson provided good veteran leadership on the floor and was able to find his stroke from beyond the arc. Wayne Ellington is sharp-shooter with great form and a great addition to the Knicks.

Despite the score, the Knicks were up by double-digits pretty much the whole game.  The bench provided a good spark to the team and is very deep.

Overall, this Knicks team is very enjoyable and a team the New York could fall in love with.  Yes, it was one preseason game, but this team is different.  A lot of talent on the roster to make some noise in the East if they play to their potential.  There’s a good mix of young, veteran presence and it could work.  The future seems to be bright.

New York Knicks suffer preseason blow to point guard position

by
New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

One of the more exciting position battles for the New York Knicks this off-season will be at the point guard spot. The likely winner of the battle will be Dennis Smith Jr., but he sat out Saturday’s practice due to a lower strain back, according to SNY’s in Bagley.

The injury to the point guard is no surprise, as he also dealt with something similar during the 2018-19 season, but he returned for the final few games. This issue will likely hold Smith out of Monday’s preseason opener against the Washington Wizards, with Veteran signing Elfrid Payton earning the start with Frank Ntilikina backing him up.

Smith Jr. is an extremely talented and athletic point guard, but injuries have derailed his career and held his development back at times. This is another reason that the Knicks will leave the spot open for interpretation and allow others to compete for the starting job.

Could Dennis Smith Jr.’s injury affect the New York Knicks starting lineup for the regular season?

Smith, who was brought over in the trade that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Dallas Mavericks last season, was the expected starter for the regular season this year. The injury certainly holds him back, but we shouldn’t rule him out as the starting option just yet. While the damage is something he has dealt with in the past, the timetable for his return has yet to be solidified.

Where does the remainder of the starting lineup stand?

With numerous veterans joining the team, the youth players won’t be given automatic starting positions the season. Marcus Morris projects to start over Kevin Knox, and Julius Randle will also steal minutes away from other players, potentially including RJ Barrett. However, starting Barrett would be in their best interest, considering he is the future of the team, and providing him with essential experience will help his development and progression.

Big man Mitchell Robinson will earn significant playing time right off the bat, mainly due to his potential and the optimism he provided last season on defense.

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

by
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.