Mitchell Robinson

New York Knicks: 3 players primed for a breakout season in 2019

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New York Kicks, Allonzo Trier

After what might have been the most exciting and unfortunate free agency period for the New York Knicks, the roster is nearly complete if not already. Bringing in Marcus Morris and Julius Randle inserts two quality starters into the lineup, but there are remaining question marks and issues that must be addressed.

The youth on the team is still inexperienced and will require time to reach their potential. RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier, Mitchell Robinson, etc. All of these players are on their way up but still need plenty of minutes to continue developing their games.

Who says the Knicks can’t win in the meantime? They have the talent to do so, it’s just a matter of building chemistry and a successful atmosphere.

Here are 3 New York Knicks players that could dominate in 2019:

3.) Allonzo Trier

While some might coin Kevin Knox as a potential beakout player, the Knicks have stacked the competition against him. He will have to fight for playing time, and not that Trier won’t, but I see him playing an extremely important 6th-man type of role that can come in and make buckets.

Averaging 10.9 points per game last season, Trier made an impact on the offensive side of the ball, however, his defense is below average. He’s the perfect options to come on and score some quick points, JR Smith style.

Nate Robinson begged the Knicks to give Trier a starting spot in an interview with SNY.TV reporter Ian Begley:

“Hey, New York Knicks, just do me a favor: can you please start my man? Seriously. He’s earned, coach he’s earned it. He’s played great basketball for you coming off the bench, but he can do so much more. I’ve been watching this kid since he was a young guy, 7-8 years old, playing in Seattle, him growing up in high school in a different, going to Arizona and now playing in the NBA. It’s pretty cool man….. I wish the best for him. He plays hard and he’s going to be a treat for the New York fans.”

At this point, it’s impossible to know where the season will take the Knicks, but Trier has the potential to make a serious impact. His influence is more clear due to his proficiency in shooting, something Knox struggles with at times. Knox prefers to work in the paint closer to the basket, which has posed issues due to the difference in NBA level defenders.

Trier has the advantage of being a better shooter, earning a .448 field goal percentage last season. If he can maintain numbers like that, he can be an impact player for the Knicks this upcoming season.

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2.) Mitchell Robinson

This one might not be too difficult to predict. Mitchell Robinson was the silver lining from a season that saw the Knicks finish with a 17-65 record. He set rookie records for the Knicks in the blocks category, swatting away nine shots in just 12 games. He averaged 2.4 blocks per game, which ranked him higher than Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid, two of the NBA’s top players.

To sweeten the pie, Robinson tied Hassan Whiteside for the most blocks in a single game with nine in just 22 minutes. It’s seeming as if Robinson might be the best draft pick from 2018, and he hadn’t played in quite some time prior to being selected. He’s an extremely exciting player with a ton of potential, there’s no question he’s preparing for a dominant season.

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1.) Dennis Smith Jr.

Going into his third year in the NBA, the point guard has all of the tools to elevate his game and establish himself as the starter for the foreseeable future.

The Knicks failed to bring in superstars like Kemba Walker or Kyrie Irving, but at the same time, it almost felt as though they weren’t trying to. They’re confident that Smith Jr. can rise to the occasion next season, and spending all offseason working on his perimeter shot will certainly help.

Adding a consistent shot to his elite athleticism will make him virtually unguardable at times. The potential he offers is simply too enticing to give up on at this time.

 

 

Will the New York Knicks Go Over 27.5 Wins in 2019?

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New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

The 2019-20 over/under for each NBA team has been set, with Summer League coming to a close. According to the BetOnline AG sportsbook, the New York Knicks’ over/under is set at 27.5. In order to get to 28 wins, and thus, hit the over, the team would have to win 11 more games in 2019-20. Can they do that?

With the signings of Reggie Bullock and Marcus Morris becoming official, New York’s fifteen-man roster is likely set.

Here is that first fifteen for the New York Knicks:

Point Guard: Dennis Smith Jr., Elfrid Payton, Frank Ntilikina

Shooting Guard: RJ Barrett, Allonzo Trier, Wayne Ellington, Damyean Dotson

Small Forward: Kevin Knox, Reggie Bullock, Ignas Brazdeikis

Power Forward: Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Taj Gibson

Center: Mitchell Robinson, Bobby Portis

With this team, the Knicks clearly lack starpower, but will hope to make up for it with depth.

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Prediction

I think the Knicks will likely hit the over, but not by much. With such a deep team, many of the players are of similar caliber, and so it will be difficult for Coach David Fizdale to manage his rotations. 

That said, New York has a lot of depth, and combined with the young talent, it should push the team to about 30 wins. Part of that will be determined by the play of said youngsters.

If RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, and Mitchell Robinson can take a step forward and become legitimate NBA players, this team will get to 30 wins and might push for 40.

It will certainly be interesting to watch the Knicks this year as they unfold what has become known as “Plan B” after the team missed out on the summer’s big free agents.

 

Do the New York Knicks plan to start RJ Barrett right off the bat?

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

With the signing of multiple starting-caliber free agents, the New York Knicks might have created more questions than answers. Drafting RJ Barrett with the 3rd overall pick should guarantee him a starting spot on the team, but after an inconsistent Summer League debut, it’s possible head coach David Fizdale elects to rotate him in off the bench.

Barrett, a natural forward, can play multiple positions, but bringing in Marcus Morris, Julius Randle, and already having Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and Dennis Smith Jr. makes starting Barrett a questionable decision.

It ultimately comes down to the game-plan for the Knicks. Do they want to refine their youth or compete to win more than 17 games in 2019-20?

To start the Summer League, Barrett scored just 18 points in his first two games on sub-23 percent shooting from the field. In other words, he was atrocious, but these numbers and opinions should be taken with a grain of salt. Over the next three games, he scored a combined 59 points on 19-for-44 shooting. His efficiency skyrocketed and his quality was on display, but was it enough to convince the coaching staff that he’s capable of holding his own in an NBA-level game?

At this point in time, Barret might be the Knicks’ best isolation scorer, but he severely lacks a perimeter shot, something he will need to develop in his rookie season. RJ averaged six three-point attempts per game with Duke last year, hit on 30.8 percent. As an off-ball player, this statistic is worrisome.

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Again, there’s plenty of time for the 19-year-old to refine his game and add to his repertoire — playing time is essential, though, I can’t imagine the Knicks not starting him in a regular role and expediting his progress. There’s no need to pull an Eli Manning and Daniel Jones scenario when the Knicks aren’t an expected playoff contender anyway.

They need to be focusing on their youth and extracting as much value as possible. I expect Barrett to play an influential role early and often to start the season.

 

How have the New York Knicks looked so far in the Summer League?

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The New York Knicks are 0-2 in this year’s summer league. This is not the start fans were hoping for.  A lot of fans, especially from the Knicks, tend to overreact to these games. How a player performs is either criticized or over-hyped.

Most Knicks followers were very excited to see rookie RJ Barrett play and go head-to-head against his good friend Zion Williamson.  If you watched the game, Zion played better than RJ.  Fans were already overreacting.  We are here to say… relax.  It was Barrett’s first game as a Knick, he is young, 19, and he was most likely nervous.

Barrett is a natural scorer and playmaker.  Just because he had a bad shooting performance in his first two professional games does not mean that fans should panic.  Barrett is going to be just fine.

Kevin Knox kills the summer league but falters during the regular season.  Knox did the same thing last year and swept Knicks fans off their feet.  However, it did not seem to carry over into the season, as it was a roller coaster.  Fans got so excited for Knox that his first was underwhelming. But, he too is young.  Knox seemed to have a better more fluid shot, especially in the first game against the Pelicans. Let’s hope that he brings that shot into the regular season.

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Mitchell Robinson has been a force down-low.  His defense has been good and he continues to be a blocking stud.  Robinson is only going to get better each game, so no need to worry about him. Maintaining his health will be a priority, though.

Ignas Brazdeikis appears to be another second-round steal for the Knicks. But again, it is the summer league and yes, he did go off against Phoenix, but the Knicks might have found another gem. Iggy was stroking it from all over.  He was aggressive and not afraid to take his shot. Brazdeikis needs to bring that fire every day and he can be a very good role player.

Despite being 0-2, the Knicks are still in a good position. It will take time for Barrett to get comfortable and that is when he will flourish.  Overall, the summer league does not mean much.  It is just an opportunity to see the potential up-and-coming players for one’s team and get us talking.  Do not overreact and just enjoy basketball being back.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson put on show in Summer League (VIDEO)

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New York Knicks, Duke, RJ Barrett

The funny thing about the New York Knicks is that a solid chunk of their players are performing in the Summer League preparing for the upcoming season. Their youth ranks dictate their participation, and it’s a beneficial thing for all of them.

Newly acquiring forward, RJ Barrett, is already developing chemistry with his new teammates. Center Mitchell Robinson and shooting guard Allonzo Trier are two other players involved in the league.

So far, all three have looked good, especially Robinson and Barrett who have put on a show with their athleticism.

New York Knicks youngsters Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett slam down:

This alley-oop from Barrett just shows what he can do at the NBA level and that he’s not afraid to attack the rim. In fact, that’s one of my favorite aspects of him — his ability to play aggressively near the rim and change the momentum with impressive plays such as this.

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From 2-point range last season, the Duke star finished on .529 percent of attempts, averaging 6.5 buckets per game from below the arc. He will be a very solid addition to a team in need of finishers and good defenders. A balance is really what’s needed.

Aside from Barrett, Robinson looks tantalizing too, showing off his 7-foot-1 height.

Check out Air Mitch here as he goes well above the rim and slams down a dunk. This was a frequent occurrence in 2018 and I anticipate it will only progress in 2019. The Canadian duo has the potential to develop really great chemistry on the floor.

So far, I love what the Knicks have done building their roster through youth, despite missing out on several superstar additions. While they will move forward with the expectation that next season will be tough, they are growing steadily and building a foundation for the future, and that’s all we can really ask for.

New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson has a new number

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New York Knicks, Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks center, has a new number.  Last season, Robinson wore the number 26.  However, this season he will dawn new digits.

Robinson has switched his number from 26 to 23.   At first glance, some fans believe that Robinson is trying to become the next goat.   But, that is not the case.

The Knicks young big man is changing his number in honor of two childhood friends that have passed away.  One of Robinson’s childhood friends wore number 2 and the other number 3.  This is a very classy move by Robinson.  It also shows maturity and a good way to honor his childhood friends by playing every game for his friends.

In addition, Robinson wore the number 23 in high school.  He was an absolute beast in high school when he wore this number.  Robinson should have some extra hop in his step this upcoming season.  Robinson will be playing every game for and with his friends, while building off a great first season.

Robinson is expected to step into the starting center roll this season.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett battles against Mitchell Robinson (VIDEO)

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

The New York Knicks didn’t waste any time in getting RJ Barrett straight to work with his new teammates, allowing him to begin developing a relationship and sense of chemistry with them prior to his rookie campaign.

The youth already existing on the team must seem normal to Barrett, considering he’s only just 18 years old and will be playing with athletes not much older. The Knicks have elected to go full-speed with their youth agenda — striking out ‘on purpose’ with Kevin Durant in free agency and losing out to several other potential key additions.

Instead, they signed 24-year-old power forward Julius Randle as their keystone grab and brought in a slew of other complimentary players. The issues continue for the Knicks when it comes to luring high-profile players to New York, though, as the Brooklyn Nets hauled in both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Despite losing out on the elite talent, the Knicks are moving in the right direction, building around their young players and spending resources on helping them succeed and not taking unnecessary risks.

The youngsters are getting to work with the New York Knicks:

Check out this video where Barret posts up on Mitchell Robinson, one of the league’s top young defenders – finishing second in blocks last year.

Barrett has more than he can handle in this bout with the center who holds a five-inch advantage. His step-back shot is far to the left and bounces off the top of the backboard. There’s nothing more we should take away from this other than it’s the first practice and it’s good to see the 3rd overall pick already working with his new team.

Additionally, developing a strong post-game will help him tremendously at the NBA level. One of college basketball’s more dominant players, Barrett is entering the league with high expectations and will hopefully be able to live up to his potential.

Were the New York Knicks right to withhold max contract from Kevin Durant?

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New York Knicks

As one of the best players in recent memory in the NBA, a torn Achilles shouldn’t have even been factored into the decision to pursue Kevin Durant for the New York Knicks this offseason. Modern medicine is good enough to see torn Achilles and ACL’s recover to 100%, but owner James Dolan figured he’d save himself some cash…so it seems.

The Knicks, once again, have played themselves, finding themselves with several second-tier free agents instead of premium talent. At the very least, bringing in Durant could have persuaded others to come to the Mecca of basketball as well.

While Julius Randle, 24, is a solid young power forward that will help the Knicks over the next three seasons, he’s no Durant. However, the other side of the story is still a positive one.

The New York Knicks are still headed in the right direction:

While the Knicks didn’t convince any superstars to join the ranks, they’re still on a good path moving forward with a ton of youth on the team and a potential star in RJ Barrett.

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As we dive into the roster — Kevin Knox, Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Damyean Dotson, Allonzo Trier, Dennis Smith Jr., there’s plenty to be excited about. The issue simply presents itself as time. Waiting for the youth to blossom into veteran talent is the cost of building through the draft and failing to bring in proven players that can influence the team now.

It’s not what Knicks fans want to hear or wait for, as another failing to address vital additions to the team costs us more of our lives to watch a struggling franchise. Dolan, the unanimous winner for the most hated owner, will remain seated in his current position, which guarantees more issues.

Hopefully, the likes of Scott Perry and Steve Mills can mask the deficiencies and extract the success we are all so hungry for.

New York Knicks: Kevin Durant is the perfect mentor for RJ Barrett

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

The general consensus is that New York Knicks third-overall pick RJ Barrett will be a foundational building block for the future of the organization. He’s a player that can develop into a potential superstar, but it will take some time for him to get there.

That’s why the Knicks must do whatever it takes to sign Durant, the absolute perfect player to help Barrett reach his potential. The experience, success, and all-around dominance of Durant’s game is something most youth players try to mimic, but while his injury will likely keep him out for some if not all of the 2019-20 season, there’s still value to be extracted.

The Knicks can still put Durant to work even if he’s sitting on the bench collecting $30+ million next season — he can be Barrett’s mentor. Having one of the best players in the NBA to help develop your top pick is something most organizations dream of, and it can be a reality, the hardest part will be convincing him to come to New York.

What will be the New York Knicks sales pitch?

I assume the executives will not only have to show Durant the best night of his life off the court but to also convince the superstar that their current team is ready to win. If he misses all of next season and returns after, there has to be a belief that the team will be in a position to compete for playoff contention.

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Two years of experience for players like Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Damyeon Dotson, Allonzo Trier, and a year for Barrett should put them in a position to succeed. That should be the primary pitch, along with the guarantee that they will address the point guard position with an above-average talent and retain DeAndre Jordan, Durant’s good friend.

Given the Brooklyn Nets don’t blow Durant out of the water with their plan, that should be enough to sway him towards the Knicks and Madison Square Garden.

New York Knicks need to stick with Mitchell Robinson as starting center

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New York Knicks, Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

While the New York Knicks utilized Mitchell Robinson and DeAndre Jordan in an interchangeable role last season, the younger of the two should see far more playing time in 2019.

Averaging about 20 minutes per game in 2018, Robinson gained essential experience that will help him develop even further in the season ahead. His 2.4 blocks per game put his defensive capabilities on display, leading all rookies in the category and ranking second in the NBA — add in his 7.3 points per game and you can justify making him the everyday starter.

His elite shot blocking is only a portion of the potential Mitchell represents. He can be a top rim protector in the league with a bit more growth and muscle mass.

New York Knicks: What does Mitchell Robinson need to work on?

His biggest issue is movement on the court. He can get lost in rotation and leave opposing players open with driving lanes or clear shots. He will need to refine that part of his game if he wishes to become a truly elite player at the professional level.

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One way I see Robinson making an impact in the future is off the pick and roll. His ability to spin off blocks and get to the rim in a hurry is impressive. It also helps his teammates get open looks at the basket. Additionally, his 2.6 offensive rebounds per game are top-notch given his 20 minutes per game average.

The most exciting part of the young center is the obvious progression he made throughout the course of the season. He finished the back end of the year shooting 70% from the field. He has the potential to be a very influential player on the Knicks, and they need to dedicate more playing time for the cause of his development, otherwise, they will just be stunting his growth.