New York Knicks

New York Knicks: Taking A Look At Mario Hezonja’s Role In 2018

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The New York Knicks set out this offseason with a mission…get younger, faster, smarter, and increase the potential of the franchise in the long run. They did just that with the drafting of Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson in the first and second rounds respectively.

But one of the more influential moves they made this offseason was the signing of former Orlando Magic small forward, Mario Hezonja. The active shooter has had a bumpy career so far, but his potential often bleeds through with his immense athletic abilities and shooting prowess.

Hezonja signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Knicks, giving him the opportunity to see the potential of the franchise for himself and to hopefully justify staying for the ride. The interesting part of the forward is that he’s just 23 years-old and still in his developmental prime.

There’s still much room left for growth, and head coach David Fizdale is the perfect leader to help him reach his full potential. Hezonja is a natural born scorer, but often slacks on defense. This will be a point of emphasis for the Knicks as they try to help him round off his overall game in the season ahead.

Why New York Knicks fans should be excited for Mario Hezonja:

Over the course of 30 games started for Hezonja with the Magic last season, he average 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 3-pointers and 1.5 steal. He shot 46.0% from the floor, 37.1% from behind the arc and 83.3% from the free-throw line. The bottom line, the kid is a hell of a shooter; if the Knicks can extract the potential that remains, the Big Apple could be looking at another rising star alongside Knox, Robinsons, and Kristaps Porzingis.

EXTRA:

One of the more impressive aspects of the forward is his ability to pass. If you take a look at the clip above you can see the power and vision he has in transition. This is something that will be devastating if he can link up with Porzingis or Knox on the break.

New York Knicks: What Mitchell Robinson Brings To The Big Apple

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With New York Knicks star forward Kristaps Porzingis towering at 7-foot-3, rookie big-man Mitchell Robinson seems obviously smaller at 7-foot-1. It’s amusing using the word “small” when describing a man that makes most look like ants.

What does Mitchell Robinson bring to the New York Knicks?

Despite the height differential, Robinson enters the league with immense talent and potential as a professional. The rookie barely played in college and was the result of a traded draft pick when the Knicks sent Carmelo Anthony and his burden of a contract over to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It seems as if that trade has paid off ten-fold, given they received the second round pick spent on Robinson and Enes Kanter in the deal.

Ahead of the 2018 NBA draft, Robinson was ranked as one of colleges most highly touted prospects, landing at No. 9 overall. He sat behind the likes of Collin Sexton and Wendell Carter, and just one spot ahead of Kevin Knox. Recently, the big-man signed a four-year contract, keeping him in New York until at lease 2022,

During the Summer League, Robinson averaged 11.3 points per game, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. He shot an astounding 68.2% from the floor in his first three games. These numbers are impressive and attest to his second-round draft placement. In fact, he seems to be showing more potential than his stock had to say about him, which only benefits the Knicks in the long run.

Ultimately, Robinsons will feature alongside Knox in the 2018-19 season, adding youth and a fresh start to an organization that has failed to put the necessary building blocks in place to achieve optimism.

Through the Knicks first three summer league contests in Las Vegas, Robinson is averaging 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, while shooting a scorching 68.2% from the floor. That’s quite remarkable considering the kid hadn’t played in an organized basketball game in over 14 months. The last time he suited up for a team was during his senior year of high school. After enrolling at Western Kentucky University last summer, he dropped out and opted to train individually for the 2018 NBA draft instead.

New York Knicks: Why David Fizdale Is The Perfect Head Coach For Kevin Knox

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The very moment former New York Knicks head coach, Jeff Hornacek, got into an altercation with big-man Joakim Noah, the season and his job were both destined for failure. Hornacek was preemptively fired after a two-year stint in New York, and the Knicks were once again on the hunt to change the narrative of their ever-floundering organization. The man to help get it done, David Fizdale.

The New York Knicks are finally making good business decisions!

Several months after the firing of Hornacek, Kevin Knox was drafted in the first-round with Mitchell Robinson close behind. In addition to the two young phenoms, Fizdale was brought on to help change the course of the Knicks for the foreseeable future. Fizdale was one of many candidates, but his reputability and adaptability with former players was ultimately the deciding factor.

Having a coach that can talk to a player one-on-one and be a friend but also a disciplinarian was the point of this hire. His style of coaching revolves around trust, and he has already begun developing the chemistry with his players. Fiz went as far as to travel to Latvia to spend time with his star forward, Kristaps Porzingis.

Fizdale promised the Knicks he would be different and he has not shied away from that idea:

The level of commitment the Knicks’ new coach as displayed is exactly what was necessary for his players to finally believe in their leader, despite the issues that arose in 2017 with Hornacek.

Fizdale didn’t only go to Latvia to be with Porzingis, but rather to begin showing him how Knox is developing and what he should be looking forward to in the upcoming season. Things are off to a great start, and the talent that’s beginning to bleed through the orange and blue jerseys is becoming apparent.

Knox is a young player, only 18 years-old, with a lot to learn and a ton of support behind him. He has a coach that will pick up him when he’s down and physically will him back to life. Rookie speed-bumps are unavoidable, but having a coach that can lessen the blow of each one is a necessity for a young player to reach their full potential.

What The 2018 Season Means For The New York Knicks

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To say it simply, the New York Knicks are in rebuild mode…Then again, they’ve been going through a rebuild for the last few decades. The team has struggled to find a true star to carry the team on both sides of the ball, but the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis in 2017 changed that narrative.

This past draft, the Knicks selected Kevin Knox in the first-round – a player that’s an offensive juggernaut and has the physical tools to become a stellar all-around player. They also managed to steal big-man Mitchell Robinson in the second-round.

So far, both have impresses immensely, with Robinson managing to garner “steal of the draft” talks and Knox baffling executives at the fact he’s just 18 years-old.

This season seems like the turn of something new, and for fans, it’s a long-time coming.

What should we expect in from the New York Knicks in 2018?

As Porzingis rehabs his way back onto the court, the remainder of the roster is very young. The upcoming season can be coughed up as a dozy, as the youngsters need to build chemistry and gain confidence at the NBA level. While the summer league offers competition, stepping on the court to witness LeBron James or Steph Curry firing shots from impossible angles is simply another stratosphere of quality. Knox and Robinsons will quickly find out how different college ball, or in Mitchell’s case, high-school ball, is compared to the professional level.

Porzingis will likely be out for a majority of the season, but with Mario Hezonja joining the ranks, the team should be able to manage a bit of success.

Ultimately, developing the rookies and building a strong bond between the players will be the main focus this season. Essentially, 2019 is the season we should be excited for, but for now, we can enjoy the development of talent on the Knicks’ roster.

New York Knicks: Can Tim Hardaway Jr. Live Up To His Potential?

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Despite averaging the most minutes in his five-year career, Tim Hardaway Jr. didn’t seem to excel on the court nor live up to the expectations set out for him in 2017. The shooting guard struggled to maintain his consistency over long stretches and failed to liven a New York Knicks offense that was bottled up for the majority of the 29-53 season.

Hardaway will be expected to perform at a higher quality in 2018, but we shouldn’t expect him to. He finished last season shooting 32% from the three-point line and 52% from two. Going into his sixth year, Tim has been referred to as a sharp shooter, but hasn’t made a name from himself in the NBA, despite earning a returning contract to the Knicks that locked him up for four-years, $71 million.

While Tim was a career 35.2# three-point shooter coming to the Knicks, he consistently los confidence and floundered last season. Former head coach, Jeff Hornacek, allowed Hardaway Jr. to attempt over seven three per game, averaging 2.3 off the dribble, shooting an abysmal 28%. There’s no doubt it was an off season for the veteran, but this is unacceptable.

Is there hope for Tim Hardaway Jr. on the Knicks?

With Kristaps Porzingis out for a majority of the 2018 campaign, and rookies in Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson taking the court, Hardaway Jr. will have his hands full. He will be expected to provide a decent chunk of the offense as Knox learns his role and adapts to the speed and power of a professional game.

In other words, it’s redemption time. For a proclaimed shooter to have the issues Hardaway suffered through in 2017, it’s can only mean one thing…It can’t get any worse. He’s a better secondary offensive weapon than primary, which is what Knox will promote and the return of Porzingis will support. Having a young, dynamic player in Knox will open up the floor for Hardaway, which should ultimately provide him with better shots and less defenders to distract him throughout the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Kristaps Porzingis Will Influence The Knicks In 2018

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The return of New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis will be the fuel and fire the team needs to begin taking the developmental steps towards success. The primary question is: Does Kristaps want to stay in the Big Apple while the youngsters on the team gain experience and learn their roles as an NBA players?

The general idea is that Porzingis will play a veteran role, despite only going into his sophomore season, and help teach leadership and quality traits to players like Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. While the big man continues to develop his own game, there’s no doubt he will impart his knowledge and skill on the rookies.

How far along is Porzingis in regard to his return for the Knicks?

The Knicks’ cornerstone power forward is still rehabbing his torn ACL and will likely miss a big chunk of the upcoming season. Getting him back to his previous form will take time, and coach Davis Fizdale should give all the time he needs to get back to 100%. In fact, him being off the court will give the rookies more time to improve and gain confidence for the return of the unicorn.

The Knicks have always been the type of franchise to sign star players in hopes they would change the narrative of the ailing club. This method has failed over and over again, but with a new youth agenda and exciting young prospects in Knox and Robinson, the organization seems to be on the up-and-up.

Kristaps will only help in their hunt for a championship. The biggest concern will be health and depth. The Knicks needs to establish a solid roster beyond just their starters, as injuries are a given in modern day sports. Luckily, they are breading the next generation of stars right in front of our eyes, and their youth should be able to side-step serious injuries for the time being.

New York Knicks: What Will Joakim Noah’s Role Be In 2018?

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Talk about a bad contract, New York Knicks big man Joakim Noah is being paid a boat-load of cash to play on the back-end of his career. After a 2017 season where Noah got into a physical altercation with former head coach Jeff Hornacek, he will have a new coach to deal with in David Fizdale.

So far, Noah enjoys the company of Fizdale much more, as he’s a relatable coach that adapts to the style of his players. In two season with the Knicks, Noah averaged just 4.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. That’s abysmal, especially when considering the prolific career Noah has had.

After signing a four-year, $72 million contract that set the former Bull up for life financially, he seemed to check out in terms of effort.

What we should expect from Noah with the New York Knicks in 2018:

While coach Fizdale will likely split minutes between Noah, Enes Kanter, and Mitchell Robinson, we should expect to see the former Defensive Player of the Year play a teacher role.

His influence on the young players, especially Robinson, is where he will make his money and prove his worth on the court. The second-round pick from this year’s NBA Draft is an exceptional defender and will only benefit from the wisdom imparted by Noah.

The Knicks failed to move Noah’s contract this offseason, which ultimately will keep him in New York for at least one more campaign. I would expect the Knicks to try and move him again, but for now, it’s best to utilize his knowledge to help develop the youngsters on the team.

 

New York City Has Three Of The World’s Ten Most Valuable Sports Teams

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New York Yankees, Derek Jeter

It’s no secret that the Giants, Yankees, and Knicks are huge brands. In fact, all of the professional sports teams representing New York City carry large fanbases and benefit from access to the largest media market in the country. However, it’s easy to forget just how valuable some of the New York sports teams really are.

Forbes recently released their list of the most valuable sports teams in the world, and three of the top ten teams reside in New York City. No other city has more than one team in the top ten. Even if you look at the top fifteen instead, things are still skewed towards New York. The Jets sit at thirteen, not that far from their neighbors, and they ensure that NYC has four teams in the top fifteen.

As for everyone else? Los Angeles has the Dodgers, Rams, and Lakers. They’re the only city other than New York to have more than one team in the list’s top fifteen, with major sports cities such as Boston and Chicago failing to make it. The Patriots are the sixth most valuable team in the world and edge out the Giants by two spots, but the Red Sox are the next most valuable team in the city and they’re further down the list at sixteen.

The Dallas Cowboys are at the top of the list again, but a New York team is just behind them. The Yankees, as one of the most consistently strong brands in their sport, are the second most valuable team not just in MLB but in the entire world of sports.

To take their spot, they had to beat out Manchester United, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona, all of which are are European soccer teams that can also boast about having a global following. They’re followed up by the Knicks, who managed to beat out both the Giants to be the second most valuable team in New York and the Lakers to be the most valuable team in the NBA.

The Mets are much further down the list than their rivals, but their valuation isn’t anything to laugh at. The Mets are worth roughly two billion, which is more than the historically successful St. Louis Cardinals as well as popular London soccer clubs Arsenal FC and Chelsea.

Near the bottom of the list is the final New York team to be represented, somehow finding themselves above both of the city’s NHL teams. Yes, the Brooklyn Nets are one of the fifty most valuable teams in the world. And yes, their selling price would be over a billion. Pretty good for a team that only managed 28 wins out of 82 games in their most recent season.

How The New York Knicks Will Use Rookie Kevin Knox In 2018

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Drafting Kevin Knox was a hope and a prayer for the New York Knicks; why? Because his role was diminished with the Kentucky Wildcats and his true potential was hidden behind a wall of balance and structure. With the Knicks, he will have the green light to display his skills on the court and enjoy playing the game he knows.

While the Summer League just ended, we have already seen a glimpse of Knox and how the Knicks will utilize him in a dynamic fashion. His length and athleticism has been apparent and effective on the court – something the Knicks have lacked in past years.

With the Wildcats, Knox played more of a big-man role – corralling the ball on the baseline and driving to the hoop. That won’t work in the NBA with his age and inexperience. The Knicks are allowing him to take the ball from the top and work his way down into the paint. This allows him to make reads and understand the game from the perspective of a driving forward. Ultimately, this is what coach David Fizdale wants and how he can extract the most value out of his 18 year-old phenom.

What does Kevin Knox need to work on?

Despite the fantastic reviews from the rookie thus far, Knox has plenty to work on and develop once the season begins. He has an inconsistent jump-shot and left hand, which could cause issues for him when driving and fighting off defenders. Additionally, his defense needs work. Knox is a pure scorer, but will need to grow into a defense role as well if he wants to be a well-rounded NBA star.

Many players struggle with the balance aspect of their game, but Knox has the youth and athleticism to adapt and refine his skill-sets on both sides of the ball.

One of his most enticing abilities is his rhythm. When Knox is hitting shots, he’s unstoppable. If he can consistently make shots and harness his potential, he could be one of the most exciting young players to watch for years to come.

New York Knicks: Kevin Knox Proving To Be The Real Deal

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Averaging 23.3 points and 7.3 rebounds through three games in the summer league is New York Knicks first-round pick Kevin Knox. The 18 year-old finished the summer finale 5 of 15 for 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 turnovers.

Of course, there will be road-bumps in his first season as a professional. After all, he’s just 18 years-old with plenty of time to grow and develop into an intelligent player. Despite a poor game, Knox still showed off his skills and forward prowess that can easily translate to the NBA level.

Drafting Kevin Knox follows a trend for the Knicks:

As the NBA continuously grows into an all-out attack system, Knox follows that trend perfectly. His athleticism and length provides the Knicks with an agile and dynamic player on the court at all times. Knox is a finisher, a guy that will come in and put points on the board. He’s not an orchestrator nor an assist machine, but rather the man throwing down dunks and euro-stepping through defenders.

Adapting to the physicality of the NBA and going up against stronger and better positioned defenders will be Knox’s primary challenge, but as he’s coached and faces off against professional talent he will begin to develop. Inconsistency also plagues the rookie’s shooting; when he’s hot, he’s on fire, but when he’s cold, he might as well be an iceberg. Again, another fixable trait that will be refined be taking smart shots and driving to the rim.

So far, the young forward has only shown room for improvement and impressive qualities in limited action.

There’s no doubt that Knox is most effective near the hoop, as he can slap home dunks and convert layups with ease. If he can develop his shooting, similar to Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks could have one of the league’s most deadly offenses.

https://twitter.com/LBJ23_Fan/status/1017524488357994497

The athleticism and agility Knox has at 6-foot-9 is impressive and something that will be utilized early and often for the Knicks in 2018. Expect to see a lot of developmental playing for the rookie, as coach Fizdale will look to play his young players often to help them adapt to the NBA and prepare them to team-up with some of the biggest stars in the league in 2019.

The Knicks will have room for at least one max contract after the 2018-19 season, which is extremely encouraging as Knox and Mitchell Robinson continue to grow on the big-stage.