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New York Knicks: Taking A Look At The No.1 Priority For The 2018 Season

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

The New York Knicks are headed towards a rebuilding year with rookies Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. Their young players will undoubtedly play a premier part in rejuvenating the organization and giving fans something to look forward to in the near future.

What’s the No.1 priority for the New York Knicks?

While the priorities range from defensive improvements to offensive capabilities, the No.1 concern should be building chemistry and cohesiveness. In other words, forming a competitive team. Right now, the roster is just a bunch of high-profile names, nothing more, nothing less.

The chemistry should be front and center for the youngsters on the team, with the veteran leadership of players like Joakim Noah and Tim Hardaway Jr. making a direct impact. Ultimately, Kristaps Porzingis, Knox and Mitchell, are the future of the franchise, and their ability to play efficiently with one another will be the dictating factor in the success of the team.

Despite chemistry being the top priority, defense looms close behind. With Porzingis, the defense will struggle to maintain the standard most are used to. Before his injury, Kristaps was ranked No.1 in the NBA in blocks per game and opponent field goal percentage. He will be missed dearly until his return after the All-Star break, if he can play at all.

Knox will be the focus of the offense, but he will be expected to make an impact on defense as well. He’s not known as a defensive player, but it’s essential he begins to develop the necessary skills to become a well-rounded player in the NBA. Additionally, point guard Frank Ntilikina will remain the Knicks’ top defender – his tenacity and gusto on D is impressive, despite his lack of offensive prowess.

 

 

New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson Expected To Emerge As Starter

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New York Knicks‘ rookie big-man, Mitchell Robinson, skirted the system with his eligibility in college and want to play in the NBA as a professional. His move to the big-leagues has put his abilities into question, being that he scarcely played against collegiate talent. Despite this lack of experience, Robinson has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in the Summer League, and expectations are high leading up to the 2018-19 season.

Mitchell Robinson’s trainer’s expectations for the New York Knicks rookie:

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Robinson’s trainer, Marcell Scott, believes that Robinson will secure a starting role sooner rather than later.

“I knew once they saw Mitchell on the court and saw all the stuff he brings to the table, the G-League would be eliminated from the conversation,’’ Scott told The Post in a phone interview. “I honestly think at the halfway mark, at the All-Star break, Mitch will be starting.’’

The second-round pick was expected to be a lottery pick given his stayed in school and played his freshman season. He chose to forgo that experience and jump right into the dog-house. Now, he will feature on a Knicks team that has rookie Kevin Knox and star forward, Kristaps Porzingis.

Head coach David Fizdale is helping put together a solid foundation in New York, signing Mario Hezonja and retaining Enes Kanter. There’s no lack of talent on the roster, but maybe a lack of chemistry. It’s accepted that the Knicks will be moving through a “rebuilding” year in the coming months, despite the drafting off two promising players. The future of the Knicks is 2-3 years down the line, and if Porzingis can ride out the wait, he could very well enjoy bringing success back to a team that has struggled for years.

Knicks: Tim Hardaway Jr. Can Be Much More Than Just A Missed 3-Pointer

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In 2017, the New York Knicks lived and died by the three-point shot, and come to think of it, that’s a trend that’s been consistent for the last few years. Heaving up three pointers has become the staple of the NBA, and the Knicks have embodied the trend rather seamlessly, despite being very poor at it.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was expected to be the guy to create offense on the court, but injuries and inconsistency has plagued his career leading up to this point. After Tim signed a four-year, $71 million offer sheet, he seemed to become complacent or comfortable with his role. There’s no doubt that he’s a passionate player and will be looking to rebound this year, but there’s no other explanation for such a downward trend.

Hardaway only spent half a season as a regular starter for the Atlanta Hawks. They certainly didn’t seem too keen on re-signing him, given the monetary advance he was asking for. Luckily for him, the overgenerous and often-time idiotic Knicks front-office came to the rescue.

How is Time Hardaway Jr. in the three-point game? Can he help the New York Knicks improve?

Last season, Tim fell to a 31.7% three-point conversion rate, while his career average was 35.2%. That’s a massive drop-off when considering the number it was prior to the 2017 campaign.

Former head coach Jeff Hornacek basically gave Hardaway the green light at any given moment, resulting in a ghastly 28% three-point success rate off the dribble. His offensive abilities, which is what he was signed to provide, were nowhere to be found. If he defense wasn’t enough to force the Knicks to reconsider, his offensive statistics last season likely have them scratching their heads.

How can Hardaway Jr. improve his effectiveness in 2018?

Here’s an idea…don’t shoot as many threes! As we stated before, the NBA has become a glorified three-point shooting contest, and Hardaway is losing by a landslide. His best bet is to take simpler, more efficient shots – none off the dribble and closer to an elbow jumper. He’s also impressively athletic and agile – he can easily take the ball to the hoop.

Moving forward, we can only hope that Hardaway become part of the solution, and not part of the problem.

 

New York Knicks’ Frank Ntilikina Primed For A Breakout Year

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New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina

New York Knicks’ second-year point guard, Frank Ntilikina, is preparing to have a breakout season, despite struggling offensively in his rookie season. After Kristaps Porzingis went down with a significant knee injury, the French star was forced into a big role.

Ntilikina averaged just 9.8 points and 5.3 assists per game for every 36 minutes played. His offensive production lacked the spark that most thought he had coming into the organization. In 2018, he’s primed to take a major developmental leap. The young guard has worked tirelessly to improve his game and work on his jump shot to create a well-rounded attacking presence on the court.

How will the younger additions help Frank Ntilikina on the court?

Drafting Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson will help take some of the weight off the shoulders of the sophomore, although he will still remain an important piece moving forward. Ultimately, he’s the future point guard of the franchise and will have his chance to display his true potential in the months ahead.

It’s important to recognize that Ntilikina joined the ranks of the Knicks during a trying time – Jeff Hornacek was on a do-or-die year and the veterans on the team were crumbling around him. He was forced into a conditioning program that was nothing like the programs in France. Moving forward, he will have a solid supporting cast and several young players to develop alongside him. He will no longer be the lone-ranger of the team, but rather the veteran on a roster that features an 18 year old phenom.

This provides reason for hope in regard to Ntilikina, and we should expect to see major improvements in 2018.

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.