Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau lost patience with his starting lineup Wednesday and with the theory that they need more time together to be effective. RJ Barrett, one of the holdovers from last season, agrees that the starters haven’t played well enough but believes the problems will eventually work themselves out, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
“Everything takes time — any new team,’’ Barrett said. “No one’s going to have it right away off the bat. It takes time. We’re trying to figure out who we are if we’re going to be consistent. I think this whole team. Even though we were together last year, the guys that were here, we’re still learning each other, so we’re gonna keep growing, improving.’’
New York is 7-6, but all five starters are posting negative plus-minus ratings. Evan Fournier, who was added in free agency over the summer, believes the offense has gotten “very stagnant” when the starting lineup is on the court together.
“We started really well, shooting the ball well, sharing the ball, et cetera,” he said. “Now it’s not as good. So are we playing not as well because we are missing shots or are we missing shots because we aren’t sharing the ball.’’
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks aren’t getting their money’s worth from Fournier so far, Berman states in a separate story. They signed him for $78MM over four years, but Thibodeau appears to have lost confidence in him late in games. Berman points out that Fournier has been benched for the final 14 minutes of the last two contests, both losses, and he isn’t providing the clutch shots or hustle on defense that the team needs.
- Another issue is a lack of chemistry between new point guard Kemba Walker and Julius Randle, Berman adds. Both players are used to controlling the ball, and a scout tells Berman that Randle “pouts” when he feels he doesn’t have it enough. Berman notes that Randle, who had five turnovers in Friday’s loss to the Hornets, is starting to revert to iso-ball habits. “I definitely think there’s games where we’re being outworked, outrebounded,’’ Randle said. “Our identity’s not our defensive end (like) how it has been. But we know that. We know we got to fix it. We just got to keep working at it, just keep coming together and stay together.’’
- Sopan Deb of The New York Times examines what has gone wrong with the Knicks’ defense, which was the core of the team’s identity last season.
The Knicks only signed that large of a deal to use as a trade chip in the future
People like to say things like that, but the way he’s playing right now no one is giving up anything good for him while he’s making $18M/year.
@green – I have to agree with you and laugh at the same time. Fournier is not a $78M trade chip. He’s a $78M mistake who is effective when coming off the bench to shoot threes when you’re behind. To think someone was given ~$80M to balance a spreadsheet is comical.
Exactly
Fournier is a trade chip for Ben Simmons
76ers get Fournier, Reddish and Quickley
Hawks get Simmons
Knicks get Gallo and Hunter
So the Hawks are trading Gallo, Hunter, and Reddish for Simmons?
Knicks DO NOT do this trade. Our FO is too smart for that. You definitely aren’t a Knicks fan.
Randall is a ball hog who outright refuses to play any defense all. I watch every game. He misses a shot then, basically walks to the defensive end, all the while whining.
Fournier is the biggest personnel issue. He got the one FA contract that’s 3 years (team commitment) at high end starter salary. I’m really not worried about his offensive fit (IMO it’s there). It’s his defense, which, right now, is so bad that it’s keeping him from getting starter minutes, which, in turn, limits his offensive impact. I think Thibs keeps lower the bar for him defensively, and he still can’t clear it. Too soon to panic, but not to say this contract might end up being a problem.
Walker is only signed for 2 years at a team friendly price. He’s a local and I think will stay even if his role is reduced. We have other PG options, even beyond Rose, though they may not be ripe yet.
Fournier has an offensive fit with any team in the NBA. Good shooter, good secondary playmaker. He can’t play D at an above-average level though, and the Knicks gave him way too long of a contract the amount he makes per year. They could get similar production for a third of the money.
Need to move D.Rose back into the starting lineup.
Kemba is perfect for the 6th man role as a volume shooter off the bench.
Totally agree. He’s better suited to play with the starters. It’s not a coincidence that the defense is hurting when those two are on the court. It’s the very reason why they bounce from team to team. Some skills and decent stat sheets offensively, but when you look at the win/loss column it gets ugly.
Really ….. the Market dictates the money. He’s well worth it for his production. Unfortunately it’s not there now. He has been missing shots. But the whole team is forcing threes. Their offense is not flowing. And I’ve been saying same thing about Randle going iso. They are pressing on offense. And it’s either a three or go one on one. That’s chemistry issues. They lost to good teams. So it only shows they have to work all game to win. That they aren’t doing it. Mitch is not in shape and not controlling the rim. Team D is who the Knicks are. It’s not there when you don’t have the anchor in the middle. They’ve paid for playing bad against good teams. Hornets (7-7), Bucks (champs), Cavs (9-5), Pacers (6-8) Raptors (7-7) all good teams trying to find their rhythm too. IMO they think they are better that they are.
Real issues are Mitch and Kemba. Fournier has been missing shots shooters miss too. He’ll come around. Kemba does need to control ball more. That’s what PGs do. And Randle needs to wake up and play off of that. It’s called team ball. He will still put up his stats. Most thought Knicks would be .500. Well they are and are playing bad. Success will only come playing as a team. Means run the offense and play team D. They are still figuring that out unfortunately.
In Thibs we Trust
Knicks got >>>>>>> Pacers (who we owe one), Magic (who we owe one), Rockets. 3 must wins. Before we play Bulls, Lakers, Suns, Hawks, Nets. So called top teams, playoff teams this year. Time to man up. And stop with the talking and start playing as a TEAM.
Wizards 9-3 top of East …..
Dinwiddie last game. 23 pts, 11reb, 6 ast .
Problem is that JR is the only ball handler/play maker in the team, most teams have 2 or 3, but like NYK if you only got 1, then teams focus on him & the ball stops moving… & that is NYK’s problem!
Also what is with Kemba, as the nominal PG his only job is to give the ball to JR & hang around the 3 line to catch & shoot the ball when it comes to him, not his job to create, which he has never really done in his career!
The front office can make trades and sign FAs but if the player is not a Thibs guy it doesn’t matter what he’s done before he will eventually find the bench. Last year’s team may have been less ‘talented’ but this years’ team may not fit the Thibs mold as much.
First off no one comes on this team without Thibs approval. Don … I doubt you even watch the Knicks. So why expose yourself lol. First off Kemba gives it up too soon. But to Randle not RJ. Kemba has been trying too hard to fit in. And Randle has been playing bad cause he wants to handle ball more. The guy has actually been pouting ok. Knicks have chemistry issues and are the worst D team in league. Yet we are over .500. So chillax. This is on Thibs. He has to make this work. Even if it means changing the starters. To me Toppin has been better than Randle. And Rose has been better than Kemba. But the whole team has gone 3PT crazy. There’s no offensive flow. We got three easy gms coming up. Time to get their act together. Cause after we got 5 tough games coming. So this can get WORSE real quick. “ In Thibs we Trust “