Reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Kemba Walker‘s banishment from the Knicks‘ rotation may have been a blessing in disguise, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. Walker admits he wasn’t aggressive enough at times to start the season.
“I just have a tendency of kind of not wanting to step on toes,” Walker said. “I think that’s what I did early on. I was here and I wasn’t being as aggressive, I think, as I could have been. But I think being out and seeing how the game has been flowing and going put me in a different mindset.”
Walker and the rest of the team’s starters struggled mightily in Wednesday’s 94-85 victory over the depleted Pistons, as the Knicks were carried once again by the bench group, all of whom finished with a plus/minus of at least plus-27. Walker had two points, two rebounds, two assists and three turnovers in 20 minutes.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Prior to Wednesday’s game, Marc Berman of The New York Post suggested that rookie Miles McBride may face a diminished role, given Walker’s strong recent play. However, that wasn’t the case against Detroit — in his first game back from the COVID-19 protocols, McBride logged 25 minutes in the team’s victory, leading the team in plus/minus at plus-39 while Walker struggled.
- Head coach Tom Thibodeau says Derrick Rose is recovering well from ankle surgery and that he’s confident in the Knicks’ guard play, Berman writes in another article for The New York Post.
- RJ Barrett is trying to regain his shooting stroke after a bout with COVID-19, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Barrett is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, and how he finishes the rest of the season could have a major impact on the size of his contract, Bondy opines.
- It’s clear the Knicks need to give Obi Toppin a lot more minutes than he has received so far this season, even if those minutes eat into Julius Randle‘s playing time, Ian O’Connor of The New York Post contends. In Wednesday’s win over Detroit, Toppin was an incredible plus-36 in 22 minutes, while Randle was a minus-27 in 26 minutes.
can we all finally admit Thibs just got lucky last year?he seems to have no idea what to do with this roster. every night he rolls out a different group, and every night their performance is a crap chute.
injuries, covid, these are real things. but you can say about any of the teams out there with a better record than NY. smdh
Thibs hasn’t been great but look at the roster. It’s the roster of a .500 team. Fournier as the big offseason signing does not cut it.
He’s been rolling out a different group based on availability. If anything, he needs to mix it up more once everyone’s healthy. Keeping the starters on the bench against Detroit was a step in the right direction. Now let’s see him give Randle and Fournier a few DNP’s.
He has a bunch of similar middle of the road and inconsistent players. He has a very hard job to do and it’s obviously taking time to figure out his rotations.
It’s still long from being figured out obviously
Uno did you type “crap chute” on purpose?— it kind of works here, amusingly. Credit to spellcheck? I see this is an old controversy: link to idiomschmidiom.wordpress.com
However it is correct as crapshoot, referring to d dice game called craps.
I saw that too. If he meant to write it that way, it’s comic genius and also pretty accurate.
Knicks have a middle of the road roster and it’s not one that is geared toward their HC. Maybe they make some trades to fix that. But Randle can’t be your focal point he’s not good enough. They’ve spent money brought in vets and still have no clue what they have in high draft picks. Not a great situation. Not the worst though they aren’t completely a lost cause. Just isn’t the roster configuration that will make noise in the playoffs.
We gotta make some trades asap! Not making the playoffs would be a huge blow in our confidence and momentum. And Thibs needs to figure it out our rotation. Obi needs more minutes, Fournier needs to come of the bench as a scoring punch
Can Obi and Randle play in the starting lineup? Obi at small forward and RJ at shooting guard?
I dont think so. With Randle and RJ so inconsistent from 3, that lineup doesnt have much spacement
There’s a good invention, spacement. Needed. Better than spacing, which could mean daydreaming.
who are the knicks trading and what could they possibly get in return? I heard someone say Burks for a 1st rounder lol yeah right!
they’re just having a tough year. so is everyone. not sure what making the playoffs gets them besides a lower draft pick. does it build their confidence to lose in 4 to Atlanta?
Actually i think it does. We have a few youngsters that could use more playoff experience. As far as trades, a couple moveable contracts in Burks and Noel, a few promising kids and extra draft picks is a good recipe. Trade market looks kinda cold though
Burks for a low first, I would offer that to get Burks these covid times. Cavs have a need now, and did have Burks once.