The Knicks are paying the price for counting on a pair of point guards in their 30s who have a history of health issues, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. The team entered the season with Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose atop its depth chart at the point, but Walker has missed time recently due to knee problems and Rose is out indefinitely following ankle surgery.
As Bondy outlines, playing without a reliable point guard has created some additional offensive problems for the Knicks, who have the NBA’s 23rd-most efficient offense and rank last in the Eastern Conference in assists per game.
“The defense has pretty much been there,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said after a weekend loss in which the Knicks scored just 75 points in Boston. “It’s the offense has been inconsistent.”
New York’s injury absences have resulted in Immanuel Quickley taking on more point guard responsibilities as of late, notes Steve Popper of Newsday. Thibodeau lauded the second-year guard for the progress he has made in that role while acknowledging there’s still work to do.
“There’s stretches in the game where you have to settle the team down and get the team organized,” Thibodeau said of Quickley. “I think that will come in time. The more he does it the better he’ll get at it. I love his versatility. You can play him with the ball, you can play him off the ball, and that’s what makes him so valuable to us.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Thibodeau said on Monday that Walker is getting “close” to returning to action from what the team has called a sore left knee, Popper writes for Newsday. Asked whether Kemba remains sidelined due to healing or conditioning, Thibodeau replied, “Probably a little bit of both. Each day he’s doing a little bit more. The main thing was letting his knee calm down. It’s done that and now ramping it up again.”
- Following up on Shams Charania’s report on New York’s interest in Pistons forward Jerami Grant, Fred Katz and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic consider whether the 27-year-old would be a good fit for the Knicks and what a trade might look like. The Athletic’s duo suggests a hypothetical package of Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks, Obi Toppin, and the Knicks’ 2022 first-round pick (lightly protected), but observes that a three-for-one swap could be tricky for Detroit to accommodate.
- Last season’s Most Improved Player has seen his numbers dip so far this season and has shot just 36.7% (19.4% on threes) since Christmas, but the Knicks remain confident in Julius Randle‘s ability to battle through adversity. “I don’t want anyone get wrapped up in any personal dilemmas or any of that stuff,” Thibodeau said on Monday without directly mentioning Randle (link via Ian O’Connor of The New York Post). “…There are going to be ups and downs throughout the course of the year. You’ve got to be mentally tough when you face adversity. Everyone does, right? It’s probably the most important thing in life. Sometimes it goes our way, sometimes it doesn’t. Just navigate through it all.”
A few months ago I said if the Knicks are wise, they would trade for Fox. They need a young PG who is already proven in the league. Knicks haven’t had a legitimate PG since forever. Possibly a package around Barrett and a few protected picks from Knicks side along with other players would do the trick. Usually the PG is the floor general of your team, and Knicks do not have anyone who is a leader on the court. They have a bunch of players trying to mask as leaders but nothing spectacular. Rose needs to pull the trigger now for Fox and get the PG for the future asap, or it’s a lost season in NY.
IMHO, the Knicks need a PG and not sure Fox truly ‘fits’ that role. His assists have dropped, shots per game at 17+, and 3pt % under 25%. He relies on speed, while great, doesn’t age well if you don’t have a jump shot. I like his game, fun to watch, but not the PG the Knicks need. CP3 type would be perfect – ball distributor who has a jump shot to keep the D honest along with good perimeter D. With that said, the PG the Knicks should be looking at from the Kings is Halliburton. Should’ve drafted him when they had the chance. Toppin is fun to watch, but he reminds me so much of Kenny ‘Sky’ Walker.
Go go Vanvleet
To be fair they use Fox more as a scorer and have Halliburton run the point more so that may be an unfair assessment. Hard to say for sure but I would definitely give him a chance
Uh
Probably already a lost season in New York.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Fox should be the player Leon trades for right now. Fox has a lethal mid range game and he attacks the rim with authority. As much as like Obi I would trade him Knox draft picks and maybe another player not RJ . Leon Rose honey moon is over he has to get some real NBA talent here because we ain’t going be bad enough to get a lottery pick for a franchise changing player. I would love to trade for Fox or Sabonis from Indy. Sabonis gets double doubles in his afternoon nap and he is a crafty passer . Leon who has been as quiet as a church on Sunday needs to make a Block Buster trade ASAP and not for a aging vet who is a has been.
Ever see Sabonis play D?
Me neither.
Still hell of a playa and he is alot better than some of these stiffs we have. And News flash ever NBA star isn’t a all Defensive player only a few so stop it.
I really hope we dont trade Toppin for Grant, what a terrible idea
The 4 seed was the worst thing that happened to the Knicks last year. Gave them the feeling of urgency required to sign Fournier to that team killing deal.
The Knicks are losing again. Hmmm haven’t we seen that since the Ewing tease!
That Grant trade is absolutely horrendous for the Knicks. Knicks biggest problems revolve around their poor shooting. Grant’s shooting has regressed in each of the last four years. He’s down to 41.4% overall and 33.1% this year. That’s the last thing they need.
Plus, they need to keep young assets like Obi and a first round pick, not trade them away (with Burks and Noel; is Taj supposed to be the full time backup center in this scenario?).
And what does the lineup look like with Grant? Whoever is playing PG, with Fournier, Grant, RJ, Randle… what about Mitch? Is Grant supposed to play PG or something? Or is Randle supposed to be Center? Such a bad trade proposal.
As I mentioned in a previous thread, I’m very skeptical that the NYK have real interest in Grant, beyond kicking the tires on him, and even more skeptical they’d have any interest at the price point the Athletic suggests. The FO liked Grant as a FA going into their first summer (as a PF), but ended up not pursuing him after (unexpectedly) drafting Toppin (and all this was before Randle’s unexpected breakout year). Pursuing him now at such a rich price would go against everything this FO has said and done since taking over. I’ll believe the following only when they happen: Noel and Burks as salary filler. The NYK dealing their own 1st round picks (before the 2024 draft), unless they are heavily protected.
Thibs played the fragile Walker 40+ mins multiple times before he got hurt. Some people just never learn.
They signed him knowing who the coach is. Can’t really blame him.
“The defense has pretty much been there,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said after a weekend loss in which the Knicks scored just 75 points in Boston. “It’s the offense has been inconsistent.”
Uh, Thibs, isn’t that your trademark? Now go find an underperforming veteran guard to whisper to who will suddenly surprise everyone by playing over his lifetime average for 3 months in a contract-winning binge of scoring! Then I will know it is really you, Tom.
So it seems we are here again. This is why Knicks don’t REBUILD.
I guess we have already forgotten this is Thibs SECOND year. And since we all need to be reminded of REAL facts, again. Knicks had same record at this time last year.
There is no savior out there for us. We have accumulated assets. And are on our way to get better in a trade. By trading youth and picks. For a 27 yr old borderline all star in Grant. Seems like a win now move to me.
Knicks are still in process of evaluating their core players. Mitch and Randle have both regressed so far. If we had them as players from last year. We’d easily be (25- 16) not (20-21). That’s as good as Bucks now. That’s five lousy wins. Which if you watch this team. You know they should at least could have.
Knicks have money freed up for two yrs from now. We have got contracts expiring they can move this yr and definitely next yr.
Knicks have more shooting than last year. What they miss most. Is REAL PG play. With D and Kemba out, we are not getting that consistently.
Knicks will be fine this year. I love Grant and I’m praying we get him. But the thing that will helps us most. Is Mitch and Randle waking up and finding their game. Turner and Grant are 2 players we can actually trade for. As much as I like Obi and as well as Quickley has looked this year. They are our biggest trade chips. I believe in Grimes and McBride. We are not winning a championship yet. But adding those two players. Or similar talent like Tobias. It will take the next steps to contender.
(20-21) in his second year. And already they are going insane in NY and national media. Hawks are (17-22) with better talent and expectations. Yet nobody is going crazy about them. Relax and let the Rebuild continue. In Thibs we Trust.
I hate how fake our fan base is
Seriously give the team time
Let the man coach
…..Turner in our system and we are 3/4 in the east .. and nobody wants to see us first round