Who knew it would get this ugly? Knicks are now 10-32, with the 3rd worst record in the league and only a half game behind the 2nd worst record (Phoenix is 10-33; Cleveland 8-35).
More Talent than Record Indicates
The Knicks have three (3) players who might make All Rookie 1st or 2nd team (Kevin Knox, who just won Rookie of the Month, Allonzo Trier, and Mitchell Robinson), and two players who will get votes for most improved (Noah Vonleh and Emmanuel Mudiay). They have Enes Kanter playing like a beast, Tim Hardaway Jr averaging over 20 ppg, Damyean Dotson playing well, Trey Burke and Mario Hezonja now playing well. There are teams playing near .500 with not as much talent, and GM’s in this league who would switch rosters in a second (especially with Kristaps Porzingis waiting in the wings).
But this Knick team isn’t playing like a team on Defense or Offense. David Fizdale seems to be a good development coach — developing players’ confidences — but is not getting this team to play well as a team. Considering the lottery odds this year do not favor a team finishing worst, the tank is not fully on. The Knicks need to show they have a good “team” brewing to make sure Kevin Durant signs here. Knick management is no doubt starting to question if they picked the right guy to coach. Pressure is on Fizdale for the second half. Said Fizdale: “It’s matter of putting it all together collectively while taking punches and in the second half really putting stuff together and start looking better.’’ Knicks are taking a lot of punches this year.
This Game
In this game — Indiana just won. It was close until 2 minutes to play in the first half — Indiana went on a 12-point run to end the half and that was it. They pushed the lead to 20 in the 3rd, and Knicks were never able to get back in the game.
Walt Frazier‘s quote from the previous game held for this game as well “the loss was due to simple analytics: Knicks didn’t dish, therefore they didn’t swish; and their defense got hurt because they didn’t get back in time (after the missed shots)”.
How Did Individual Players Do?
Kevin Knox looked good but didn’t get enough shots. He finished with a flurry of buckets late in the 4th for 14 points. Knox has such a pretty 3-pt jumper. Quick release off the pass too. And always from 3; never inadvertently standing inside the circle. Everything the Knicks always wanted Melo to do…
Halftime Highlight ✨
Right in the shootin' pocket 👌 pic.twitter.com/fcUe2np8r1
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 12, 2019
Emmanuel Mudiay (21 points) did well individually but did not orchestrate and pass enough to make the team offense flow. Allonzo Trier looked good but didn’t get enough minutes — Damyean Dotson had a good game and ate up Trier’s minutes in doing so.
H U S T L E 💪 pic.twitter.com/u6fDAsYNOC
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 12, 2019
For Indiana — Domantas Sabonis ate the Knicks up alive inside — Enes Kanter was out sick, and Luke Kornet (1-7, 3 points, and poor interior defense) spent the night looking for his glass slippers.
Victor Oladipo had a Massive slam dunk and efficient evening (19 pts on 8-13, 6 assists). Darren Collison with 10 assists and 7 points.
Knick Castoffs
It was ironic seeing Doug McDermott — Knick castoff — kill them for 12 points on 4-7 shooting. He was 3rd man off Indiana’s bench. On the Knicks he probably wouldn’t play. Kyle O’Quinn — not quite a castoff but someone the Knicks didn’t want anymore considering the front line they’re building — had 6 points. Again — it’s not about the Knicks talent level; Knicks have talent.
The boxscore:
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