New York Knicks: 5 goals for Tim Hardaway Jr. in 2017-18
By Randy Porga
1. Finding versatility around the court
The New York Knicks may not be playoff-bound this year, but they may very well be on their way in a couple seasons. With that being said, many of their younger players need to break outside their comfort zone and be able to pose a threat in multiple areas.
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For Tim Hardaway Jr., he is an athletic, lanky guard standing at 6’6″ and not afraid of contact on the inside. However, statistically speaking, he is an inside or outside shooter with no in-between. His shot selection breakdown speaks for itself.
Of all his shots, 47.9 percent of his attempts were 2-point field goals, 20.4 percent came within three feet and 14.4 came from 16 feet or longer. His average distance from the basket per attempt last season was a career high 17.5 feet. He should consider the effect he may have pulling up from the mid-range more often instead of making himself a one-dimensional shooter. Last season he shot just barely under the league average of field goal and 3-point percentage.
Hardaway shot for 45.5 from the field with the league average being 45.7 percent, and shot 35.7 percent from beyond the arc while the league average was 35.8 percent.
Next: 10 young NBA players in need of a breakout season in 2017-18
With some slight changes and not being over ambitious for his returning season with the New York Knicks, Hardaway may have the potential to grow from an average to an above-average shooting guard.