New York Knicks: What the Cleveland win does and doesn’t mean
By Eric Snyder
The season depends on one player
Prior to his outburst against Cleveland, Tim Hardaway Jr. was, statistically, one of the worst guards in the entire NBA. He had no shooting consistency, his impact on the game was minimal and he looked lost in the new Knicks offense. Yet, the addition of Jack in the starting lineup and two days of practice unearthed a new and improved THJ.
Kristaps Porzingis is the best player on the New York Knicks and one of the best in the NBA. However, “best player” and “most important player” aren’t always the same thing. Every night, the Knicks know Porzingis will dominate and do Unicorn things all over the court. But they don’t know who the second scoring option will be on any given night.
If Hardaway consistently produces on offense and keeps defenders honest with his shot, it opens a whole new world for the Knicks. The interior is already congested with Enes Kanter around the paint at all times. So, if Hardaway forces defenders outside, the spacing is suddenly better for everyone.
One regular season win and one great performance does not make a player or team’s season a success. Yet, Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Knicks can make this win against Cleveland a cornerstone of their rebuild. From here, consistency and energy are what the Knicks need from Hardaway to win any game.
The victory against Cleveland shows Tim Hardaway Jr. is the most important player on the New York Knicks. What else does the road win against the defending Eastern Conference champions mean?