New York Knicks have good problem brewing in backcourt
The New York Knicks have a good problem brewing in the backcourt at point guard with their new trio.
The New York Knicks‘ plans for the remainder of the 2017-18 season changed drastically right before the NBA Trade Deadline. When Kristaps Porzingis tore his ACL, the air came out of the team and its fans. Without their best player, the Knicks’ slim playoff hopes went right out the door.
New York was already struggling even before Porzingis went down with the injury. The team’s recent victory against the Orlando Magic snapped an eight-game losing streak. The Knicks were four games under the .500 mark on Jan. 19 after defeating the Utah Jazz. Now, just over five weeks later, the Knicks are 13 games below .500.
Had it not been for the All-Star break, it is fair to believe they would be even further under the .500 mark. With the playoffs out of reach, the focus for this season changed. Instead of adding veterans for a playoff push, the Knicks added a younger player in Emmanual Mudiay at the trade deadline.
The Knicks acquired Mudiay in a three-team deal with the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets. New York shipped out Doug McDermott, who landed in Denver.
In Mudiay, the Knicks are getting a lottery ticket. Mudiay was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, going three spots after Porzingis was selected by the Knicks. Many fans hoped Mudiay would land in New York. It just took a little longer to happen.
Mudiay joined a crowded backcourt. The Knicks used the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft on point guard Frank Ntilikina. Trey Burke was signed out of the G League on Jan. 14. Veteran Jarrett Jack was manning the starting spot.
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The Knicks have some holes on their roster, hence their losing ways. However, the point guard spot is not one of those. With the moves they have made this season, they have created a good problem at the point guard spot.
Jack is unlikely to play much more in a Knicks uniform. Head coach Jeff Hornacek said the lineup would change after the All-Star break, and that has happened.
Jack has been removed from the starting spot and has not played a minute in two games. Veteran Courtney Lee has also seen his minutes slashed, playing 14 and 16 minutes against the Magic and Boston Celtics. Those two games are the first two that Lee failed to play 20 minutes in this season.
Mudiay has taken over the starting spot, with Burke and Ntilikina filling in off the bench. With the roles being more defined and the veterans beginning to take a backseat, a good problem is arising for the Knicks.
Burke has emerged as an energizer off the bench. He scored 26 points in both games, shooting an efficient 22-of-41 from the field. Burke also added 14 assists and four rebounds.
Ntilikina has not stuffed the stat sheet in the same fashion, but the team is playing well when he is on the court. The Knicks were +9 against the Magic with Ntilikina on the court and +4 against the Celtics. In the two games, Ntilikina totaled 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
Mudiay hasn’t been great since coming over from the Nuggets, but the potential is there. He has scored at least seven points with two assists and two rebounds in every game with the Knicks thus far.
What is impressive is the team is not turning the ball over much. The trio has combined for only 10 turnovers in the two games since the All-Star break — a solid number when considering they have the ball in their hands a majority of the time running the offense.
The Knicks are figuring out in recent games how to get all three of their young point guards on the floor in different situations. The early results are positive, which gives them a good problem to have.
Finding one useful point guard is difficult enough. Right now, the Knicks look like they could have three useful ones. They all bring something different to the court, which makes it a little easier on Hornacek as he can play them together based on matchups.
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The remainder of the season will be important for the Knicks from an evaluation point of view. While a playoff run isn’t in the cards, these games are still worthwhile. They will give the Knicks an idea of what they need to do in the offseason. They are hoping that the point guard position, for the first time in many years, is not one they have to worry about.