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New year, same New York Knicks: Plenty of people to blame in 2022

By Larry Hammonds

Dec 4, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) and head coach Tom Thibodeau talk during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) and head coach Tom Thibodeau talk during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kemba Walker #8 (L) and Evan Fournier #13 of the New York Knicks look on against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on October 05, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the pacers 125-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

New year, same New York Knicks: Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier

Here lies the bigger problem. It was always expected for the defense to take a bit of a step back this year with the loss of Reggie Bullock and Elfrid Payton. Especially when coupled with the additions of offensive-minded players in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier.

Still, the offense was supposed to be improved. When the Knicks acquired Walker and Fournier in free agency, the expectation was that their shot-creation and perimeter prowess would rejuvenate the offense. While this theory has bared fruit on occasion, it hasn’t exactly worked out the way everyone has hoped.

Walker was so bad to start the season that Thibodeau took him out of the rotation altogether, receiving ten consecutive DNPs. He didn’t the court again until the backcourt was depleted entirely with injuries.

And now he’s out of the lineup again, this time dealing with soreness in his arthritic knee that has hindered him the last few years. In 24 appearances with the Knicks, Walker has failed to score in double-digits nine times and has a negative plus-minus in 16 of his games.

Over the last five seasons, Fournier averaged 17.0 points and 3.2 assists per game with shooting splits of .451/.375/.817. That’s what Leon Rose was expecting when he signed the 29-year old guard to a four-year deal worth up to $78 million this offseason.

Instead, the Frenchman has averaged 12.9 points and 1.8 assists while playing just shy of 30 minutes per game. His shooting has suffered as well, posting shooting splits of .406/.366/.739.

Fournier’s play has been so abysmal at times that Thibodeau has benched him for the entire fourth quarter on numerous occasions. Specifically, he becomes borderline unplayable if his shot isn’t falling because of his defensive woes.

It would be an understatement to say that the Knicks haven’t gotten the production they were hoping for out of their prized free-agent acquisitions. Still, some issues lie deeper than the inconsistencies of Walker and Fournier.

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