Knicks Morning News (2018.01.15)

  • [NYDN] Knicks blow 19-point second-half lead in OT loss
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 1:29:47 PM)

    The Knicks suffered an OT loss for the second-straight game at the Garden.

  • [NYDN] Knicks make Trey Burke signing official, reunites with Hardaway
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 10:16:28 AM)

    The Knicks have added another player who can shoot the trey.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks, Squarespace offering 4 entrepreneurs $30,000 boost
    (Monday, January 15, 2018 6:00:00 AM)

    The New York Knicks want to help four entrepreneurs “make it.”

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks expect Trey Burke to give point an added dimension
    (Monday, January 15, 2018 2:19:26 AM)

    Trey Burke had been to the Garden before. He even defeated the Knicks with a buzzer-beating jumper while playing for Utah. But he had a little problem Sunday, his first day at work for the home team. “I got lost trying to go to the court,” Burke said before the Knicks’ 123-118 overtime loss to New Orleans.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks blow 19-point lead, lose to Pelicans in overtime
    (Monday, January 15, 2018 12:22:20 AM)

    After constructing a 19-point lead late in the third quarter, it got rough for the Knicks. They threw away the entire cushion and wound up having to work overtime, eventually falling to New Orleans.

  • [NYTimes] On Pro Basketball: N.B.A. Power Rankings: Warriors on Top at Midseason
    (Monday, January 15, 2018 5:38:51 AM)

    The Warriors, the Celtics, the Raptors and the Rockets made up a pretty good top four in the first half of the N.B.A. season, but the Cavaliers cannot be counted out.

  • [NYPost] Knicks had no answers for Anthony Davis in brutal beat
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 7:52:00 PM)

    The shot that let Anthony Davis know he was locked in didn’t even count. Just after the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter, with his team trailing the Knicks by 14, the Pelicans star heaved a full-court shot that swished through the net. “You never really make those,” Davis said. “It went in and…

  • [NYPost] Ranking latest punishing Knicks loss in pantheon of heartbreak
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 7:34:06 PM)

    Google Milt Palacio. Until Sunday, Palacio represented as stinging a loss as a New York-area team has experienced. Like ever. It was against the Nets, who won all of 26 games in 2000-01. But of the 56 defeats suffered that season, none were tougher to take than that loss to the Celtics, courtesy of “Miracle…

  • [NYPost] Hornacek threatens changes after ripping into Knicks
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 4:07:46 PM)

    Forty-seven seconds into the second half, Jeff Hornacek called timeout, and proceeded to rip into his players. A wide-open Anthony Davis jump shot infuriated the Knicks coach, continuing a pattern of sloppy starts in the third quarter. He’s not going to stands for it much longer. “We might have to change lineups going into the…

  • [NYPost] Kristaps Porzingis gets philosophical after ‘painful’ collapse
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 3:45:43 PM)

    Through three quarters Sunday, Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks were feeling good. The final 17 minutes of what became a 123-118 overtime loss to the Pelicans, however, served up a reminder that the Knicks’ cornerstone is still learning. Porzingis was scoreless in the fourth quarter, shooting 0-for-4 from the field, and then made just 1-of-3…

  • [NYPost] Knicks choke it all away in disastrous gut-punch
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 1:28:41 PM)

    Remember this moment, this game, this loss, if the upcoming seven-game road trip goes as most expect. If the rest of this season continues on this downward trend. If the Knicks are playing for pingpong balls rather than a playoff spot. With a chance to head out on the road feeling good about themselves, after…

  • [NYPost] Knicks’ newest point guard hope is here
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 8:38:38 AM)

    The worst-kept secret of the week became official Sunday when the Knicks announced they had signed point guard Trey Burke. After waiving Ramon Sessions on Saturday to create a roster spot, the Knicks inked the 2013 Jazz lottery pick to a contract before a 123-118 overtime loss to the Pelicans. Burke was active but did…

  • [SNY Knicks] Hardaway progressing, scores 25 points in second game back from injury
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 11:25:31 PM)

    Knicks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said he felt “good” after scoring 25 points in his second game back from a 20-game absence due to a left leg injury in Sunday’s 123-118 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks lose to Pelicans in OT after blowing 19-point second-half lead
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 6:28:00 PM)

    The Knicks blew a 19-point second-half lead and lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 in overtime Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

  • [SNY Knicks] Today’s game: Pelicans vs. Knicks, 3:30 p.m.
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 1:59:33 PM)

    NEW YORK — The high-scoring New Orleans Pelicans head to Madison Square Garden on Sunday to play slumping New York, some two weeks after the Knicks shut down everyone but the Pelicans’ Big 2 in a 105-103 victory at New Orleans.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks sign G Trey Burke
    (Sunday, January 14, 2018 1:19:37 PM)

    The Knicks signed G Trey Burke, the team announced on Sunday.

  • 37 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2018.01.15)”

    Mark Jackson is currently visiting his tailor, looking to get his game suits ready for next season.

    The solution for coaching is pretty easy: grab a bag full of Dolan’s money, go to San Antonio and invite Ettore Messina and Becky Hammon to a room. Throw the money at them. Whoever accepts first gets the job.

    I’d prefer Messina due to his more impressive experience, but yes, in general, I dunno why the Spurs assistants aren’t hotter properties. Jacque Vaughan did kind of suck, but Budz has been amazing.

    We really missed an opportunity with Atkinson, who was with the Knicks for so long already, but well… just go for Pop people.

    Important to note, now that the contract details have been released, that the Knicks did, in fact, end up with a team option for next year for Trey Burke. Good for them. First time they’ve pulled off that particular feat in a while.

    Aside: today is the first MLK day since 1986 that the Knicks have not played a matinee at MSG. I hope the league was just trying to throw the Nets a bone this one time. It’s pretty shameful to disrupt a significant local tradition like that.

    It was the Knicks’ decision. They couldn’t use the Garden today because of the Grammys (which is why the Knicks are going on a long road trip). This was clearly the next best solution. The Garden will go back to hosting the MLK Day game next year.

    Every time Hornacek earns good will it seems like he does somethin to drop the ball almost immediately after.

    First, let me say..I love McBuckets. He’s someone Hornacek should add more of in his game plan. But, with as well as Beasley has been playing at PF on both ends, wouldn’t he have been a good enough matchup yesterday to play more minutes? Or am I missing something? I know his shot was a little off, but damn! Reward him with a little faith, huh? I know..I KNOW we need the 3 ball. If that’s the case, play THJ exclusively at the 2 and cut Lee’s minutes back a little. He too has been in a bit of a funk. Shit..stop givin Lance nearly 30 minutes a night. He may be our best veteran defender, but ir shouldn’t be at the cost of getting more offense from our other perimeter guys. He’s not THAT good..sheesh!

    Beasley had bad body language yesterday apparently and that earned him a seat on the bench. Apparently when the offense isn’t designed to give him looks he sulks and plays with indifferent energy.

    Where are you seeing that we gave him a team option Brian?

    New York Newsday:

    The Knicks hope they have found something after signing the 6-1 point guard for the rest of this season, with a team option for next season. The Michigan man was tearing up the G League for the Westchester Knicks, averaging 26.6 points, 5.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals.

    They should have tried out Noah in the fourth quarter when Kanter couldn’t do anything on either end against Cousins

    @13, I noticed that too. I know you cacan’t reward bad behavior- especially for a 1 year flier- but that game was in the bag, man.

    I just want the team to play so that we can see what we have moving forward. If it lands us in the playoffs, so be it. If it nets us a great pick, great! If Beasley isn’t earning minutes and touches, please..PLEASE GET Willy & possibly Burke in the game

    I missed the second half, but apparently early in the third H called a timeout, reamed out the starters, then said after the game that there might be changes in the lineup due to lack of effort/focus?

    So who is he talking about? Kanter seems to always play hard and with intensity, but he seems just physically limited from ever being a decent defender. LT, for all his warts, does play hard, and very soon Timmy will be back as a starter anyways.

    So, Jack (for lazy D)? Lee (he does seem to disappear at times)? KP? If him, maybe stop playing him for 10-12 minute stretches so that he won’t be so gassed in the 2nd half?

    I think the worst thing about this year’s Knicks is that we’re being carried by Kanter, O’Quinn, Lee, and Jack (because his back up, Frank, has been awful in most of his minutes) for the most part. Those guys probably aren’t here next year, and they’re the difference between our 19 wins and the 14 we probably should have if we played Dotson, Hernangomez, Ntilikina, and Baker. I get that we want to compete but we need a guy who can make KP a #2 and Tim Hardaway Jr a #3. Maybe that’s Michael Porter Jr, maybe that’s Trae Young or Luka Doncic. I do know that it’s not Miles Bridges or a guy we’re going to grab in free agency.

    I look at the Knicks young guys and think we have a lot of good pieces but none are the franchise cornerstone yet. I don’t have an issue with Ntilikina, Hardaway Jr, and Porzingis as long term starters here, but we still need two pieces. We still need a penetrating guard and a stud combo forward if this thing is going to work. Jalen Brunson is an excellent draft option because he has the handles to penetrate a defense, can shoot the three, has good size at 6’3″ and 190 pounds, and plays both sides of the court. The Knicks just need Ray Felton and Jason Kidd level competence out of their guards, and they could achieve that with size this time around if they slide Ntilikina to off guard and draft Brunson. I like Bridges a lot but he doesn’t pack the scoring potential of Michael Porter Jr, who should be at the top of the Knicks’ draft boards despite the back issues. We need to be tanking so we can grab Porter Jr and Brunson at the top of each round. Having a 6’3″ point guard, two 6’6″ wings, a 6’10 power forward and a 7’3″ and still having the ability to match up with anybody, small or big line ups, would be revolutionary.

    My hope is that Porter Jr is available for the Knicks, and that might just happen since Trae Young is all but confirmed to be at least in the top 5, and Mikal Bridges is tearing it up and is pretty much confirmed to go far in the NCAA tournament. Then we could luck out on a potential #1 option in the 7th pick of the draft, which would be very very lucky.

    It’s weird because looking at the rest of the january games, every game is winnable except GSW and Boston, but they’re also all road games (except the last game against the Nets), so I have no idea what will happen.

    If Porter Jr is going to fall to #7 then another guy, like Jaren Jackson, Collin Sexton, or Kevin Knox, has to tear it up and raise their draft stock. Maybe Shai Gilgeous Alexander will rocket up boards, but as of right now it’s looking like Ayton, Doncic, Bagley, Young, and Bamba are ahead of MPJr.

    It sounds like teams are really trying to clear salary this year at the deadline. If we could take on a bad contract, I think we could get another 1st rounder out of it. We could really reload with two firsts and a high second in this draft.

    OTOH, I don’t think there’s any way we could move Noah or even Kanter.

    @22

    What’s depressing is just how perfect the combined cap space of 25 million that Noah and Lance are occupying would be for that possibility. We could easily absorb some of the shittier Portland or New Orleans contracts for a potentially nice pick but can’t do it because we would have to be the ones paying for someone else to get even near them.

    I think the worst thing about this year’s Knicks is that we’re being carried by Kanter, O’Quinn, Lee, and Jack (because his back up, Frank, has been awful in most of his minutes) for the most part.

    Yep, that’s definitely the worst part of this season.

    If we trade WHG at the trade deadline and we miss out on MPJr and the other top 4-5 guys, I’d be more than happy with drafting Jaren Jackson. He’d be the perfect complement to KP at the 5, because he’s basically a Shawn Marion clone–he can switch onto smaller defenders, rebounds really well, and can shoot the 3, and he’s been one of the most productive players in the country as a freshman. He should be on our radar if Willy goes, and maybe even if Willy stays.

    jaren jackson is more like ibaka… he’s def a 4/5 and doesn’t have any ball skills besides spot up shooting…. he is a good modern kind of 4 tho….

    I was thinking the same exact thing about trading Willie and grabbing Jackson.

    I wonder if Orlando would swap Noah for Fournier? At least it gives us an sf on a shitty deal…

    I’m not sure in Jackson Jrs fit for this team to be honest. The strongest parts of his game is shooting from the outside and blocking shots, both skills that KP should provide on his own, and even though he is a better rebounder, he’s averaging 10.8 per 40 which is good but not great (Bagley is averaging almost 15 for comparison). He’s a more versatile defender which would be great to have though.

    I think he’ll be a very good player with a long career in the NBA, but I would rather get a more explosive wing or guard who can finish well in the paint and pass, so I think I would gravitate more towards Mikal and Sexton still.

    #31
    Probably a precaution (avoid back to backs for a while), but now I guess Beasley will get more minutes and touches?

    This is pure conjecture on my part:

    Years ago, when Pau Gasol was traded to the Lakers, there was an article written describing him as some sort of aircraft carrier or something – the basis was that he can get you through 3, maybe 3 and a half quarters (something like that), but you needed someone else that can close the deal in the 4th. Enter one Kobe Bryant.

    Maybe KP is Pau in that regard – on the surface this may sound a bit disappointing (although Pau Gasol has been pretty damn great at basketsports), but haven’t we learned from the Ewing Years that we should not pin our hopes on just one man?

    That’s why we need the #stealthtank that’s slowly (or finally, depending on your take) evolving. KP needs his #2 (or greater). I don’t think THJr will be that guy – markedly improved as he is.

    There’s only one thing worse than being bad. That’s being bad and not drafting equal to the badness.

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