2017-18 Game Thread: Knicks @ Pelicans

Another road game, at least it is against a team that isn’t that good.

KP vs. The Brow!!

Let’s go, Knicks!

HoopsHype: No team is shooting or making fewer three-pointers than the Knicks

Good article by Bryan Kalbrosky.

Only the Golden State Warriors have a better catch-and-shoot field goal percentage this season. New York is shooting 38.7 percent from downtown when taking catch-and-shoot three-pointers, which ranks Top 5 in the East.

But they rank last in the East (16.6) for attempts per game. They have not found a true spot-up shooter on their roster, as they have run this play type (15.3 percent) fewer than any other team in their conference.

Last season, this is something they relied on from 6-foot-8 forward Lance Thomas. In fact, most of his offense (53.2 percent frequency) came from this play type. Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who they recently waived, was also a spot-up shooter (35.9 percent frequency) for the Knicks.

The article also quotes Hornacek as noting that this needs to change, and yet….

Knicks Morning News (2017.12.30)

  • [NYDN] Triangle gone but Knicks offense remains bafflingly inefficient
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 12:22:18 PM)

    The triangle is gone but Jeff Hornacek’s offense remains stuck in another era.

  • [NYDN] NY Sports Odds for 2018: The Yankees & a bunch of long shots
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 7:44:16 AM)

    The Big Apple fan base went without a title again in 2017. What are the odds that will change in the new year?

  • [NYDN] Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis makes plea for more foul calls
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 7:05:33 AM)

    Mired in an ugly shooting slump, Kristaps Porzingis made a public plea to the referees for help.

  • [NYPost] The Knicks are missing their ‘Angry Grandpa’
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 7:51:52 PM)

    NEW ORLEANS — It took a while, but the sliding Knicks now feel Tim Hardaway Jr.’s extended absence full bore. Michael Beasley calls Hardaway “Angry Grandpa,” and the Knicks miss his spirited oncourt fight — as well as his scoring. It has been almost four weeks since he was diagnosed with a stress reaction (at…

  • [NYPost] What Porzingis is really focused on during shooting slump
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 7:04:51 AM)

    NEW ORLEANS — The consistent 30-point games are history and the shooting percentage has dipped to 44.4 percent. After a 119-107 loss Thursday to the Spurs in San Antonio, slumping Kristaps Porzingis even lobbied referees for the second time this season after he felt they missed contact opponents made on his arms when he rises…

  • [SNY Knicks] Hornacek wants more threes from Knicks, who are NBA’s worst from deep
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 8:20:42 PM)

    The Knicks are dead last in three’s attempted and made. Jeff Hornacek hopes that changes.

  • [SNY Knicks] Kristaps Porzingis frustrated at lack of foul calls
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 3:15:44 PM)

    Kristaps Porzingis has grown frustrated at his lack of shooting fouls and took to the media to air his grievences.

  • [SNY Knicks] It’s time for the Knicks to make changes
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 12:30:08 PM)

    You may not be sure anymore if you’re watching basketball or you’re on the Superman roller coaster at Disney World.

  • [NYTimes] Keeping Score: Is LeBron James, at 33, Better Than He Was 5 Years Ago?
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 7:21:51 PM)

    You can say he’s ageless and even sublime. But can you truthfully say, as Steve Kerr did, that James is better in his 15th N.B.A. season than he was in his 10th?

  • [NYTimes] These N.B.A. Dancers Bring Their High Kicks Courtside
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 3:00:25 PM)

    With packed routines, the hard-working Brooklynettes and Knicks City Dancers are “there to create just as much of a show as the basketball players.”

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis wants refs to call touches that foul up shot
    (Friday, December 29, 2017 7:46:00 PM)

    The game isn’t coming as easy for Kristaps Porzingis these days as it was at the start of the season.