(Wednesday, November 21, 2018 12:08:12 AM)
BOSTON — On paper, a visit by the lowly New York Knicks should be just what the doctor ordered for the struggling Boston Celtics.
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 8:50:00 PM)
Zion Williamson doesn’t even have to fill up the stat sheet to be the center of attention.
Duke’s freshman sensation only scored 13 points in the top-ranked Blue Devils’ hard fought 78-72 win over No. 8 Auburn in the Maui Invitation semifinals, but he wowed in other ways, again showing off his…
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 8:30:00 PM)
A day after both Kevin Knox and his coach acknowledged issues with his inconsistent efforts, the rookie was removed from the starting lineup and played sparingly in Tuesday’s 118-114 defeat to the Blazers.
Knox managed just two points in 13 minutes, missing two 3-point attempts. Fizdale said he…
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 4:55:00 PM)
Through trial and (mostly) error, David Fizdale arrived at yet another lineup for his reeling Knicks. And this one went against his previous messages.
After weeks of preaching development through growing pains for his young players – “throw them into the fire” has been the coach’s mantra – Fizdale…
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 8:30:00 AM)
If only he could turn to burner accounts in real life.
Kevin Durant told fans on Saturday to “Watch the f—— game and shut the f— up” after a few heckles, one of which reportedly included the spectators calling the possible Knicks free agent target a “cupcake.”
The Mavs ended up taking down the…
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 4:02:43 PM)
The Knicks had some concerns about Kevin Knox‘s motor heading into the 2018 NBA draft, and while they were thrilled to land the young forward with the ninth overall pick, those concerns continue to linger 10 games into his NBA career, writes Mike Mazzeo of The New York Post. According to head coach David Fizdale, […]
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 8:15:00 AM)
[NYTimes] Brian Windhorst and the Burden of Being a LeBron James Whisperer (Wednesday, November 21, 2018 10:00:06 AM)
The ESPN basketball analyst may have received a lift in his career from his association with James, going all the way back to Akron, but he says he is more than that now.
[NYTimes] Adam Silver Can See That You Are Angry, and He Is Here for It (Wednesday, November 21, 2018 1:14:54 AM)
Silver, the commissioner of the N.B.A., said Tuesday that he tries to engage fans who disagree with his decisions. He also opened up about what he wants the league to do next.
[NYTimes] J.R. Smith and the Cleveland Cavaliers Will Keep Their Distance (Tuesday, November 20, 2018 10:41:14 PM)
Smith has asked to be traded because he does not think the franchise is trying to win. The Cavaliers announced Tuesday that he would no longer be with the team.
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 8:27:43 PM)
The part that’s hardest to get used to, honestly, is the sound the Garden makes at the end of these games. After a lifetime of watching Knicks teams and Rangers teams and even the occasional St. John’s teams get hammered whenever the last parts of games go awry, it’s jarring, really. Nobody boos. Yet, anyway….
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 5:02:24 PM)
David Fizdale can make all the starting lineup changes he wants, but he couldn’t erase the Trail Blazers’ powerhouse backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Fizdale trotted out his sixth different starting lineup Tuesday after making his fourth major shake-up, and the Knicks took Portland to the final 10 seconds. But Lillard (29) and…
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 3:53:17 PM)
Never mind. The Knicks’ three-rookie starting lineup is history, lasting just two games. Coach David Fizdale did another 180-degree spin with his lineup Tuesday against the Trail Blazers, yanking all three first-year players and reinserting disgruntled Enes Kanter as starting center over Mitchell Robinson. Kanter, Noah Vonleh and Mario Hezonja, making his first start as…
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 10:02:39 AM)
There’s one Knick adapting wonderfully to David Fizdale’s attempt at a high-tempo, spread-the-floor offense. John Jenkins of the Westchester Knicks. Jenkins, a 3-point shooting machine, is tearing up the G League the same way Trey Burke did last season. The 27-year-old posted a franchise-record 44-point game and leads the G League in scoring with 30.0…
(Wednesday, November 21, 2018 12:31:43 AM)
Zion Williamson didn’t lead his team in scoring, but he help them to a victory in all facets.
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 10:12:33 PM)
The Knicks kept this one close, but the Trail Blazers eeked it out as New York dropped their sixth straight game, 118-114, on Wednesday night.
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 6:13:47 PM)
Amid a five-game losing streak, Knicks coach David Fizdale has opted to reshuffle the team’s lineup ahead of Tuesday night’s game.
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 5:42:08 PM)
After dropping 40 points on the Washington Wizards in a 119-109 win on Sunday night, Damian Lillard follows with an encore at Madison Square Garden, where the Portland Trail Blazers travel to take on the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 1:02:30 PM)
Joakim Noah may be close to finding a new home after his exile from the Knicks.
(Tuesday, November 20, 2018 10:10:54 AM)
Knicks coach David Fizdale says he wants Kevin Knox to start taking his effort level up a notch.
18 replies on “Knicks Morning News (2018.11.21)”
I posted this yesterday:
How do people feel about this version of Timmy as a long-term piece? A lot of folks here have worn out the trade machine thinking of ways to ditch his contract. I get that he gets in the way of acquiring even better players, but is his play, as well as dedication to improvement, drama-free attitude and taking on a leadership role with this young team, changing any minds?
If Timmy wants to change minds he needs to dedicate to playing defense. And that doesn’t mean cherry picking passing lanes.
He’s 2nd in the league in drawing charges, and his effort on D is clear. He still needs to work on things, but I don’t think he’s a “bad” defender any more, just not a particularly good one. If he was good, we’re talking about a $20+ million 2-way player, right?
TH2 is posting a 570 TS% on a 30% usage so far this season. I don’t think you get to just dump his contract anymore considering he’s making >$20M for the next two seasons (he will be opting out in the summer of 2020).
The thing about Timmy is now he actually can handle the ball in and out of traffic and he’s officially a good 3 point shooter. He’s been playing like an appropriately paid CJ McCollum this season, and then he’s 3 inches taller. When Timmy is your best player you’re the Knicks. When you put him in a line up with KD, Porzingis, Vonleh, and our 2019 1RP, you have yourself a real team.
THJr is becoming a more interesting player because his offensive game is becoming more well rounded and effective both from distance and at the rim and he doesn’t clog the offense by pounding it interminably and he does generally “bring it”.
For a guy who has at least decent physical skills and who tries he is an awful “on the ball” defender and I’m not sure why. Just like the Net loss when Clyde was screaming “take away his left hand” when guarding LeVert. Defense isn’t rocket science.
But he could be a useful 2 guard if surrounded with KP, M Rob, Frank and oh… say… Durant 🙂 I would pay big money to see that team play….. And I kind of think that’s what the FO is thinking if they have any back channel communication from Durant’s management.
Bill Wennington’s and Steve Kerr’s lack of foot speed didn’t kill the Bulls when they had them surrounded with Rodman, Pippin and Jordan 🙂
My issues with Timmy are not even the defense to be honest, it’s always been shot selection and passing. The one thing that has been a massive improvement for him is that last year he’d have this crazy bad shooting games, and just keep taking jumpers. This year instead he’s taking it to the rim, his FTA has almost doubled from 3.1 to 6.6. If he can shoot almost 7 free throws per game while keeping a 3p% around 40% he’s a very valuable scorer, a sort of supersized version of Lou Williams’ best years.
The issue is mostly that he still almost never looks to pass and doesn’t create for others at all, his assist numbers are still horrible for a guy who has a 30% usage, and he’s not a rebounder or a good defender so his value comes almost entirely from his scoring. What frustrates me is that he definitely can pass, he has shown some pretty good passes, but he either tunnel visions way too hard on his own move or simply ignores teammates that are more open. I get that he doesn’t have good teammates to pass it to, but he also can’t make those teammates better with his play.
He might be worth his contract if the free throw improvement is for real, the issue is more that a guy with his sort of production is a great third or fourth best option on a good team rather than a foundational piece to build around.
Timmy is still pretty bad on defense from my perspective. Both on and off the ball.
Yes.
My main issue with Hardaway has always been shot selection, decision making, and occasional “hero” ball.
That said, he’s clearly playing a lot better on offense this year. I would go as far as to say he’s playing better right now than even at the beginning of the season. He’s starting to look and act more like a seasoned pro than a young player that has no idea what he’s doing.
I’m not sure what the issue is with him on defense. Maybe someone else knows. He seems athletic and fast enough. He tries hard. But guys seem to beat him and get off their shots way too easy. Maybe he’s not long enough to alter shots or something. If he could just get to “average” on defense, I’d have no problem keeping him at this price if he can sustain his current behavior and results on the court.
He’s the #1 option on a bad team that gets very few assists yet so far he’s sustaining a career high TS% on even higher volume. That’s a shock to me.
There are only 8 players with 400+ minutes with a usage above 29% with a higher TS% (.570) than TH2:
LBJ, KD, Kemba, Harden, Giannis, Lillard, Embiid and Kawhi. That’s pretty freakin’ elite company! And if you use eFG% he only has 6 players higher than him (Lillard and Embiid drop down.)
There is then a dropoff to DeRozan (.556) Booker (.554) and LaVine (.549)
Lou W (.535) , Oladipo (.533) and Donovan (.505!!) round out the list.
Long term I think this will help us trade him
A buddy of mine proposed this trade:
Knicks:
Timmy
Lee
Memphis
Parsons
Green or Temple
Basically it would save us ~5 million next year and then get the last year of Timmy’s contract off our books
TH2 had played really well. The 9 charges are nice, and so is the mindfulness app he seems to be using, but I still think he’s a material defensive liability. Even so, he’s not a big, so his offense has been good enough that he could produce around his $ cost in value if he keeps it up, in a prime Alex English sorta way. But if that meant we could ditch the contract for roughly nothing I would still do it, because I think there’s more downside from here than upside, and his play this year and most likely next year won’t do much of anything for us. but it’s been fun to watch him play well. we’ve rarely had more unanimity on this blog than applauding phil for somehow getting a first rounder for timmy after his crappy sophomore year, and you have to appreciate any world where reality will check knickerblogger for its Pollyanna optimism
Hardaway has great end to end speed but little lateral quickness or strength. Often when I watch him I think he doesn’t really looo like an NBA level athlete, at least on the defensive end. I think trading him before the bloom is off the rose would be really smart but I appreciate how well he is playing for us right now.
Right now Mills is more likely thinking “this is why I signed Tim Hardaway”, not “I better trade him now before he comes back down to earth.”
I agree.
These guys obviously value scorers more than defenders. They love Timmy right now.
Other than taking 7 more shots per game, there is virtually zero difference between the Knicks’ 2018-19 Hardaway and the Hawks’ 2016-17 Hardaway.
He USG rate on a better team goes down and he becomes less effective, that’s the problem in a nutshell with his value since he probably doesn’t start on a good team. So a trade would have to be with another bad team if they wanted to trade him for a expiring … it’s the jr smith conundrum if we traded with the bulls. Let’s say straight swap jr for Timmy, is that good return for us? And How do you determine that?