The New York Knicks have began the season in the worst possible way, sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference with a horrible record of 4-20. The Knicks have lost one more game than the 76ers (but in the Knicks defence, they've played an extra three games). The Knicks have obviously not been playing well as a team, with a new Head Coach in Derek Fisher, it seems that the players are not all on the same page with how Fisher wants them to play. One huge reason for this is the implementation of the offensive triangle that the Knicks have tried to use this season. It's obviously been confusing for players such as JR Smith and Tim Hardaway, who are the type of players that like to run off screens and shoot in transition. Passing has always been a weakness for the Knicks, and with this offensive triangle which encourages passing around the perimeter, it was never going to be a good fit for the Knicks.
The picture aboves shows your basic offensive triangle, showing the spacing of each player and the movements.
Their's more problems than just the use of the offensive triangle for the Knicks, they have issues with their lineups they use in games, the players themselves need to be changed, perhaps through trades or going through free agency. To begin with I'll discuss the lineups of the Knicks; what players could be used more or less.
LINEUPS/TRADES:
The first dilemma that begins with the Knicks lineup is their use of three guards in the rotation, with all being players who are comfortable to start in games. The Knicks have used Iman Shumpert in all games that he's played (23), and they've used JR Smith in 21 games but have only started him in four games, and then their's Tim Hardaway Jr who's played in 24 games and has also started in four games. The Knicks need to decide on two out of the three players who they want to use in the rotations, in my opinion, the Knicks need to definitely keep ahold of Iman Shumpert, the 6'5 defensive wing is the player thats needed to defend against players such as James Harden and Kobe Bryant. Shumpert is young and is developing each year that he plays. Its vital that the Knicks realise that they need Shumpert and keep ahold of him into the future.
That leaves JR Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr, who both play identical games, meaning that they have a high tendency to shoot a lot more than what they pass. Both can play great games and go for 30 points, but both can also go for five points on 2-15 shooting. So far this season, HC Derek Fisher has leaned more to veteran JR Smith, where he has averaged 25.1 minutes a game, compared to Hardaway Jr who has averaged 17.9 minutes a game. To compare the players, we will look at their current game averages to see how they have been playing in the time they've been given.
JR Smith #8 Shooting Guard
25.1 MPG, 10.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 41% FG, 32.4% 3PT, 11.7 PER
Tim Hardaway Jr #5 Shooting Guard
17.9 MPG, 9.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 41.4% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 14.3 PER
We can see that JR Smith has higher averages in scoring, rebounds and assists, but this may be due to the fact he almosts plays eight more minutes a game. Both players have nearly the exact same field goal percentage and both are shooting similar percentages from three point range.
The Knicks need to decide on who they want to use soon as its becoming a cancer to the New York Knicks. In my opinion, for the time being, they must find a trade partner for JR Smith to begin with, trading Smith and his two year, 12.3 million contract will free up a little bit of room financially for the Knicks. A trade partner for the Knicks could be Denver, JR Smith is a former Nuggets player who enjoyed a lot of success there. The Nuggets could use Smith's offensive punch. In return for Smith, the Knicks could ask for a player such as Timofey Mozgov or Kosta Koufas, rim protection is what the Knicks need, and with Dalembert as the Knicks ageing Center, they could really use a younger player at that position. Keeping ahold of Hardaway for the time being will benefit the Knicks as it'll give the player a boost in confidence that he is needed in the team. More game time means more responsibility for Hardaway, which may help him grow as a player and perhaps expand his game.
A second move in the rotation that could benefit the Knicks could be playing Stoudemire an extra five to six minutes a game, even start him in most games. Stoudemire has made it public that he is feeling healthy again and he is playing well so far this season. In 26.3 minutes per game, Stoudemire has been averaging 13.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1 block per game and impressively he has a PER of 20.55. Giving Stoudemire an extra five to six minutes may help him have more of an impact and benefit the Knicks. This means shifting Quincy Acy to the bench, but this won't impact the Knicks too much as Acy is more of a defense and hustle player, who can still have an impact even if he plays 15-20 minutes.
THE CARMELO SITUATION
It was a huge offseason for Carmelo Anthony, talking with teams such as the Lakers and Bulls as he was exploring the waters of free agency. It was tipped by many experts that Anthony was going to sign with the Chicago Bulls, but he ended up choosing to resign with the Knicks for a max contract worth 124 million. It is obviously apparent that the Knicks lack talent to compliment Carmelo Anthony. So does this mean that the Knicks should choose to move him? Or keep ahold of him and try to build around him?
Carmelo Anthony has a huge amount of value, with the Bulls being the team thats most interested, but its unlikely that they could afford him due to his large contract. Plus the fact that Carmelo has a no trade clause in his contract. The funny fact is that it's been said in the media that Carmelo would be willing to waive his no trade clause, if the right trade partner could be found.
Although their is simply rumours about Carmelo and the Knicks, something could be in the waters in the future.
FUTURE
It seems as though the Knicks have a scary future ahead of them, with their lack of young talent and ageing players, it seems as if the Knicks may turn into one of the worst teams for many more years to come. The Knicks need to start building up draft picks or begin trading for young players, or for expiring contracts to help the Knicks financially and perhaps to make a splash in free agency. Overall though, the Knicks need to begin with trading JR Smith and see what value he holds and what they can get for him. The 2014-15 NBA season will be a long one for the New York Knicks.
DAINA COULTER
Their's more problems than just the use of the offensive triangle for the Knicks, they have issues with their lineups they use in games, the players themselves need to be changed, perhaps through trades or going through free agency. To begin with I'll discuss the lineups of the Knicks; what players could be used more or less.
LINEUPS/TRADES:
The first dilemma that begins with the Knicks lineup is their use of three guards in the rotation, with all being players who are comfortable to start in games. The Knicks have used Iman Shumpert in all games that he's played (23), and they've used JR Smith in 21 games but have only started him in four games, and then their's Tim Hardaway Jr who's played in 24 games and has also started in four games. The Knicks need to decide on two out of the three players who they want to use in the rotations, in my opinion, the Knicks need to definitely keep ahold of Iman Shumpert, the 6'5 defensive wing is the player thats needed to defend against players such as James Harden and Kobe Bryant. Shumpert is young and is developing each year that he plays. Its vital that the Knicks realise that they need Shumpert and keep ahold of him into the future.
That leaves JR Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr, who both play identical games, meaning that they have a high tendency to shoot a lot more than what they pass. Both can play great games and go for 30 points, but both can also go for five points on 2-15 shooting. So far this season, HC Derek Fisher has leaned more to veteran JR Smith, where he has averaged 25.1 minutes a game, compared to Hardaway Jr who has averaged 17.9 minutes a game. To compare the players, we will look at their current game averages to see how they have been playing in the time they've been given.
JR Smith #8 Shooting Guard
25.1 MPG, 10.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 41% FG, 32.4% 3PT, 11.7 PER
Tim Hardaway Jr #5 Shooting Guard
17.9 MPG, 9.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 41.4% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 14.3 PER
We can see that JR Smith has higher averages in scoring, rebounds and assists, but this may be due to the fact he almosts plays eight more minutes a game. Both players have nearly the exact same field goal percentage and both are shooting similar percentages from three point range.
The Knicks need to decide on who they want to use soon as its becoming a cancer to the New York Knicks. In my opinion, for the time being, they must find a trade partner for JR Smith to begin with, trading Smith and his two year, 12.3 million contract will free up a little bit of room financially for the Knicks. A trade partner for the Knicks could be Denver, JR Smith is a former Nuggets player who enjoyed a lot of success there. The Nuggets could use Smith's offensive punch. In return for Smith, the Knicks could ask for a player such as Timofey Mozgov or Kosta Koufas, rim protection is what the Knicks need, and with Dalembert as the Knicks ageing Center, they could really use a younger player at that position. Keeping ahold of Hardaway for the time being will benefit the Knicks as it'll give the player a boost in confidence that he is needed in the team. More game time means more responsibility for Hardaway, which may help him grow as a player and perhaps expand his game.
A second move in the rotation that could benefit the Knicks could be playing Stoudemire an extra five to six minutes a game, even start him in most games. Stoudemire has made it public that he is feeling healthy again and he is playing well so far this season. In 26.3 minutes per game, Stoudemire has been averaging 13.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1 block per game and impressively he has a PER of 20.55. Giving Stoudemire an extra five to six minutes may help him have more of an impact and benefit the Knicks. This means shifting Quincy Acy to the bench, but this won't impact the Knicks too much as Acy is more of a defense and hustle player, who can still have an impact even if he plays 15-20 minutes.
THE CARMELO SITUATION
It was a huge offseason for Carmelo Anthony, talking with teams such as the Lakers and Bulls as he was exploring the waters of free agency. It was tipped by many experts that Anthony was going to sign with the Chicago Bulls, but he ended up choosing to resign with the Knicks for a max contract worth 124 million. It is obviously apparent that the Knicks lack talent to compliment Carmelo Anthony. So does this mean that the Knicks should choose to move him? Or keep ahold of him and try to build around him?
Carmelo Anthony has a huge amount of value, with the Bulls being the team thats most interested, but its unlikely that they could afford him due to his large contract. Plus the fact that Carmelo has a no trade clause in his contract. The funny fact is that it's been said in the media that Carmelo would be willing to waive his no trade clause, if the right trade partner could be found.
Although their is simply rumours about Carmelo and the Knicks, something could be in the waters in the future.
FUTURE
It seems as though the Knicks have a scary future ahead of them, with their lack of young talent and ageing players, it seems as if the Knicks may turn into one of the worst teams for many more years to come. The Knicks need to start building up draft picks or begin trading for young players, or for expiring contracts to help the Knicks financially and perhaps to make a splash in free agency. Overall though, the Knicks need to begin with trading JR Smith and see what value he holds and what they can get for him. The 2014-15 NBA season will be a long one for the New York Knicks.
DAINA COULTER