Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on some of the things that did not go as planned for the New York Knicks in the 2019-20 season:
The Knicks’ 22.1 assists per game was 27th in the NBA, a year after it finished dead last. The young point guards (Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina) either regressed or stagnated. It left the Knicks in the market for yet another point guard, whether in the draft or from free agency.
Although the Knicks got to the foul line a decent amount (23.5 times per game, 12th in the NBA), they shot a league-worst 69%. That dropped them to 24th in NBA in free throws made per game, and RJ Barrett’s 61% foul shooting was a major factor.
With 3-point shooting, the Knicks have fallen behind the trend for six years and last season was no different. No team made fewer 3s than the Knicks. No team converted fewer corner 3s. Only 27% of their total points arrived from 3-pointers, which would’ve been high 10 years ago but is now last in the NBA. They finished 29th in overall attempts, and 27th in 3-point percentage at 33.7.
The Knicks were an awful 3-point shooting team, and their unimaginative offense was as much a factor (especially under David Fizdale) as their personnel.
The best thing Knicks fans can do right now is focus on the future. Which of course will begin with the 2020 draft and free agency.
