Category: New York Knicks Blog

Knicks blog – New York Knicks blog

Mitchell Robinson back to bench for Knicks

The Knicks season thus far has focused on rookie development, and one of the key guys to watch is center Mitchell Robinson. Here’s the New York Post with the latest on him:

Mitchell Robinson had his taste of starting and is fine with Knicks coach David Fizdale’s decision to bring him off the bench. The company line was to keep the 20-year-old project out of severe foul trouble.

In the Knicks’ stunning 117-109 win at Boston on Wednesday, Robinson played just 16 minutes but registered six blocks and was 4 for 4 from the field. It was his second straight game coming off the bench for newly promoted center Enes Kanter.

“As you seen, I didn’t get into foul trouble until late in the game,’’ Robinson said. “If I started, I would’ve gotten in trouble and would’ve sat almost the whole game. My teammates need me to come in and challenge shots.’’

For the season, Robinson is averaging 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and a very impressive 2.0 blocks in 18.1 minutes per game.

The Knicks play host to the Pelicans tonight.

Pregame: Trail Blazers vs Knicks game notes

Trail Blazers (11-5) vs Knicks (4-13)
Madison Square Garden, New York
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
7:30 p.m. ET

KNICKS NOTES

If the New York Knicks win vs POR then, they will improve their overall record versus ORL to 48-64.

If New York wins tonight vs. POR, then New York will snap a three-game losing streak vs. POR. The last time New York defeated Portland was Nov 22, 2016; 107-103.

If Noah Vonleh posts a double-double vs. ORL, then he will set a new career best for double-doubles in a season with five (previous four in 16-17).

New York recorded 15 team blocks on 11/11/18 vs. ORL.

– The 15 blocks tied a franchise record for blocks in a game (at WAS, 1/28/88)

– The 15 blocks set a blocks record at the present MSG (previous 14 blocks vs. PHL 4/4/15)

– Mitchell Robinson recorded nine blocks. The nine blocks set a new Knick rookie record (previously seven blocks by Kristaps Porzingis 2x and Lonnie Shelton)

Mitchell Robinson is T-fourth in the NBA in blocks per game in the month of November at 2.44.

BLAZERS NOTES

The Trail Blazers average the second-most defensive rebounds in the NBA (39.9) while the Knicks average the third-most offensive rebounds in the league (12.6).

Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 40 points (12-29 FG, 3-10 3-PT, 13-15 FT) against the Wizards on Nov. 18. It was the third 40-point game of the season for Lillard, which is the most in the NBA. Lillard has 19 career games with 40-plus points, which is the most in franchise history (Drexler, 17). Lillard is averaging 26.6 points per game, which is the seventh-most in the NBA (Walker, 29.6).

With 13 points and 14 rebounds at Washington on Nov. 18, Jusuf Nurkic recorded his fourth straight double-double (tied for longest streak in his career) and his 10th straight game scoring in double fi gures (second-longest streak of his career). In his last four games, Nurkic has averaged 16.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.50 blocks.

CJ McCollum was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11. His week was highlighted by 40 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals against the Bucks on Nov. 6 and 23 points and seven rebounds against the Clippers on Nov. 8. Portland went 3-0 on the week, with all three wins coming against teams with winning records. It is the first time McCollum has received the award.

The Trail Blazers lead the league in free-throw percentage (85.4%), are fi fth in free throws per game (20.4) and are 14th in free throws attempted per game (23.9).

Enes Kanter plays just 15 minutes in latest Knicks loss

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Enes Kanter (@eneskanter11) on

Every player wants to step up during a contract year (a year when they will or at least might be a free agent after the season). But it’s hard to do that while receiving limited minutes. Such is the situation for many veterans on rebuilding teams that are more focused on the development of rookies and other young players than they are about the immediate dividends that may come from giving veterans more minutes.

Speaking of which, here’s New York Newsday discussing the Knicks and veteran center Enes Kanter, who received 26 minutes of court time three games ago, 22 minutes two games ago, and just 15 minutes on Friday:

When Knicks coach David Fizdale put all three of his rookies in the starting lineup Friday he made a statement. And then a stronger one when, with the game on the line, he inserted all three with the game on the line, admitting he wanted to test the trio under fire.

But the bigger test might be how Fizdale can manage the veterans on the roster. Enes Kanter, left on the bench as the New Orleans Pelicans dominated the Knicks’ young frontcourt that night to turn the game, left the locker room quickly with no comment night, then went, as he often does to social media. He tweeted out just a line of periods and asked about it Sunday morning, he didn’t reveal the meaning but said with a smile, “It’s only going to grow bigger.”

Kanter may be the most pressing case, a player who has established himself as much of a star as there is on this lottery-bound development project. He is a free agent at season’s end after opting in to the final season of his contract over the summer, and while his minutes and numbers have for the most part remained steady, he was pulled from the starting lineup after five games in favor of Mitchell Robinson. And on nights like Friday when he played just 15 minutes, there was clear frustration.

It would not be surprising to see Kanter receive more minutes again, but the reality is his future may very well be elsewhere so unless they market him in order to trade him, the team’s focus may likely remain on their youth.

Knicks starting a flock of rookies

The Knicks have a solid, fun flock of rookies who aren’t big-time NBA players yet but have talent and have been enjoyable to watch this season. Here’s the latest update on several of them, and the starting lineup, from the New York Post:

The Knicks’ rookie power trio will start together for the first time this season.

David Fizdale has made one more starting lineup tweak, adding undrafted rookie guard Allonzo Trier in a small-ball shuffle that sends power forward Noah Vonleh to the bench and 2018 lottery pick Kevin Knox from small to power forward.

Amid a lousy start record-wise at 4-11, the lone upside is Fizdale buying in completely to a youth movement and showcasing the three promising rookies.

Center Mitchell Robinson has started over Enes Kanter since the season’s sixth game and will make his New Orleans homecoming Friday vs. the Pelicans.

Each rookie has shown flashes. They may not be winning much so far this first month of NBA action but they’re providing entertainment and the potential for legitimate growth as pros.

Knicks rookie Mitchell Robinson blocks 9 shots in one game

The Knicks are rebuilding, awaiting eventual return of Kristaps Porzingis, and mostly relying on very young players to compete. There will be some wins, but plenty of losses, and hopefully positive signs from their youth along the way. And although the Magic won a decisive victory against the Knicks yesterday, center Mitchell Robinson put on a block party. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Knicks rookie center Mitchell Robinson was drafted 30 slots behind Orlando’s rookie Mo Bamba, but only one of them made the history books Sunday at the Garden.

Robinson set a new Knicks rookie record for blocks with nine as the lone home-team standout in Sunday’s 115-89 shellacking by Orlando. Robinson, who had a handful of rejections at the perimeter, broke the record shared previously by Kristaps Porzingis and Lonnie Shelton, who both had seven.

“I can thank coach,” Robinson said of David Fizdale. “He puts me in position to get those blocks. He was like drop back, don’t worry about my guy. If you see him going full speed at the rim just go get him and meet him at the rim.”

Robinson was one off the Knicks franchise record for blocks — which he said he believes he will break one day.

— Full Article

Knicks reveal City Edition uniform design

The New York Knicks today unveiled their City Edition alternate jersey, which features the New York City Skyline as the central design element and a symbol of the diverse cultures united across New York City.

The Knicks will debut these uniforms on Sunday, November 11 when the team takes on the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden and will continue to wear the jerseys at various theme nights throughout the 2018-19 season.

According to the team, “the City Edition design was inspired by what it means to be a New Yorker and utilizes one of the City’s most iconic and defining attributes – its skyline—as a representation of the many cultures that make up New York and their shared ambitions and dreams. To unveil the uniforms to the team, six Junior Knicks members were invited to the Knicks practice facility where they read letters describing how the Knicks inspire them as New Yorkers.”

Knicks rookie Kevin Knox returns to action

Knicks rookie Kevin Knox returns to action

We’re in MSG at the Bulls at Knicks game right now and will post a recap after the game, plus a player interview tomorrow or the next day, but right now here are some words from the New York Post on Knicks rookie guard Kevin Knox, who had been injured but became available to play today and entered this game in the second quarter, even throwing down a nice-looking dunk:

Knicks lottery pick Kevin Knox is back.

David Fizdale wasn’t going to dispute the doctors and allowed the rookie to play Monday versus the Bulls, despite not going through a five-on-five scrimmage before his return from an ankle sprain.

The doctors cleared him after missing seven games, and Fizdale was not going to stand in the way of the ninth pick in June’s draft.

The Knicks had been targeting Monday’s game for his return. However, Fizdale decided not to have a full-scale practice on Saturday and Knox participated in just a three-on-three contact scrimmage.

— Full Article

Bulls vs Knicks pregame thoughts

Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks
Madison Square Garden
7:30 p.m. ET

PREGAME INFO

Entering the game, the Knicks have a 3-7 record (2-3 at home), while the Bulls are 2-8 (1-3 on the road)

Leading scorers for the Knicks: Tim Hardaway Jr. at 23.3 ppg, Enes Kanter 14.5 ppg, Damyean Dotson 12.6 ppg and Allonzo Trier 10.6 ppg.

Leading scorers for the Bulls: Zach LaVine at 26.6 ppg, Jabari Parker 14.3 ppg, Justin Holiday 12.1 ppg and Antonio Blakeney 11.4 ppg.

NOTES

The Bulls have had a tough time at Madison Square Garden of late: Chicago is 3-7 over its last 10 games in New York City, including losses in five of the last six road matchups with the Knicks.

Zach LaVine scored 21 points vs. Houston on Saturday. It was his 11th game in a row to score at least 20 (3/15-11/3/18), which is a career-long streak. The last Bulls player to post a double-digit streak of 20-point scoring was Jimmy Butler with 15 such games from Nov. 7 to Dec. 6, 2016.

Justin Holiday has made at least three 3-pointers in each of the last five games, which is a career-long streak. Over that span, he has shot .465 from long distance (20-of-43).

Wendell Carter Jr. blocked a career-high four shots vs. the Rockets on Saturday. His 1.90 blocks per game leads all rookies. He has recorded at least one block in nine of 10 games this season.

PREGAME THOUGHTS

This is a golden opportunity for the Knicks, who are still playing without Kristaps Porzingis, to put together a good game and impress the home crowd. Both the Knicks and Bulls have extremely young rosters, but the while the Knicks are without their leading star, the Bulls have a host of injuries. The Knicks just yesterday lost to a struggling Wizards team. Teams are often tired on the second night of a back-to-back, but if the Knicks can grab a win today, they then face a beatable Hawks team Wednesday in Atlanta and gather up some momentum before heading to Toronto for a tough matchup against an excellent Raptors squad.

The latest on Knicks rookie Kevin Knox

Rookie Kevin Knox is one of the most intriguing young players on the Knicks this season. He will be even more intriguing when he’s health and actually playing basketball again. Which should be relatively soon, though an exact date remains unknown. Here’s the New York Post with an update:

Knox will sit out his fifth straight game Wednesday night against the Pacers, but will travel with the team on the road trip to Dallas and Washington. Knox is currently participating in shooting drills and doing non-contact court activity while increasing his movement on a daily basis.

Despite being sidelined since suffering the left-ankle injury on Oct. 20, Knox believes his learning curve hasn’t slowed, and said he has picked up new things from the bench.

“I really enjoy watching on the side because I can really see the game from a different perspective,” said Knox, who was speaking to the media for the first time since the injury occurred. “It’s really fun to watch on the side, they talk, the way they move the ball, defensively. These past few games I was on the bench watching it was pretty great. I got to talk to players on the bench, tell them what they can do better, more and more leadership I can bring to the team.”

— Full Article

Enes Kanter now coming off bench for Knicks

It surprised no one that the Knicks starting lineup changed early in the season. It could happen again. There very well may be season-long changes as new head coach Dave Fizdale figures out what he’s working with on a team that is focused more on the future than the present. Here’s New York Newsday reporting on Knicks center Enes Kanter, who will now contribute scoring and rebounding as a reserve rather than a starter:

After sweating through the hard workout with Wallace loudly urging him on, the real lesson that Kanter seemed to take most to heart is how to avoid saying what’s really on your mind. Like Wallace, who made a game out of answering nearly any question with a refrain of, “Both teams played hard,” during his playing days, Kanter fell back time after time to, “I’m leading the second unit.”

The uncomfortable questions for Kanter and the equally uncomfortable answers he fidgeted through were regarding his role with the Knicks. An accomplished veteran, Kanter has found himself removed from the starting lineup for the time being as the Knicks have fallen to five straight losses and a 1-5 record.

With the season already steering toward the predictable outcome of a rebuilding year, Knicks first-year coach David Fizdale revamped the lineup before Friday’s meeting with the Golden State Warriors, pulling Kanter, Lance Thomas and Trey Burke from the lineup and replacing them with Mitchell Robinson, Damyean Dotson and Noah Vonleh.

“Yeah, he wants me to lead the second unit,” Kanter said, echoing the sentiment he relayed through pursed lips after the game.

— Full article