The New York Knicks completed the 2019-20 NBA Preaseason with a 117-116 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Allonzo Trier almost singlehandedly won that game after scoring 17-points in 24-minutes. Trier missed a couple potential game winning three-pointers late in the fourth quarter. However, Allonzo Trier is a deadly offensive weapon and the Pelicans really didn’t seem to have an answer for him during the preseason finale.
Allonzo Trier’s natural scoring ability might catapult him into a closer for the New York Knicks. It will be difficult for Fizdale to take Iso Zo off the basketball court due to the problems he gives opposing defenders especially in isolation situations. RJ Barrett and Allonzo Trier playing together seemed like it could potentially become prosperous. Don’t rule out a starting position for the former Arizona Wildcat.
SNY’s NBA Insider Ian Begley states,
Allonzo Trier is under consideration for a spot in the Knicks’ starting five, per SNY sources. Members of the organization liked how Barrett and Trier looked together during preseason and training camp, per league sources.
It’s unclear if Trier starting would knock one of the potential starting point guards —Dennis Smith Jr., Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina — out of the starting lineup. Fizdale could put Barrett at small forward and Trier at shooting guard while starting one of Smith Jr., Payton or Ntilikina. Or he could put both Trier and Barrett in the backcourt together
RJ Barrett and Allonzo Trier seemed to compliment each other better than most expected and members of the Knicks organization are noticing it firsthand during practice scrimmages and actual games.
There’s no denying that Allonzo Trier has the “It Factor”. The ruthless scorer doing what he does best at the end of games may take the pressure off other teammates and add more wins to the win column for the New York Knicks.