The New York Knicks have talent on their roster. However, David Fizdale needs to find a way to properly use it on the court because it has yet to be seen. Fans have seen that the talent is there but the execution is not.
Their roster was something to get excited about this off-season. With 10 new players, there is a good balance between young and veteran players. But, each player likes to stick to what’s comfortable for them and shy away from the team aspect.
Here’s how the Knicks roster is constructed this season.
The Knicks don’t have an offensive scheme. It’s all isolation, despite what anyone says. The main culprits are Julius Randle, Marcus Morris and Allonzo Trier. These three players always try to take the game into their own hands and away from the team. Randle and Morris, especially, ruin the flow of the game, most of the time, trying to take their man one-on-one.
Randle tried to take Giannis Antetokounmpo one-on-one early in their last game and that didn’t go well. That bully isolation isn’t going to work, this isn’t pick up. Giannis came back taking Randle one-on-one and bullying him.
When it comes to playmakers, there’s a few. Frank Ntilikina is the one stand outs when it comes to that. He is always looking to make something happen on both sides of the floor. Ntilikina is sort of one as sometimes he goes missing on the floor. Elfrid Payton was one until he got hurt. He likes to push the pace in transition but there hasn’t been much since his injury. In time, RJ Barrett will be an even better playmaker as he remains aggressive and attacks the rim. He and Ntilikina are the lone bright spots in the first 21 games.
Some would say that Randle and Morris could be playmakers. But they try to do that too much and hurt the team more as compared to helping them.
The one thing the New York Knicks do have is a rim protector in Mitchell Robinson. The only thing is he needs to stay out of foul trouble. When Robinson can be consistent, he’ll be a problem. Taj Gibson had a good stretch at setting the defensive tempo since being inserted into the starting lineup but he’s older and not as quick as he was.
Finally, the Knicks don’t have a go-to shooter. Daymean Dotson and Kevin Know try to be shooters but you can’t rely on them. Both are inconsistent, especially Knox, and Dotson needs more minutes. Again, Randle and Morris try to be shooter but they do too much and turn into gunners when they think ‘they’re feeling it’.
The main thing is that there’s too much isolation. The Knicks aren’t that good of a team to continuously try one-on-ones. There needs to be more pick-n-rolls and ball movement because it has worked when they utilized it this season. It all comes down to being consistent and finding their rhythm, which has yet to be found.