The New York Knicks eclipsed the quarter mark of the 2020-21 NBA season. So the guys at KnicksFanTV decided to review what they’ve seen!
Here at KnicksFanTV, we thought it would be fun to complete a nine-question survey that addresses many of the major questions regarding the Knicks’ performance through 18 games. Enjoy!
What has been the biggest surprise of the Knicks’ season so far in your opinion?
Remi: The evolution of Julius Randle runs away with this one. Even his gaudy numbers don’t do justice to how much he’s given to this team. He looks like a true leader out there, a 180 from last season.
Alex: Immanuel Quickley has to be the biggest surprise. For the 25th overall pick to make an impact on winning is a huge hit in the draft, and the fact that he can play point guard is a major plus. The Knicks have been missing a ball-handler who can initiate the offense, and Quickley does just that. He can create space on the floor with his lethal three-point shooting or create for his teammates by attacking the lane — his floater is the key reason for generating space for his teammates. I like what I have seen from Quickley so far, and I am excited to see what he looks like midway through the season.
Dave: Coach Tom Thibodeau’s impact on defense and on Julius Randle. So far Randle is playing like an all-star and the Knicks’ defense is their strong suit. I can’t help but attribute that to Tom Thibodeau and his history with establishing a defensive identity and helping players develop.
Steven: The biggest surprise to me thus far is the exceptionally strong play of Julius Randle. Just one season ago, this man was being chased out of town by Knicks fans at all levels – whether they were casuals, diehards, pundits… you name it. We were convinced Julius was not capable of thriving with a star role/workload; in his second full Knicks season, he is truly proving us all wrong. I was leaning towards citing the Knicks’ 8-10 record through 18 games as the biggest surprise (given we were 4-14 through 18 games last year), but I’m always a bit overly-confident in our team’s ability to hover around .500!
Edgar: The biggest surprise of the Knicks season so far has been IQ and how quickly the team has seemed to find its identity under coach Thibodeau.
Mike: The biggest surprise to this point in my eyes has been the overall level of play the Knicks have maintained thus far. Despite injuries and an obvious lack of talent on offense, Thibs has the squad playing defense and competing for 48 minutes. Miraculously, the Knicks find themselves a respectable 8-10 despite these factors which is rather impressive. This start included several wins over legitimate playoff teams that many fans and experts would have penciled down as losses heading into the season. All that being said, the New York Knicks finally appear to have a real head coach and identity.
What has been the biggest disappointment of the Knicks’ season so far in your opinion?
Remi: With so much going well, it’s hard for me to pick on anything. I’ll go with the garden being empty for the hardest working team we’ve had in years. I understand why that’s necessary, but the timing is painful.
Alex: Dennis Smith Jr. has to be the biggest disappointment for the Knicks. He was part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, and you expect to receive a serviceable player when you ship off high talent. What is more disappointing is that Smith showed promise his first season on the Knicks, but somehow, he has regressed and doesn’t even look like he should be on an NBA court. I think it’s best for him to get a fresh start on another team like Markelle Fultz did because he clearly isn’t going to have a career here in New York (unless there is a major surprise from him later in the season).
Dave: The lack of consistent three-point shooting has been my biggest disappointment so far. The Knicks’ two biggest needs thus far are a playmaking point guard and consistent three-point shooting. I wouldn’t be surprised if a move is made by the deadline to address one of these concerns.
Steven: The biggest disappointment has to be Tom Thibodeau’s fascination with keeping Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock in the starting lineup. While those guys both fill solid roles, the starting unit is prone to slow offensive starts that tend to put us in deficits early. Meanwhile, with each passing game, Immanuel Quickley is proving to us that he deserves more – on Sunday, he was automatic as he dropped a career-high 31 points off of the bench. With Payton and Bullock getting starting nods instead of guys like Quickley and Kevin Knox, the second unit looks really young and inexperienced at times as well.
Edgar: The biggest disappointment of the season so far has been Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina with his bad luck for picking up nagging injuries.
Mike: My biggest disappointment so far has been Thibs’ lack of adaptation regarding the weaknesses of this team as constructed. While Thibs has done an excellent job in most areas, it’s frustrating to watch fixable issues such as more coherent rotations or better floor spacing as the Knicks continuously struggle to score. From a fan’s perspective, it seems fairly obvious which players compliment one another best, however Thibs has been steadfast in his beliefs. For example, playing rotations with a sufficient amount of respectable shooters eliminates the issues with zone defenses that the Knicks have encountered.
What has been your favorite lineup combination so far this season? Why?
Remi: IQ, Barrett, Knox, Obi and Mitch is the combination I need in my life. The youngest players and most recent draft picks fit together even if the defense might get a little choppy.
Alex: My favorite lineup is Immanuel Quickley, Austin Rivers, RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, & Nerlens Noel. I like this lineup because of the floor spacing and the quickness of this lineup. This is definitely the best lineup for RJ to utilize his strength and slashing ability because three shooters are on the court (IQ, Rivers, & Knox). I also enjoy the pace that this squad plays with. I prefer Mitchell Robinson in this lineup instead of Noel, but this unit has played well based on what we expected from the Knicks this season.
Dave: IQ, RJ, Knox, Randle, Mitch is my favorite combination so far. I’d like to see Obi Toppin find his way into the starting lineup, but i’m not sure it happens anytime soon with Randle playing like an all-star. Quickley looks like the best point guard on this team and Kevin Knox thrives when they’re on the floor together.
Steven: Boy, the “Quivers” (Immanuel Quickley x Austin Rivers) era really came and went, huh? Nevertheless, I do enjoy lineups with “Quivers” because having two guards out there who can shoot is vital. Really, any configuration that involves plus shooting is one that I prefer – especially if RJ is out there with those shooters and benefits from improved spacing. My favorite lineup combination so far comes in the moments where RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Mitchell Robinson get to share the floor. If Randle and/or Knox are out there with them, even better in my book!
Edgar: My favorite lineup combination so far has been IQ at point guard, Alec Burks at the two, RJ at the three, Julius at the four, and Mitch at the five. Also in instances the starting lineup as well with Bullock, despite frustrating play from Payton at times.
Mike: My favorite lineup combination is one that we have only seen briefly that includes Quickley, Burks, Barrett, Randle, and Robinson. This lineup provides the best combination of scoring talent with the subsequent floor spacing that is needed for Randle and Barrett to operate. Defensively, this lineup is active on the perimeter with Mitch anchoring the paint. Hopefully, this lineup Thibs previewed for a short stretch against Portland can become the starting five in the near future.
What has been the most encouraging sign from the Knicks so far this season in your opinion?
Remi: Immanuel Quickley going from a consensus reach to a steal at 25. He’s an easy endorsement that this team can find talented players, take risks to get them and knows how to develop them all at once.
Alex: The Knicks continuing to fight no matter the circumstances. Whether it’s being down and pulling off a come-from-behind victory, competing until the end of the whistle even though they are about to lose the game, or bouncing back after a losing streak. The Knicks have shown that they have grit, and that’s commendable. For example, after going 5-3 to start the season and then going on a five-game losing streak, the Knicks of old would’ve folded. Yet, they kept their heads high and continued to fight and went on a three-game winning streak (even though it would end in a loss to the Sacramento Kings).
Dave: How the current roster has 100% bought into Thibs’ defensive culture and identity is one of the most encouraging signs of the season, in my opinion. It gives fans hope that the culture of the organization is actually changing for the better. We knew Leon Rose and the coaching staff was seeing eye-to-eye, but to have the players committed to their coach so early in the season is a positive sign for the future.
Steven: Their 8-10 record through 18 games is definitely the most encouraging sign from this club, given the gloomy initial projections for this team. Tom Thibodeau has shown us that he and the guys will fight tooth-and-nail to claw back into games, which means the team is never fully out of the equation like they quite often found themselves last season under David Fizdale. Keeping games close and maintaining strong effort throughout contests has translated to winning more games than expected. That’s why the Knicks currently hold a playoff spot.
Edgar: The most encouraging aspect so far has been our defensive mentality, the grit to mostly not give up even when we might be outmatched in talent, and how well this team seems to bond with each other.
Mike: The most encouraging sign through 18 games has been the overall theme of development. Despite a cold stretch earlier in the season, RJ Barrett has taken major strides towards becoming a legitimate NBA scorer and has flashed all-star potential. Mitchell Robinson has become the anchor and arguably most vital part of a top-10 NBA defense while finally appearing to learn how to avoid foul trouble. Kevin Knox, though he has struggled of late, has been a marksman for the Knicks so far this season shooting over 40% from three. Even the breakout of Julius Randle can be credited as development due to the guidance of Thibs and Kenny Payne. Hopefully, this overall trend continues throughout the season.
What is your biggest concern regarding the Knicks at this point in the season?
Remi: The heavy reliance on a handful of players. The entire starting unit is playing extended minutes right now. I don’t think that can last with the lack of rest days this year. I’m not sure how this team would look if Randle or Mitch miss extended time.
Alex: The biggest concern is the lack of consistent scoring outside of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. It takes more than two guys who are not superstars (yet?) to win games. Currently, Randle leads the Knicks by averaging 22.6 points, with Barrett right behind him average a solid 18 points. The next player behind those two is Alec Burks, who is averaging 16 points — but he hasn’t played the same amount of games because he was out due to an ankle sprain for multiple weeks. We don’t know if the Knicks will make the playoffs, but as of right now it seems like they’re on that track. If they are playoff-bound, they need to add shooters to even think of competing.
Dave: This team still desperately needs a floor general at the starting point guard position. The Knicks have had a mediocre point guard by committee situation going on for years now. If they aren’t careful, the lack of a starting caliber point guard will continue to impact young players like Mitch, Obi and Knox who need to be set up to be successful.
Steven: My biggest concern hands-down would have to be the lack of consistent shooting options on this roster. Aside from Quickley, Alec Burks is arguably the only guy who you can really count on to hit his threes on any given night. Rivers has proven to be mercurial – he can either be really hot or somewhat useless out there. “Corner Boy Kev” (Kevin Knox II) has shown us that he can get loose as well, but he’s prone to uselessness as well. Let’s face it: pretty much every game ends with the Knicks attempting and making far fewer threes than their opponent, which isn’t a great recipe for success in the current NBA.
Edgar: My biggest concern is the lack of true shooting and point guard play. Although maybe that could change in ways if Thibs starts Quickley and if he continues to play well like we’ve seen him do so far.
Mike: My biggest concern to this point has been the overall lack of offensive consistency the Knicks have displayed through 18 games. Aside from the 40+ points combined from RJ and Julius each night, the Knicks struggle to find consistent scoring elsewhere. Burks returning from injury will definitely address this issue to a certain extent as will an increase in Quickley’s minutes. However, the Knicks desperately need more consistency from Bullock, Rivers and Knox from the outside for this offense to have a chance.
Who is one trade candidate that you would like the Knicks to pursue by the trade deadline based on the team’s start to the season? Why?
Remi: Zach Lavine has familiarity with Thibs and fits a lot of New York’s needs. He’s also a much cheaper alternative to Bradley Beal, the other player I’d be kicking the tires on.
Alex: Zach LaVine and Buddy Hield are the two realistic players I’d like the Knicks to pursue because they’d add to shooting to this team that is so desperately needed. Now, the caveat is that I wouldn’t trade for LaVine unless the price were right, and I knew that he wanted to be a Knick for many years to come since LaVine is on the last year of his contract and the Bulls don’t have that much leverage. I didn’t mention Victor Oladipo, but I’d be happy for the Knicks to trade for him as well if the price is right because he is on the last year of his deal — same reasoning as I mentioned for LaVine. But I am a little wary of players who are looking to get their music careers going. Oladipo doesn’t give me the vibe that he is hyper-focused on winning. Oladipo seems like he has other interests on his mind.
Dave: Lonzo Ball. The Knicks desperately need a floor general, he has better court vision than anyone on our team and the price for him shouldn’t be high. Since Knicks fans are understandably concerned about giving up too much of our future in any trades, acquiring Ball could be low-risk high-reward.
Steven: I feel like Lonzo Ball is one of the easier answers here, given his underwhelming play thus far in 2020-21 and his general contract situation. The New Orleans Pelicans are also overloaded at the guard positions, with guys like Eric Bledsoe, Lonzo Ball, Kira Lewis Jr., Nickeil Alexander-Walker, JJ Redick, and others all fighting for minutes at the 1 and 2 positions. Sure, Ball has his issues, but he’s a far better floor spacer and zone-buster than Payton and offers greater size, better defense, and higher upside. Other guys I’d look at include Zach LaVine (if he’s still in the “disgruntled” tier) and Mike Conley (we know there was already some smoke here). Furthermore, I’d at least want to explore the situations with John Collins (ATL failed to extend him and he looks lost in their offense) and Lauri Markkanen (who also failed to reach an extension) despite our forward depth. It never hurts to ask!
Edgar: I would like the Knicks to purse Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine and possibly Lonzo Ball.
Mike: George Hill. I know it isn’t a flashy answer, however, it could definitely address some of the Knicks’ issues offensively. Hill is a knockdown three-point shooter who has displayed the versatility to play both on and off the ball throughout his career. This would allow RJ to get more touches which could be great for the current offense, but also for the future of the organization as a whole. Clearly, Thibs places more trust in his veterans so bringing in a veteran point guard who doesn’t cripple the offensive spacing could be a nice upgrade. Obviously with Hill already being 34 years of age, a package to get him should not include any future firsts or young players. With that being said, if New York could snag him for a future second-rounder, I think this move is a no-brainer.
Who is the Knicks’ most important building block moving forward based on their start to the season?
Remi: RJ Barrett is playing a ton of minutes with production to match. I know the jumper and efficiency are concerns, but he’s 20 years old with an alpha mentality and work ethic to boot.
Alex: I’d have to go RJ Barrett because he is a wing and the third overall pick in a draft. I mention wing because having a dynamic wing changes the entire game for a team to compete. Just look at how Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakim, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant change the game. And I mention the third overall pick because being a high draft pick brings many expectations, unfortunately. As the third overall pick, he has to contribute to winning, which he is currently doing. And since he is contributing to winning at such a young stage in his career, he should be considered a foundational piece.
Dave: RJ Barrett. He’s proven that he has the ability to lead the Knicks in scoring and rebounding at the shooting guard position at only 20-years-old. Once he finds his groove offensively and polishes his mid-range game I really think he can be one of the league’s elite young talents.
Steven: RJ Barrett, hands down. The kid is a tender 20 years of age, and when he’s on, he’s already out there looking like a young Wade-Butler hybrid. His high rebounding rate for a guard is extremely impressive, his ability to draw foul calls is borderline elite, and there are few things sweeter than watching him rack up dimes to Mitch and others when he’s in facilitator mode. I’d go as far as to say Immanuel Quickley is gaining steam in the race to be the second most important building block. But as of now, that belongs firmly to Mitchell Robinson – who has taken several steps forward (especially on the defensive end) in Year 3.
Edgar: The most important building blocks on this Knicks team are Julius Randle (yes I believe he is), Immanuel Quickley and RJ. The reason why I mention the three of them is due to the fact that these three players have more times than not shown some type of consistency this season with their overall play and how they can improve or have improved.
Mike: Two names come to mind. One is more obvious (RJ) and the other could definitely spur some debate (Julius). However, after the tear he’s been on the last couple of weeks my choice is RJ Barrett. Offensively, RJ can get to the rim at will and has shown more versatility by adding the combination of floaters and pull-up jumpers from the mid-range to his game. Of late, Barrett has been making excellent reads as a playmaker as well as showing flashes of what he can do with increased usage. Defensively, RJ has been a plus all year allowing him to impact the game even when his offense struggles. At 20 years old, RJ is already a very good NBA player and will only continue to improve.
What is your ideal rotation for the New York Knicks moving forward? Why?
Remi: First unit: IQ/Burks/Barrett/Randle/Mitch Second unit: Frank/Bullock/Knox/Obi/Noel It’s a youth heavy rotation with a fair mix of veterans and much better spacing than we currently have. I really want to see what Ntilikina can add to this already strong defense.
Alex: My ideal starting rotation is Quickley, Burks, Barrett, Randle, and Robinson. I like that lineup because there is decent floor spacing for Barrett, Randle, and Robinson. This would definitely be our most effective lineup scoring-wise (I know Burks hasn’t looked great recently, but he is coming back from injury and needs time). My second unit would consist of Rivers, Ntilikina, Knox, Toppin, and Noel.
Dave: Starters: IQ, RJ, Knox, Randle, Mitch Bench: Payton, Bullock, Burks, Toppin, Noel. Coming into the season I would’ve had Obi slotted in the starting spot in Randle’s place, but it’s pretty clear that you can’t bench Randle at this point. Coach Thibs has already called Randle the “engine” of the team, and you don’t bench your engine. I wouldn’t mind seeing Obi fight his way into the starting lineup somehow, but for now Randle needs to start.
Steven: My dream starting lineup for the New York Knicks is: PG – Immanuel Quickley, SG – RJ Barrett, SF – Kevin Knox, PF – Julius Randle, C – Mitchell Robinson. My dream second unit would be PG – Elfrid Payton, SG – Alec Burks (sixth man), SF – Reggie Bullock, PF – Obi Toppin, C – Nerlens Noel. Fringe rotation guys who I’d want to play nightly: 1 – Austin Rivers (keep him in if he has the hot hand) 2 – Taj Gibson. The Knicks are prone to slow starts, and that issue can be compounded by the second unit being so inexperienced. By moving Quickley and Knox into the starting five, the offense gets a lift early on in the game. Not to mention, putting faith in the ever-volatile Kevin Knox II has proven to pay off in the past, and we’re starting to approach the do-or-die time for Kev’s Knicks tenure. With both Payton and Bullock joining the second unit, their veteran presences help stabilize the second unit. Best of all, neither the first nor second unit would be susceptible to zone defenses given the number of shooters present at all times in both of those configurations.
Edgar: My ideal rotation for the Knicks would be the same one that they have now, except for maybe 3 changes. Put Immanuel Quickley in the starting point guard spot, have Elfrid Payton be the back up and possibly find a way to incorporate Ntilikina into the fold.
Mike: My favorite lineup combination also happens to be my ideal rotation moving forward for the New York Knicks. This lineup includes Quickley, Burks, Barrett, Randle, and Robinson to create a strong balance between offense and defense that the Knicks desperately need. With this unit as the starting lineup, I doubt the Knicks would continue struggling to reach the 90 point mark. Coming off the bench, I would love to see a unit of Frank, Rivers, Bullock, Knox, and Obi. This lineup would bring excellent spacing which would allow Obi to play a similar style that he did at Dayton while also displaying strong perimeter defense as a unit.
Can the Knicks sustain their level of play throughout the season? Why or Why Not?
Remi: As I type this, the Knicks are sitting in the eighth seed just 1 game under .500. I think they can hold that pace as long as health permits. The top defense might be unsustainable but the effort level that’s gotten them to this point hasn’t shown any signs of waning.
Alex: The Knicks should be able to sustain this level of play because Thibodeau is not going to allow less than what he is getting. This team also has the identity of a team that won’t stop fighting until the bell rings. They will need to add shooting and have all their players healthy to make a difference, which we have yet to see. But I’m optimistic that if everyone is healthy, they should maintain this level of success.
Dave: Yes because their defense is legit. As the season progresses, though, I think the players could lose energy defensively and start losing more games. Unless the offense finds a groove, it will be difficult to hold teams to less than 105 ppg all season and beat good teams consistently. We need to make a move for either a point guard or an elite three point shooter.
Steven: Yes, I believe they can. Currently sitting at 8-10 – with MVP-like play from Julius Randle and growth from RJ, Mitch, and others – the team can continue to surpass expectations and maybe even vie for a playoff (or play-in) spot. They currently sit 8th in the East, but teams like the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, and the Charolette Hornets figure to be in the mix as the season rolls on. Still, with so many young players growing on a game by game basis (i.e.: Quickley, Toppin, Knox, Mitch, RJ, etc.), I think we haven’t seen the full upside of this team through the first 18 games and it’s possible they can even reach another gear – especially with healthy vets. Also, given Tom Thibodeau’s push for “win-now” moves ahead of the season, I’m sure the Knicks haven’t ruled out the notion of exploring that avenue to improve the team in the coming weeks. With or without a trade for outside help, I think the Knicks can definitely sustain their play.
Edgar: I think if the Knicks continue to show grit and tenacity on the defensive end which seems to be the team’s identity, they could absolutely sustain their level of play. The offense could still be a struggle but making the game ugly for the opposition by playing tough-nosed defense is the continued way to go.
Mike: Yes, the Knicks can sustain this level of play throughout the season for several reasons. First, they are still presumably getting comfortable with Thibs’ new scheme which should provide more consistent results over time. Secondly, injuries have prevented Thibs’ from having a full arsenal to deploy so getting back to full strength would allow more opportunity to mix and match to better execute his game plan. Finally, rotation adjustments should be on the horizon which would allow Thibs to better optimize this roster on both sides of the court. Not to mention the continued growth of players like IQ, RJ, Kev, Mitch, and Obi that could bring the Knicks success.
The Knicks find themselves in uncharted territories a quarter way through this unique NBA season. If the season were to end today, the Knicks would find themselves as the 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Will this sample size of solid performances continue or will the Knicks fade as the season continues? Regardless, the difference between these Knicks and last year’s rendition are night and day. We at KnicksFanTV look forward to covering whatever else this season has in store for our Knickerbockers. Stay safe and go Knicks!
