Knicks Fan TV is back with another Season Preview and this time CP the Fanchise is joined by Alan Hahn from MSG Network to preview the 2021-22 season!
Click the links below to catch the full show on all major podcast platforms.
Here’s a breakdown of the show:
Hahn reacts to Knicks offseason!
Hahn kicks it off discussing the Knicks’ added depth with their offseason signings. He thinks the Knicks are now one of the deepest teams in the league despite their lack of superstar talent. He’s excited to see the training camp scrimmages because he thinks the Knicks’ bench can compete alongside the starters. He even thinks the third unit of rookies and youngsters can hold their own against the other two units.
He likes the pickups from the offseason, bringing back last season’s core of Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Derrick Rose. Rose will share the point guard load with Kemba Walker, and the signing of Evan Fournier brings a player who can create for himself which takes the load off of Julius Randle.
Furthermore, Hahn admits that there are bound to be injuries throughout the season but he feels their depth will help counter these concerns. He thinks that retaining the core of guys that led the Knicks to the 4th seed in the East is worth it. Hahn likens the last few seasons for the Knicks as a revolving door of guys which didn’t allow them to build anything solid.
Hahn reacts to RJ ESPN top 100 list snub
Earlier this week ESPN released their top 100 players in the NBA list and Knicks fans were not happy that RJ Barrett was left off of the list. Hahn doesn’t understand the controversy over the snub as he doesn’t care about those types of lists. CP sees it differently, saying that all Knicks fans want is some respect for their players. Hahn admitted that Barrett’s exclusion from the Rising Stars game did rub him the wrong way, but things like top 100 lists don’t bother him. Instead, he looks to redrafts of the 2019 draft that tend to keep RJ at number 3 pick. That lets him know that RJ is exactly where he is supposed to be.
Hahn is curious to see what kind of jump RJ makes this season. He feels the addition of two veterans in Walker and Fournier may cut into RJ’s time with the ball in his hands. RJ’s trainer Drew Hanlen said that he and RJ have been working on his shooting off-the-dribble in the offseason. That will be another element to look for in RJ’s game that could take him to the next level.
CP is interested to see how RJ reacts to the tougher defensive assignments he will undoubtedly face this season. He will most likely be tasked with guarding the oppositions best wing, a job that Reggie Bullock used to fill. An improvement in this area would be a great sign for his improvement as a whole.
Knicks young talent best since the 1980s?
Fred from Fresh Meadows called in and posed a great question for Hahn: Does he believe that this is the Knicks’ best young core since the 1980s? Hahn says he thinks the comparison is valid and admits that he has made it himself. The vibe of the teams, even if they play a completely different style of basketball, are similiar. The one difference that Hahn believes sets the two cores apart is the inclusion of Patrick Ewing, an All-Time player and Hall of Fame inductee.
CP believes that the final piece is up to how RJ Barrett develops. He thinks he has the highest potential to become a superstar among this group.
Where do you rate this young core amongst the Knicks’ previous young cores? Catch the full podcast to check out CP and Hahn’s full answers to the questions plus more call Q/A! Subscribe to YouTube.com/knicksfantv and join the next live show for your chance to call-in!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps heading into the regular season. Also, make sure to check out CP The Fanchises record predictions and reactions to the projected ESPN standings below!
