whatever happens New York Knicks is always in focus. like the team nba from the most famous city on the planet New Yorkers must carry a heavy stone on their backs, win or lose. Its tenants Madison Square Garden they have to compete with the eyes of a big city that is very wary of them, but also with the media that They don’t give them room for mistakes.
his ballot Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau Looking ahead to this 2022-2023 season, it was not easy to solve. They had to return to the top seed in the East, but their room for maneuver was limited. They couldn’t try to go after a big star in Free Agency because there weren’t any, and their attempt to bring in another via a trade didn’t go well. This explains that his out of season had a so low profile but it was so intense: signings of Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein and renewals of RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson.
And yet, the results were not positive at the start of the season.
With balance 9-11, the Knicks’ first month of college left them in the same position as a year ago, anchored in the middle of the East. Far from it Playoffsfar from the draft lottery area.
That all started to change almost three weeks ago, after a tough loss at home to the Grizzlies on November 27th. They nearly pulled off an epic comeback in Madison in that game, but Ja Morant didn’t forgive their past mistakes. from that setback The Knicks have become the second best team in the NBA with +10.1 net score, it surpassed, exactly, Memphis (10.8).
It’s all about winning and winning, achieving 5 wins in 7 games played and leaving the best feelings for them in a long time from Thibs. They are now in sixth place, at 14-13 and two games out of fourth place.
What caused this change in trend for the New York Knicks? It is time to look for the reasons.
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The most correct version of Julius Randle
The Julius Randle case is extremely interesting. The Nicks figure has enviable physical and technical conditions. One of the four mobiles that best adapted to the current context of the league without losing its status as old school. But the former Kentucky player is also one of the more erratic players to play such an important role.
Inconsistency has been the pattern for Randle since he arrived in New York, on both the micro and macro levels. From reaching perfection in 2021 by being among the best quintets in the class to drastically lowering his percentages and averages. It is not strange that there is a Direct relationship between some pGood results for the Knicks and a similar performance from Randle. And in this short time the trend has not reversed.
In these last 7 games comes the Knicks player averaging 27.1 points on 45.8% shooting from the field, including youn 34.8% triple. Add to that 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and just 1.7 turnovers in 33 minutes of play. With Randle on the floor, Thibs’ players scored 16.5 goals from net score better, with -4.4 when benched.
His shot selection continues to improve, but in this short period it has been more positive than last period. What is clear is that if they keep up this level, the Knicks have options to contend for more ambitious goals in the East.
Triple improvement of RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett’s start from long range was terrifying. He was the second-most on the team with 112 attempts, connecting on just 30 of them, a 26.8%. Had he maintained this trend, the Canadian would have become the percentage with the worst hitting percentage with at least 5 shots per night”exceeding” Kobe Bryant’s 28.5% in 2016.
Over the last seven games, the shooting guard has significantly improved that outside contribution to the point of raising the aforementioned 26.8% to the current 28.8%. During this time mentioned he has succeeded 12 of his 34 attempts for 35.3% accuracy. A more than noticeable improvement, the result of an increase in his shots, which he has connected to a 37.5% success rate, a percentage that would take him to the next level if he could settle there.
The key with Barrett is and will be his shot selection, a consequence of his role on the team, but if he somewhat limits those forays and bides his time in the slot, he’ll be a much more decisive player.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
