SPANISH HARLEM – As I watched the New York Knicks yesterday lead the the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of the 1st quarter, I started to think if it would be better for them to not make the playoffs. Don’t get me wrong, I hate when the Knicks lose – but would making the playoffs create a false sense of accomplishment? This team, as they are, won’t win a championship and while the post-season experience would be good (like last season), it wouldn’t break them as athletes, to miss out.
Granted, it would suck not to make the playoffs but I don’t want to settle for a middle-of-the-pack team. Really, they’re not even that this year. These Knicks are a lower-of-the-pack unit. A nice winning streak would probably change my mind but I just don’t see it happening.
What Happened?
After having a 2nd surgery, expecting Derrick Rose to be the savior he was last season is pretty much moot now. Tom Thibodeau doesn’t don’t have a true point guard on the court because he won’t play Miles McBride.
That brings us to to another point: Give some of the younger guys more minutes. Obi Toppin deserves more minutes and though Immanuel Quickley has not excited as much as he did last year, give him more time on the court aleady!
Finally... run the offense through RJ Barrett. Since coming back from injury, he has been the best Knick and continues to impress. Put him in more pick and roll situations, allow him to make decision. Give him the keys to the wagon and let him loose. Let him be the primary play-maker so he can learn and and make mistakes. Hopefully that will make him a better player.
That’s it for now, come back tomorrow for more sports stuff with Cam James, if he’s not spelunking somewhere in Nome, Alaska.
Until next time…
