Roundtable: How Did The Knicks Fare in Week 1?
By TJ Jann
The New York Knicks have completed their first week of the 2014-15 season and are headed into week two tonight. We asked the team at Daily Knicks to weigh in on the Knicks’ week and give their opinions on how it went.
What do you think of the Knicks first week overall?
TJ:
I’m excited. The Knicks went from looking like the worst team ever against the Bulls to a legitimate basketball team with a win in Cleveland. While it has been hard to comprehend some of the substitution patterns by Derek Fisher, most of them have been working out. Beating two out of three playoff teams in a week can be chalked up to a successful week.
Rich:
I’m shocked. 2-1 with a win against the CAVS!? Who saw that coming? This second week will present some inserting matchups in games against formidable teams like the Wizards, Nets, and Hawks, so I’m eager to see if the Knicks can continue to exert themselves as team to be taken seriously, or if this first week was just a fluke.
James:
Through their first three games, I thought they were coming out with a 1-2 record, with their lone win being against the Hornets. But, thankfully, I was proven wrong; they foiled Lebron from winning on his homecoming and their win against Charlotte hopefully marks as an indicator of this team blasting off this week.
Frank:
Surprising. I thought, especially after the 24 point shellacking on opening night that the team may have to wait a week or so to get that first win but now they already have two. The Knicks haven’t looked flawless in either of their wins but they looked a whole lot better than they did on opening night and hopefully the team of games two and three are closer to the real thing.
Dave:
I was very pleased with the first week because I envisioned an 0-3 start. To finish the first week of the season 2-1 without Jose Calderon playing a minute is great way to kick off the year.
Alex:
The Knicks proved that they will not let a bad game sting for long. They followed up a brutal loss versus Chicago with two great wins against eastern contenders Cleveland and Charlotte. Derek Fisher has been using almost all of his available players each game, and it’s been working so far. Let’s see if the Knicks can continue their solid play against top teams as the season continues.
Grade Game 1 against the Bulls?
TJ:
If there was a grade below and F, it would be that. I’m not sure if I watched a basketball game on Wednesday night or a varsity vs. JV scrimmage. The Knicks weren’t even competitive after the first four minutes of the game. After watching that mess, I don’t think there was a single Knick fan that saw this team avoiding an 0-82 season.
Rich:
F. It wasn’t just that they loss in blowout; but that it was the first game of the season. I didn’t expect them to win, but the lack of energy and interest resembled a mid February game from last year.
James:
A big fat F. Being down four after the first quarter ultimately turned into a 20 point blowout. Also, we learned that there was no viable option to assign to Taj Gibson, who eviscerated Quincy Acy, Sam Dalembert, Jason Smith and pretty much anyone that was attempting to defend him. Next film room session: how to play defense on Taj Gibson. Wonder what that’s going to be like down the road in December when the Knicks face off with the Bulls again.
Frank:
F but not a 59 F. This is the kind of F where aren’t even mad instead, just flabbergasted that this happened. The Knicks defense got burned badly by a ton of different Bulls players, particularly on the second unit and the offense looked flat too.
Dave:
Obviously this game was a F. Not much more can be said on the matter other then it showed a Knicks crux of the past, namely that the Knicks can be exploited on the defensive end. Obviously this was about as bad as it could have got but well oiled machines like the Bulls and Spurs can certainly beat the Knicks badly. Thankfully, the team responded well.
Alex:
D. Terrible showing in all phases of the game. Offense couldn’t hit open shots, turnovers were way to common, and the defense caused Rose, Gibson, Noah, and Brooks to all have monster games. Clearly this was a disappointment for Knick fans expecting big things in the team’s season opener. The only reason this game does not receive an F grade is because it’s not like the Knicks were expected to win anyways. However, it would’ve been nice if they kept it close at least.
How About Game 2 in Cleveland?
TJ:
A+. This was like winning the championship for Knick fans. Although it was only the second game of the season, the Knicks got a second chance at showing the world that they weren’t the worst basketball team ever assembled. Carmelo Anthony was better than LeBron James and spoiled his homecoming. Hitting the game-clinching shot over LeBron? That itself is worthy of an A. But the Knicks were so much more than Melo that night: Shane Larkin looked much better, Quincy Acy was an animal, and J.R. Smith showed he is capable of being a huge piece on offense.
Rich:
A+. The Knicks looked terrific on the biggest stage of the season thus far. Forget the fact it was on national TV against the Cavs in a game that was hyped for months. What stood out more to me was how they rebounded from a disastrous loss against the Bulls.
James:
AAAAAAAAA+++. It seemed as if the 24 point loss to the Bulls was indicative of fans already giving up on the team (TRADE MELO AND DEREK FISHER FOR PICKS, BLOW IT UP, PHIL.). Fans were probably were anticipating another double digit loss that could have been worse than the Bulls victory, but au contraire! Three games is obviously small sample size to the max, but their win against the Cavs is certainly the most impressive win that they’ll have on their belt for awhile.
Frank:
B+. Perhaps more surprising than anything was the Knicks defense in this game. Yes, the Cavs were out of sync and probably a bit nervous, which likely led to some on the court issues. The Knicks though packed the paint against LeBron and numerous times he got into the lane and
was in a crowd of defenders who also were able to tip his passes. Next time these two teams play the Cavs will be mightily improved but the Knicks had a solid game plan for Cleveland and executed it well.
Dave:
How can this be anything but an A+. The Knicks beat one of the title favorites that also features 3 All Stars and 2 Top 10 Players in LeBron, K-Love, and Kyrie Irving. The Knicks defensive intensity and overall ball movement was great. LeBron’s poor performance certainly had something do with nerves but Shumpert also played exceptionally well when guarding James. A great win that fans should be happy about. Also, lets not forget the rare Travis Wear sighting! Make of that what you will but he contributed and hustled hard.
Alex:
A++. What more right could the Knicks have this game? Everyone predicted the Knicks to lose by double digits, at best, yet they came into the Q and spoiled LeBron’s return. Shout out to Travis Wear for playing exceptional defense on LeBron. Playing in his second ever NBA game, and with questions surrounding his defensive ability, Wear proved that he can be a major contributor for the Knicks this season. Also, Carmelo was clutch as usual with his game-winning shot.
Game 3 against Charlotte?
TJ:
A. The Knicks put back-to-back good performances together, and to no surprise, they won both games. Beating Charlotte in the past wasn’t a huge feat, but coming off their first playoff appearance last year, the Hornets are not a bad team. What was a bit concerning was the Knicks blowing a big lead. The offense seemed to stall and the defense was clearly affected by it. The major positive out of the game though was the Knicks held on. This was a game that they would have almost definitely lost last year, and we would have got to see Woody like:
Rich:
A-. The Knicks got off to an early lead and probably should have dominated the Hornets for the rest of the game, but it was a grind out victory that displayed the mental toughness of the team. Perhaps that mindfulness training is working? That was precisely the kind of game the Knicks always lost last year but this time they pulled it out.
James:
B+ It was, undoubtedly, a down-to-the-wire finish for the Knicks. Melo looked awesome and preserved the win in crunch time with some nice clutch shots. Something, though, that Derek Fisher needs to engrave into everyone’s heads, regardless if they did or didn’t do it, is not to commit, or, attempting to, silly fouls in crucial moments (I’m looking at you, J.R Smith. If anyone saw, it looked like J.R fouled Lance Stephenson on the last possession of the game with a tenth of a second, but got away with it). Outside of that, it was a nice teeth-grinding win.
Frank:
B-. I actually think Charlotte will be pretty good this season despite their sluggish start so a win over them should in theory signal a higher grade. The thing is though, the Knicks got that 15 point lead in the second quarter and then hung on for dear life. The defense did not like very good at all in the second half and in the 4th quarter neither did the offense. Too often guys like Gary Neal, who isn’t a huge threat outside of hitting threes was able to freely navigate into the paint and make things happen. Also, that terrible five second violation call may have ultimately been what kept the Hornets from cementing their comeback.
Dave:
This game also showcased a Knicks crux of the past, namely blowing leads late in games. The Knicks looked great early but let the Hornets creep back in. I was wary of this game because the Hornets, lead by Walker and Big Al, have given the Knicks trouble in the past and now also feature Lance Stephenson. This game showcased both the good and the bad of Shumpert in the first half. He had a great offensive start only to take himself out of the game by committing ill-advised reach ins. The Knicks held on and sealed the game and Lance Stephenson created an amazing Vine at Derek Fisher’s expense. B+
Alex:
A-. One word to describe this game: Persistence. The Knicks were up big early in the first half, but let Charlotte keep it close until the final horn sounded. They kept grinding though, and were aided by big shots from Melo (who else) as well as great point guard play from Larkin and a solid effort by Shumpert playing defense on Charlotte’s talented backcourt. A negative here though was that Al Jefferson seemed to score at will, at least once Dalembert was forced to the bench with four fouls. Amare was no match for Big Al on this night.
What has surprised you most thus far?
TJ:
Tim Hardaway Jr. never playing. I am a big THJ fan and believe he needs more playing time to develop into the offensive weapon that he is. While we knew it would be hard to play all three shooting guards, I didn’t see THJ being the odd man out in the rotation, especially after being deemed “untouchable” this summer. I;m not shocked about STAT’s performance at all. He showed signs of re-emerging late last year and he has continued it thus far.
Rich:
Amar’e Stoudemire’s recent play has been very impressive. He’s averaging more minutes than he has since 2012 and has looked much more comfortable in his role on the team. He’s leading the team in rebounds and is the second highest scorer on team with 12.3. Who’s laughing at those wine baths now?
James:
I agree with Rich here. Amare Stoudemire’s wine bathing is drenching (maybe a horrific pun intended) out the criticism, for now, at least. I’ve said it on Twitter a couple times; if Amare, barring injury, of course, can maintain his skill sets ex: a deluge of mid-range jumpers, tasty post moves and pick and roll receiving, then I’ll be absolutely content throughout this season like I am right now with his play. I’ll take Amare mini resurgences (and a resurgence, too) every game.
Frank:
Amar’e Stoudemire’s 19/11 on 50% shooting per 36 minutes. I thought he would be improved this season but not like this. Obviously it is early but if he can stay efficient and rebound this way he can really be a valuable player on this team.
Dave:
Shane Larkin has adjusted well in the starting role and has certainly made a case that he can produce at the NBA level despite not having his option picked up by the team. I would like to see him score more but his ability to steal the ball is fun to watch.
Alex:
The effectiveness of Jason Smith. While he is nothing to get excited about on defense, it seems like he knocks down the same mid-range jumper every time he touches the ball. He’s been a much needed piece of depth for a weak front-court, and has been a good way for players like JR or Melo to rack up more assists than they normally have gotten.
Any reoccurring themes that you are worried/excited about?
TJ:
The Knicks have gone with lineups that can’t put the ball in the hoop for too long of stretches. While I love having the defensive weapons of Samuel Dalembert, Quincy Acy, and Iman Shumpert on the court, you need more than Melo out there to score some points. I also am not sure how I feel about Fisher resting Melo for extended periods. He almost left him on the bench for too long against Charlotte in the fourth.
Rich:
Too early to really tell but I think the wide array of subs may cause guys to get lost out there. Tim Hardaway Jr. hasn’t been getting as many minutes as I thought he would and young players can lose their focus if their roles aren’t made clear to them.
James:
Three games into the season, the use of the triangle is a little all over the place. It’s definitely still a learning curve for most of the players, but it’ll take lots of time for them to become well-versed in the triangle field anyways. The triangle isn’t the most worrisome area, though; I’m still pretty worried about the defensive end more than anything, because, yeah, the team DRtg is probably going to end up the same as it ever was.
But I’m an optimist (a Knick fan being an optimist? What is this?) and something I’m excited/positive about is Derek Fisher’s accountability and adjustments. He screwed up in the season opener against the Bulls, then bounced back greatly with adjustments correctly, something that predecessor Mike Woodson constantly preached, but almost never stood by, just like the accountability concept. And, also, Fisher leaves the court when all his players leave the court, which is a good sign of accountability. Hopefully that’s a reoccurring theme of this season.
Frank:
One of each. I am very, very happy to see Carmelo Anthony close both the Cavs and Hornets game at power forward. That is his best position and I think it shows that the Knicks know it too by doing this. The triangle typically has two bigs but late in games the Knicks are running a bit of a more spaced out offense at times, which benefits Anthony a lot.
What worries me is the Knicks have taken 47% of their shots from midrange so far this season. That is absurd and an even a good offense is likely unsustainable if that doesn’t come down big time. The league takes 27%, or about a quarter of their shots from their and the this team take about half. The Knicks had an elite offense two years ago because they took a ton of threes and allowed Carmelo to do his thing. Bringing players within the arc and taking unnecessarily difficult shots isn’t going to bring the offense back there.
Dave:
Shane Larkin has adjusted well in the starting role and has certainly made a case that he can produce at the NBA level despite not having his option picked up by the team. I would like to see him score more but his ability to steal the ball is fun to watch.
Alex:
I’m excited about Melo at the end of games. In both wins, he hit the game-winning shot. Although this is nothing new, it feels like this season Melo will turn his game up to a new level and be more clutch than ever before. There’s no stopping him when he gets into an iso situation. Look for the iso plays to decrease this season, but Melo’s overall effectiveness to significantly increase.
Confidence level in this team (1-10, 10 being the highest)
TJ:
7.5. I’m always high on the Knicks, especially after they ruin LeBron’s night. However, the Chicago game still looms large in my mind. If the Knicks can consistently play well like they have the past two games, there is no doubt in my mind that they can win the Atlantic Division.
Rich:
7
James:
7. Beating the Cavs boosted my confidence from about a 3 to 7. Still have to remember, though, three games have been played. Hopefully they keep it going.
Frank:
Right now, a 6. That could change drastically in a week when you are this early in a season but 6 is a lot higher than I had them before the season started. The Knicks have been a pleasant surprise so far this season and it is fun to watch.
Dave:
Given how they played without Jose Calderon and while still learning the triangle, I am very satisfied and confident in the team thus far. However, I wanna see more games with consistent defensive intensity. 7/10
Alex:
8. I was extremely confident about this team before they even played a single game, and now after an overall solid week, I have another dose of confidence in this squad. We can be in for a very special season. I just gotta feeling.
Week one is in the books. Now it is on to Washington tonight. Be sure to check back for the game preview this evening.