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New York Knicks: 5 players for Tim Hardaway Jr. to study

By Maxwell Ogden

WASHINGTON, DC -  APRIL 16: Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Atlanta Hawks stands on the court during the Eastern Conference Quaterfinals game against the Washington Wizards during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  APRIL 16: Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Atlanta Hawks stands on the court during the Eastern Conference Quaterfinals game against the Washington Wizards during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX – JANUARY 31: Raja Bell #19 of the Phoenix Suns looks across the court during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 31, 2008 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Spurs won 84-81. Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX – JANUARY 31: Raja Bell #19 of the Phoenix Suns looks across the court during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 31, 2008 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Spurs won 84-81. Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Raja Bell

Raja Bell wasn’t a star during his playing days, but he was as good of a 3-and-D player as one could find in the mid-to-late 2000s. He was an outstanding on-ball defender who averaged 2.3 three-point field goals made per game on 41.1 percent shooting between 2005 and 2012.

Tim Hardaway Jr. will have a more significant offensive role than Bell, but if he can defend at a similar level, the New York Knicks will take a massive step towards sustainable success.

Bell played on a number of different teams during his NBA career, but his most prolific success came with the Phoenix Suns. He not only defended shooting guards at a high level, but spent time on both point guards and small forwards.

Covering up for the defensive deficiencies of two-time MVP Steve Nash, Bell proved that a player’s surroundings shouldn’t determine their effort on defense.

Offensively, Bell averaged 12.8 points per game between 2003 and 2010. Hardaway Jr. will need to score more, but Bell was a lethal catch-and-shoot marksman who also proved capable of the occasional attack of a closeout.

If Hardaway Jr. is looking to learn the basics of being a 3-and-D contributor at the shooting guard position, then Bell is as good of a case study as any.

Hardaway Jr. just shouldn’t flop as much as Bell used to.

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