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New York Knicks: What is and isn’t working through 15 games

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks instructs Frank Ntilikina #11 during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 104-101. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks instructs Frank Ntilikina #11 during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on November 13, 2017 in New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 104-101. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 11: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Sacramento Kings on November 11, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 11: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Sacramento Kings on November 11, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Con: Willy Hernangomez

Let’s get something out of the way before we proceed with this topic of conversation. The New York Knicks aren’t necessarily underutilizing Willy Hernangomez, as the scheme they’re committing to calls for the centers to provide what both Enes Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn have succeeded in producing.

Having established that, one still can’t help but feel discouraged by the fact that Hernangomez has been unable to secure consistent playing time in 2017-18.

Kanter and O’Quinn have played well, but Hernangomez is widely regarded as the Knicks’ future at the center position. At 23 years of age, he’s already one of the most polished low-post scorers and offensive rebounders in the NBA.

That much was proven by his averages of 8.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.4 offensive boards, and 1.3 assists in just 18.4 minutes per game during his rookie season.

Thus far in 2017-18, however, Hernangomez has appeared in just eight of New York’s 15 games. He’s played relatively well when he’s been on the court, but a vast majority of his minutes have come in garbage time.

It’s fair to believe that Hernangomez will be back in the rotation sooner than later, but his presence on the back end of the bench has been discouraging—fair or foul.

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