New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina was the right 2017 NBA Draft selection
Whether or not he ends up being better than Dennis Smith Jr. and Malik Monk, Frank Ntilikina was the right pick for the New York Knicks.
The New York Knicks built upon their reputation as the most polarizing franchise in sports on the night of the 2017 NBA Draft. By passing over American players such as Malik Monk and Dennis Smith Jr. for European enigma Frank Ntilikina, New York continued to overlook what some deemed as obvious.
While all eyes continue to shift to the offensive end of the floor, however, Ntilikina has been directly responsible for New York’s profound improvement on defense.
Phil Jackson may have selected Ntilikina at the 2017 NBA Draft, but he’s been the best possible fit with the new regime. Scott Perry, Steve Mills, and Jeff Hornacek are all on the same page about what must be done in order to return the franchise to prominence: Establish the defense.
With all due respect to Monk and Smith, defense isn’t exactly their strong suit.
This isn’t to say that Monk and Smith wouldn’t have been able to help the Knicks grow and develop. By all means and measures, both would’ve alleviated pressure from Kristaps Porzingis on the offensive end of the floor, thus creating a healthier flow to Hornacek’s system.
The greatest teams are built on the foundation of a commitment to defense, however, and there aren’t many point guards more capable of lockdown defense than Ntilikina.
By selecting Ntilikina over the players who are perceived superior on offense, the Knicks paved the way for an elite defense to be built. That may seem like a hyperbolic statement, but it’s one that’s based as much on fact as it is opinion.
With a 6’5″ point guard who boasts a 7’0″ wingspan, and a 7’3″ Unicorn who’s already one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, the foundation exists for dominance.
Porzingis currently ranks No. 1 in the Association in opponent field goal percentage at the rim, and No. 3 in blocks per game. New York ranks No. 6 in opponent field goal percentage at the rim, and No. 2 in points allowed in the paint per game.
The combination of Ntilikina and Porzingis has enabled said success, as well as New York’s overall improvement on defense.
The Knicks have ranked amongst the league’s elite in opponent field goal percentage at the rim since Porzingis arrived in 2015. It ranked No. 16 in points allowed in the paint per game in 2015-16, however, and checked in at No. 24 in 2016-17.
The difference in 2017-18 has been the presence of a perimeter defender who can keep slashers out of the paint, and fight over screens during the pick and roll: Ntilikina.
The result has been New York allowing 3.4 fewer points per 100 possessions than it did in 2016-17.
Others have contributed, of course, but this point can’t be stressed enough: Teams that can defend the point guard position and protect the rim are ahead of the curve. Ntilikina enables that elite potential, with the type of size, length, and footwork that coaches often dream of.
Thus, while the jury is still out on Ntilikina on offense, he has the potential to anchor the perimeter defense for the next decade plus.
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Offense may be exciting, but defense wins championships. The New York Knicks made the right pick if finding the next building block was the goal.