New York Knicks: Trey Burke brings new element to offense
The New York Knicks recently signed point guard Trey Burke for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. Head coach Jeff Hornacek already sees his impact.
The New York Knicks have played through more than half of the 2017-18 NBA regular season without a penetrating playmaker. Tim Hardaway Jr. was close to being an exception, but his burden as a scorer often prevents him from maximizing his abilities as a facilitator.
The Knicks have addressed the need for a playmaker who can break a defense down with their dribble by signing G League star Trey Burke.
Burke, a former lottery pick, was a standout performer for the Knicks’ G League affiliate in Westchester during the first half of the 2017-18 season. He recently replaced veteran Ramon Sessions on the main roster, however, and made his New York debut on Monday, Jan. 15.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, head coach Jeff Hornacek explained how Burke has managed to diversify the Knicks’ offense.
"“He’s a point guard who can keep his dribble alive, he didn’t panic when he went toward the lane even though he’s only 5-11 or what we list him at,’’ Jeff Hornacek said of Burke. “He has an ability to keep the dribble alive and keep probing and looking for things. Guys caught onto that pretty quickly and said if I just move to an open space I could get an open shot. That’s something other guys don’t normally do.’’"
It’s only been one game, but Burke has already made a significant difference in how the Knicks play and practice.
Burke finished his return to the NBA with five points, two assists, and one rebound in eight minutes of action. He shot 3-of-4 from the free throw line, meaning he attempted one free throw for every two minutes that he was on the court.
That’s clearly an unsustainable pace, but it’s a testament to the type of pressure that Burke puts on an opposing defense with his handle and penetrating abilities.
Beyond the numbers, Burke did an outstanding job of forcing second defenders to bring help, thus creating passing lanes and opportunities for shooters to convert.
Frank Ntilikina is a defensive-minded player who’s capable of knocking down long jump shots, but he doesn’t quite drive as often as he should. Jarrett Jack is a skilled facilitator and a competent scorer, but at 34 years of age, he’s lost a significant measure of his athletic ability.
Burke is most valuable when he’s a willing passer, but his ability to break a defender down and score is already changing the identity of the roster.
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The New York Knicks may have found the dynamic playmaker whom many have been eager for the organization to find.