The New York Knicks have begun to play Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina together. Head coach Jeff Hornacek explained the thought process behind the move.
The New York Knicks have complicated the point guard position in the most ideal of ways. After months of struggling to create penetration from the most critical of playmaking positions, the Knicks signed G League standout and former top-10 draft pick Trey Burke.
While Burke has only appeared in six games with the main roster, he’s already diversified the offensive attack by providing the missing skill.
The impact of Burke’s arrival has been a significant increase in offensive production. Shooters are getting open, the pick and roll is becoming a more heavily utilized play, and embattled rookie Frank Ntilikina has played more without the ball—perhaps the most compelling development of all.
According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, head coach Jeff Hornacek explained why he likes the idea of playing Burke and Ntilikina together.
"“We tried to get Frank and Trey out there together,” Hornacek said. “I thought that was pretty good. Frank was able to play off the ball a little bit. They lend different things for us. Trey had a great game with running the high pick-and-roll, which sometimes is kind of good to have, and Frank did a very good job defensively while he was out there.”"
That doesn’t necessarily mean that Ntilikina won’t create for his teammates, but it’s intriguing insight into the mentality of the organization.
It’s worth noting that Hornacek led the Phoenix Suns to 48 wins in 2013-14 while starting two point guards in an unorthodox backcourt. With an athletic downhill finisher in Eric Bledsoe and a crafty all-around playmaker in Goran Dragic, he struck an exceptional balance.
The approach was a throwback to when Hornacek, an All-Star combo guard himself, shared a backcourt with Kevin Johnson, with whom he led Phoenix to the 1989 and 1990 Western Conference Finals.
Hornacek also shared a backcourt with John Stockton, with whom he helped lead the Utah Jazz to the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals.
In this scenario, Hornacek is essentially utilizing Ntilikina in the way that Cotton Fitzsimmons and Jerry Sloan used him. Both have or had the ability to run point situationally, but also seem to thrive as complementary facilitators who can focus more on getting their own shot.
This doesn’t at all mean that Ntilikina will play shooting guard for the rest of his career, but it’s worth noting that famed NBA Draft analyst Fran Fraschilla previously pegged Ntilikina as a guard, but not a point guard.
This change in strategy could be what Ntilikina needs to realize his unique potential.
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The New York Knicks have a head coach who isn’t afraid to think outside the box. That could alter the trajectory of both Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina’s respective careers.