New York Knicks: Tim Hardaway Jr. quietly righting the ship
New York Knicks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has been the recipient of relentless criticism, but he’s quietly righting the ship after the All-Star Break.
No New York Knicks player has come under more fire during the 2017-18 NBA regular season than Tim Hardaway Jr. Signed to a four-year deal worth roughly $71 million, Hardaway inevitably faced high expectations.
After an extended stretch of poor performances following his return from injury, Hardaway is beginning to look like himself again.
Hardaway’s stretch of dreadful play was greatly exaggerated, but it was the second time this season that he’d played at a sub-NBA level. He posted a slash line of .265/.222/.700 over the course of the first four games of the season, which accurately displays how badly he struggled.
Unfortunately, those shooting woes returned between Jan. 31 and Feb. 12 when he shot a mere .258/.114/.643 over a seven-game span.
In hindsight, it seems rather silly to allow a period of 11 games to dictate a player’s reputation. That’s especially true when one considers the two stretches were the first four games of the season and a seven-game run that followed what may have been a rushed return from injury.
Thankfully, Hardaway has returned to the mean over the past month—and he’s done so without much commentary about his success.
Since Feb. 14, Hardaway is averaging 22.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.4 three-point field goals made per game. He’s shooting just 33.8 percent from beyond the arc, but his efficiency in other areas has been significantly improved.
During that stretch of 10 games, Hardaway is shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 96.4 percent from the free throw line.
That stretch included a 37-point eruption against the Washington Wizards and a 26-point showing against the Milwaukee Bucks. Defense remains an issue, but Hardaway appears to have stabilized his shot.
A major reason for this return to form is the fact that Hardaway has improved his shot selection since the beginning of the season.
Controlled chaos is the name of Hardaway’s game, but he’s playing much more methodically in recent weeks. He’s attacking the basket more often than before, and is stepping into his shots instead of simply letting them fly.
There’s still a chaotic element to his game, but Hardaway has returned to being one of the better transition scorers in the NBA.
Hardaway has game-breaking speed in the open court and a pull-up three that he’s adopted from his father—also known as the master of the shot. The more often he takes the ball to the hoop, however, the better the rhythm he’ll be shooting with.
Thankfully, he’s beginning to realize that truth now that his usage rate has increased and his responsibility has followed suit.
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The question is: Will Tim Hardaway Jr. maintain this success for the New York Knicks?