The New York Knicks have no answer to the point guard dilemma, so until they do, let’s look at how they match up against each other.
When training camp opened, head coach David Fizdale created a competition for each spot in the starting lineup. It provided everyone with an opportunity, but as the preseason opened, it was clear who had the inside track.
Enes Kanter, Lance Thomas, Kevin Knox and Tim Hardaway Jr. all received significant runs in the starting lineup, but the only position that fluctuated was point guard.
Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, Frank Ntilikina and Ron Baker each started at least one game, with Burke the only player at two. Though, after five 48-minute nights, Fizdale didn’t have an answer for who his point guard will be on opening night.
After Friday’s preseason finale, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, the first-year coach will evaluate the position ahead of the game versus the Atlanta Hawks, with game tape and analytics as the emphasis before a decision arrives.
It’s a result of no standout play from New York’s point guards, even with the competition through training camp and five games to impress. That pushes the battle into an overtime scenario, and, potentially, the first nights of the season on Oct. 17, 19, 20 and beyond.
The Knicks eventually need to settle on someone as the main point guard, but there’s time for the situation to sort itself out on the court, pending someone from this quartet steps up and takes the job.
So, with the preseason over, and before Fizdale announces the starter, how do these point guards stand against each other? It’s part of the first point guard power rankings.