Slash Line: .409/.371/.847
Week 6 Averages: 20.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.3 SPG, 2.8 3PM, 36.6 percent shooting
Season Averages: 23.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 3.1 3PM
Hardaway started Week 6 well. His 32 points on 10-for-21 shooting against the Portland Trail Blazers was the second consecutive game of this scoring amount, which carried from Week 5.
However, after this, it was a difficult three-game set for the New York Knicks’ leading scorer.
Production tailed off from 21 points on 8-for-19 shooting to 2-for-15 for seven points. Hardaway settled for jumpshots, instead of drives to the basket when players on the Celtics or Pelicans were draped all over him.
Fizdale still gave Hardaway heavy minutes, but he finished the week on 32 percent shooting for 16.7 minutes. That includes the Grizzlies game, when Garrett Temple guarded him.
This week brought Hardaway’s field goal percentage to 40.9. It’s not a career-low compared to 38.9 percent in 2014-15. Though he still shoots 37.1 percent behind the arc.
Either way, Hardaway remains the focus of New York’s offense. They already struggled once when he didn’t play, as this is still the team’s best perimeter player, who finds shots and creates contact to go to the free throw line.
The Knicks will face the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks in Week 7. Can they continue this winning streak? Which players will step up?