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New York Knicks: Looking back at New Year’s resolutions for 2018

By Rob Wolkenbrod

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 14: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks plays defense against Cody Zeller #40 of the CHarlotte Hornets on December 14, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 14: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks plays defense against Cody Zeller #40 of the CHarlotte Hornets on December 14, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks Frank Ntilikina (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Start Frank Ntilikina

Even before 2018-19’s turn of events, Frank Ntilikina’s situation was debated in the 2017-18 season, when he entered the NBA as a 19-year-old rookie.

As it went from 2017 to 2018, Ntilikina’s minutes slowly increased. He started to earn Hornacek’s trust, but it did not result in a starting spot.

The Frenchman struggled from the field, with 6.9 points on 37.3 percent shooting in 19 December games. Maybe that held him back at the time and into 2018, as Hornacek kept him as a reserve through the beginning of March.

Finally, om Mar. 6, Ntilikina entered the starting lineup. He did so eight more times, five of which were consecutive games to close 2017-18, averaging 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 40.7 percent shooting and 35.3 on three-pointers.

Fizdale let Ntilikina start as 2018-19 opened. The results were middling in 14 games, though, as he compiled 7.3 points and 3.4 assists on just 34.5 percent shooting and 28.8 percent from behind the arc.

Ntilikina went to the bench on Nov. 14, and he has not moved into the starting lineup since, instead shuffling between not playing via coach’s decision and playing fewer than 20 minutes when on the court.

With Mudiay’s emergence at point guard and Knox taking small forward, which Ntilikina played for a handful of games, Ntilikina may not leave this reserve role, unless one of those players suffer an injury. So, for now, the starting experiment has not resulted positively.

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