Comparing Knicks 2018-2019 Points Guards to 2019-2020

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2019-2020

PGs: Dennis Smith Jr, Frank Ntilikina, Elfrid Payton

Elfrid Payton has been the Knicks only new addition at the point, and his impact has been felt. Last week, alone, Payton has picked up 2 double-doubles.

Injuries have held the guard to just 31 games this season due to injury, but when healthy, Payton has been the best option for the Knicks. Payton’s 6.5 assist per game is more than Ntilikina and Smith Jr. numbers combined.

Unfortunately for Payton, his percentages don’t shine like his assist. Payton has shot just 45.2 from the field and 23.1% from deep. He also struggles to create contact and draw fouls while driving to the basket, attempting just 1.2 free throws a game.

The Knicks aren’t asking Payton to be James Harden, who leads the league with 12.2 FTA per game, but making less than one trip to the line a game isn’t acceptable.

Some games Payton looks like an elite play-maker with his eye-popping passes. Other games he looks lost racking up turnovers and clanking forced shots.

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Barring a break out from Dennis Smith Jr., Payton will receive a bulk of the minutes at point guard, at least when he’s healthy. If I had to pick between to two groups I would pick the 2018 point guard group because of the potential Dennis Smith Jr was showing at the time.

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