The New York Knicks may be isolated from one another, but Frank Ntilikina says the players on the roster are staying connected and ready for a return to the court.
Technically speaking, the New York Knicks have not yet been eliminated from the 2020 NBA Playoffs. New York trails the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic by 9.5 games with 16 outings remaining on the schedule, meaning a miracle is still within the realm of possibility.
Unlikely as that may be, it was a miracle that had the Knicks playing harder and better than ever before—until the season was unceremoniously placed on hold.
The NBA, much like the rest of the world, has entered into a state of isolation amid the uncertainty that surrounds COVID-19. For New York, that means being unable to build upon a 4-3 record over the past seven games, which includes a win over the Houston Rockets.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina is staying active and in shape—and he’s doing so with his teammates.
"“It was tough the first days so I decided to get some weights,’’ Ntilikina said as he took fan questions on the Knicks website Tuesday night. “Get bands, get a bench, jump rope. All the tools you can really have and help you inside the house to stay in shape. We have a program with our teammates. We stay connected. We’re all trying to stay ready.’’"
Despite the fact that players are isolated from one another, this could prove to be one of the best experiences for team chemistry to date.
Reaching out for team workouts during these trying times is not an obligation, but rather: A choice. As such, those who make the decision to host and participate in virtual workouts are doing so with a clear desire to both improve individually and grow closer to their teammates.
That’s an incredibly promising sign for a Knicks team that’s flush with young players who have yet to find their place in the NBA, let alone the team construct.
Once teams are allowed to reconvene, this type of experience should make the players even more eager to take what they’ve learned from afar and apply it up close.
New York’s 4-3 record over the last seven games of the 2019-20 season offers reason for intrigue on its own. The fact that the players are looking to build upon that success offers an entirely new layer, as they’re taking the initiative to improve.
Considering the Knicks are 8-9 (.471) over the past 17 games after starting the season at 13-36 (.265), it’s clear that the improvements were already showing on the court.
If Scott Perry and the New York Knicks are looking for a reason to be optimistic during these uncertain times, this would be it.