NY Knicks: 3 reasons why Frank Ntilikina is type of player NY needs

2) Embracing Roles

One of the worst things that a team can be is one without a defined identity. More times than not, the byproduct or even cause of that lack of identity is when a team fails to inform its players of what exactly they need to do on the court.

When players are given a defined role, they inevitably perform at a higher level—and fans inevitably become more understanding of their value.

For a player like Frank Ntilikina, defining a role is the most important thing that a head coach can do for him. If he’s allowed to operate as a defensive specialist who contributes where he can offensively, he can help the Knicks return to their roots.

This would allow Ntilikina to ease into an offensive role while playing to his strengths: Providing defensive contributions that no other wing on the roster currently can match.

A fair comparison would be Marcus Smart, who shot well below 40 percent from the field in each of his four seasons with the Boston Celtics. Nevertheless, he played major minutes on a team that made the Playoffs every year—all because his coach saw a role that needed to be filled.

The Knicks clearly need to find their version of Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas, or Kemba Walker, but it should also be noted that Smart makes the game easier for them.