Knicks: 3 reasons Frank Ntilikina deserves playing time

3) How Frank Ntilikina can help the Knicks: Defense

Don’t roll your eyes! I know the Knicks defense has been mostly sound, but I’m thinking more in terms of how defense can lead to offense. This season, the Knicks have been one of the worst teams in the league at turning over opponents. With an opponent turnover percentage of just 12.1%, the Knicks rank 29th at forcing turnovers. That futility is partly to blame for the Knicks’ inability to generate easy buckets in fast break situations. New York averages 7.2 fast break points per game which ranks dead last in the league.

Enter Frank – the lanky, anticipatory Frenchman with a penchant for pilfering opponents’ dribbles. Last year, Frank led the team in steal percentage, accounting for 28.1% of his team’s steals while he was on the floor. For context, there were 189 players to play at least 20 minutes per game last season (at least 50 games played), Frank ranked 19th in steal percentage in the entire league.

Those steals should lead to more opportunities to get out and run, which this team desperately needs.

Conclusion

Frank may not be able to penetrate defenses as consistently as Payton. He will never go 10-for-10 and score 25 points in a half like Rivers. He isn’t the shot creator that Alec Burks is, either. But, whether it’s shooting or consistency or defense, each of those other guys have glaring flaws that hinder the Knicks during their time on the floor.

Frank, and I believe the evidence supports this, is a more complete player than those guys, and his playmaking and defense are much better than Reggie Bullock’s. As such, Tom Thibodeau should seriously consider playing Frank regular rotation minutes and give him a fair chance to earn his spot going forward.