3 things Knicks learned from their recent tough schedule stretch

The New York Knicks just finished one of the toughest portions of their schedule, going up against seven straight teams that will all likely be making the playoffs this season.

They finished with a record of 2-5 over that stretch, including most recently a 112-85 loss against the Brooklyn Nets.

While they may not have come out with a winning record against the difficult competition, there were still a few positives to come out of this early portion of the year. There are also some mistakes that need to be corrected.

The rotation changed several times, with nine separate players already having started at least one game. This can be partially attributed to injuries, but head coach Tom Thibodeau has surprisingly begun to mix up his lineup on different nights.

At a record of 5-6 for the season as a whole, the Knicks have some work to do in order to be playing in more than 82 games. If they can correct their weaknesses and build upon the strengths that have been exposed during the tough stretch, a return to the playoffs may be in store.

3 lessons learned from the Knicks’ difficult stretch of the schedule

3: Cam Reddish should receive more playing time

After being acquired ahead of the trade deadline last season for Kevin Knox and a protected first-round pick, Cam Reddish never found any sort of rhythm in New York before injuries ended his season prematurely.

However, Reddish has seized his opportunities this year and is starting to look like the player that the Atlanta Hawks imagined they’d be getting when they drafted him No. 10 overall in 2019. He should remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future.

Through 11 contests, he’s averaging a modest 7.1 points per game while shooting 41% from the field, 35% from three, and 82% on free throws.

More than just his offense, Reddish’s main case for playing time is the fact that he’s become an excellent defender. At 6’8″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, the 23-year-old is finally starting to tap into his defensive potential and has made some huge plays during this stretch.

Reddish’s size at the wing position is extremely rare in today’s game, and it’s been a major help to the Tom Thibodeau-coached defense that often switches 1 through 3.

He’ll also be hitting unrestricted free agency next summer, so it would be wise for the Knicks to give him a larger role to get comfortable in so they can determine if they want to re-sign him or not. If Reddish can continue to play at the same level he’s been on to start the season, New York’s future will grow significantly brighter.