The Knicks entered the All-Star range at 17-38 in mid-February 2020. There were 55 games in a season that ended prematurely less than a month later.
The highest score in the 2019-20 annual semester was a “B-minus” – for interim coach Mike Miller.
Almost 13 months later, Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks has already topped 17 wins. They are 19-18, fifth in the Eastern Conference, at the virtual midpoint of the 2020-21 pandemic agenda.
Degrees A and B plus are ready to flow.
PF Julius Randle
The first time the All-Star wrecking ball should be the best candidate for the league’s most improved player award. Ironically, the numbers are not drastically different, except for the percentage of 3 points (27.7% to 42%). But the point ahead – as Thibodeau says – “affects victory”. Ironman Randle became the consummate and durable leader who hasn’t lost a game this season while leading the NBA in minutes. Last season’s score was a “C”.
Grade: One more
PG-SG Immanuel Quickley
The Knicks had Kentucky’s perfect intelligence on the spot, Assistant Kenny Payne and Vice President William Wesley to reach Quickley with the 25th choice. The franchise still doesn’t consider him a full-time full-time owner because he is a subpar player, but he dazzled with 3-point shots (38.1), free-throw shots (94.2), his floater and smart design absences. A volume scorer, Quickley may be one of the first three rookie candidates of the year, despite some brutal gun droughts.
Grade: ONE
SG-SF Reggie Bullock
Give team president Leon Rose credit for having the vision to reopen with the swingman “3-and-D” for the $ 4.2 million team option, knowing what his defense-oriented coach likes. Thibodeau kept Bullock in the starting lineup for the entire season and he offers 3-point skill (37.2 percent), and always brings professionalism and courageous perimeter defense.
Grade: Love us
SF-SG RJ Barrett
Duke’s No. 3 pick in 2019 had initial difficulties in his sophomore campaign, but it really slid forward as the Knicks’ No. 2 option for Randle, averaging 16.5 points. His free throw (73 percent) is much more solid, he is still an astute, ox-like driver and has been respectable on the 3-point line (35 percent). Could there be an All-Star spot in your future? Why not?
Grade: Love us
PG Derrick Rose
Leon Rose’s Super Bowl Sunday gift to Thibodeau worked and didn’t hurt the chemistry. The veteran shipowner’s dynamo averages 24.6 minutes, which should be his limit at 32, with a history of knee problems. The most wonderful part of his second spell at Knicks is his confidence in a 3-point field (45.5 percent). Despite calls from former coach Jeff Hornacek, Rose refused to make 3s in 2016-17. He has also been energetic in defense and a willing distributor.
Grade: Love us
C Nerlens Noel
He is excellent as an initial replacement for Mitchell Robinson as an extraordinary rim protector. Noel ranks second in blocks for 36 minutes (3.3). Since becoming a starter, the defensive pivot has been shooting 71 percent and averaging eight points and eight rebounds in 32 minutes.
Grade: B-plus
PG Elfrid Payton
The fan base was disappointed when the forever underrated Payton was rehired. But it has been a stabilizing force as a starting point. He is a quarterback with a size in the position that cunningly moves the painting for his touch kicks. He has an average of 12.7 points and 3.7 assists in 28 minutes.
Grade: B-plus
C Mitchell Robinson
A broken hand interrupted his momentum as a defensive force that alters the pitch, which still throws alley-ops and hits easily, even if they don’t let you throw a jumper. Robinson has lost the last 10 games, but he could be back in two weeks.
Grade: B
SG Alec Burks
The signer of the free agent was deflected by an absence of 12 games with a sprained ankle, but returned as a valuable player off the bench. Burks force nothing and provide occasional offensive sparks as part of a robust bank unit. He has had six games of more than 18 points and has the healthiest score of the plus-minus team.
Grade: B
SF-PF Kevin Knox
With Payne on board, product development in Kentucky became a priority. However, Thibodeau snatched the 2018 lottery choice from rotation in late January, despite an increase in his 3-point pitches. Knox is not a strong bidirectional player, as shown by his net rating of -7.6. In addition, he is a choice of Scott Perry.
Grade: C-minus
SG Austin Rivers
Doc Rivers’ talkative son began his stint at the Knicks with pomp as a footballer closer to the bank. But when the Knicks added Rose, Rivers, who had fallen, was removed from the rotation and did not take it well. The ever-proud Rivers admitted that he was getting ready for an exchange and The Post reported that he was not on the bench during a recent home game. All signs indicate that Rivers is either being negotiated on time or released.
Grade: C-minus
C Taj Gibson
Thibodeau’s favorite player started his second season at the Knicks without playing eight consecutive games, but was ready and became a decent reserve in the lunchbox as soon as Robinson fell. But then he sprained his ankle and it’s gone out indefinitely.
Grade: C-plus
PF Obi Toppin
Adjusting the lottery rookie to the next level has been difficult, even at the age of 23. Toppin sometimes seems lost at both ends and is not creating his own internal shot as he did against St. Boaventura and Fordham. With his irregular 3-point kick, Dayton’s man-buried had an average of just 12.2 minutes and 4.6 points. His grade increases slightly for not having had a summer championship to play.
Grade: C-minus
PG Frank Ntilikina
He’s back in good spirits at the moment and made his last six 3-point shots, but it was another roller coaster ride for the impending free agent. He went from late December to late February without appearing in a game after knee problems and COVID-19. With the club at full strength, he may still be back out of rotation.
Grade: D-plus
Ignas Brazdeikis, Jared Harper, Theo Pinson
Brazdeikis, his player in the second round of 2019, made the move for the G-League again, showing good numbers of goals in the bubble. (20.8 ppg). The two-way Harper also racked up for Westchester (21.3 ppg, 6.9 assists). Meanwhile, Pinson, Leon Rose’s favorite player, remains the most theatrical cheerleader in the NBA.
Grade: Incomplete
Coach Tom Thibodeau
Novels have been written about the effect of the first-year veteran coach on virtually the same squad as last season, changing the team’s culture of defeat and their sense of urgency to win, defend and split the ball. He is the coach of the mid-season of the year.
Grade: One more
President leon rose
As first-year president, Leon Rose did not try to do much, he was patient and listened to his advisers. The best thing he did was to hire Thibodeau, and his real test will be not to hinder the flow within the March 25 trading deadline.
Grade: B-plus