New York Knicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
3. Play the young guys!
Hopefully, this will be the season where the Knicks let their young bucks run. Last season, Evan Fournier finished third on the Knicks in minutes per game at 29.5. Alec Burks finished fourth with 28.6. On a struggling Knicks team, there really was no reason for the 29-year-old Fournier to start 80 games. Knicks fans would’ve liked to see the younger players get more opportunities last season.
Immanuel Quickley:
Sophomore point guard Immanuel Quickley appeared in 78 games but only started three while playing 23.1 minutes per game. Quickley’s 14.59 PER ranked fifth on the Knicks and ranked above Kemba Walker, Alec Burks, and Evan Fournier. Here were Quickley’s Per 36 numbers: 17.6 points, 5.5 assists, and five rebounds. Quickley’s +264 was first on the Knicks and +99 better than Obi Toppin, who was in second.
Quickley played 42 minutes (a career-high) and electrified the Garden crowd with a 34-point triple-double in the season finale against the Toronto Raptors.
Quickley was electric and effective in the minutes he did play. If he doesn’t see his minutes increase this season, there will be a lot of unhappy fans in New York.
Obi Toppin:
Obi Toppin had a frustrating sophomore season as well. Playing in 72 games, Toppin only started in 10 and played 17.1 minutes per game. When the Knicks drafted Toppin eighth overall in the 2020 draft, many expected him to be impactful in his first season. After a quiet rookie year, it was believed Toppin would have an increased role in 2021-22.
Held back by coach Tom Thibodeau all season, it wasn’t until the final five games of the season that Toppin would be unleashed as he saw consistent minutes in the 30-40s.
These were Toppin’s stats in six games where he saw at least 30 minutes:
25.6 points
53.05 FG% on 16.6 shot attempts
7.0 rebounds
3.3 assists
1.0 block
45.7% from three on 7.5 attempts
A young player in the NBA needs consistency and flow to get acclimated into games and their career. Toppin has seen nothing but inconsistency in playing opportunities since he was drafted. Those final games of the season were a window into the player Toppin can be with more freedom.
Quentin Grimes:
The Knicks have a lot of hope for the combo guard they drafted 25th in the 2021 NBA draft. Grimes played in 46 games last season, averaging 17 minutes per game. Continuing on the trend of Quickley and Toppin, he only started in six of those games.
At six-foot-four, Grimes has good size at the guard position. He can knock down shots when needed, but his defensive instincts will prove valuable to the Knicks this season.
He can handle the scoring load if that’s what is asked of him. Averaging 17.8 points per game, Grimes was the leader scoring on a Houston Cougar team that made the Final Four in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He was also the second leading rebounder at 5.7 per game.
With Burks and Kemba Walker gone, Grimes should have more chances to see the court.
Cam Reddish:
To keep a confusing story short, the Knicks traded for Cam Reddish last season and then barely used him. The 23-year-old, six-foot-eight Reddish is the prototypical wing/forward that teams want in the NBA today. He has the versatility to shoot from deep and also can put the ball on the floor and create opportunities.
While still a member of the Atlanta Hawks last season, Reddish showcased his ability to hit from deep when he hit a career high eight three-pointers against the Chicago Bulls. In the 2020-21 playoffs, Reddish hit six three-pointers in a game six loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
On this Knicks team, he will most likely be asked to be a floor spacer. Probably better suited to come off the bench, Reddish could excel on this team by scoring in bunches.
the 2022-23 NBA season</a>, the Eastern Conference looks like it is going to be incredibly competitive again for the New York Knicks.</p>
<p>Last season, the top 10 teams in the Eastern Conference finished with a record above .500. The Eastern Conference in 2021-22 collectively finished with some of the best records we’ve ever seen.</p>
<h2>Historical context of the 2021-22 Eastern Conference</h2>
<p>If teams 1-10 in the Eastern Conference repeats itself from last season, the Knicks will have to take a leap to even make it to the play-in tournament. New York finished the 2021-22 season with a record of 37-45, a full six games behind the tenth seed to make the play-in.</p>
<p>Since 1980, there have only ever been two instances where the tenth team in the East finished with a .500 record. In 1997-98, the Washington Wizards finished in ninth at 42-40 and the Orlando Magic finished in tenth at 41-41. The Chicago Bulls finished ninth in 2015-16 with a record of 42-40 and the Washington Wizards finished tenth at 41-41.</p>
<p>The fact that the 9-10 seeds in the East both finished 43-39 in 2021-22 was historic. Looking back at history, it may not be sustainable and we are more likely to have those 9-10 seeds be closer to .500 than above it this season.</p>
<h2><strong> 3 reasons why the Knicks will be able to compete in the East in 2022-23 </strong></h2>
<h3>1. Direction at point guard with Jalen Brunson</h3>
<p>The Knicks made what some could call a splash when they signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract this offseason. It was a significant signing for a franchise that hasn’t had a point guard or playmaker of that caliber for a long time.</p>
<p>Playing alongside Luka Doncic, Brunson hasn’t always had the opportunity to put his playmaking skills on display. That’d be tough for any guard to do in that situation next to Luka, as he had the highest usage last season.</p>
<p>In 62 regular season games with Luka last season, Brunson averaged 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists. In 17 regular season games without Doncic, he upped his game to 20 points, 7.5 assists, and four rebounds. Brunson also exploded without Doncic in Game 2 and Game 3 of the Mavericks’ first round-series against the Jazz in the playoffs.</p>
<p>When Brunson was given the keys, he averaged nearly eight assists per game. Julius Randle led New York in assists last season at 5.1 per game. Brunson’s passing abilities are important for a Knicks franchise that has frankly been awful passing the ball in the last four seasons.</p>
<h2>Here’s how the Knicks have ranked in assists per game since 2018-19:</h2>
<p>2021-2022: 30th</p>
<p>2020-2021: 29th</p>
<p>2019-2020: 27th</p>
<p>2018-2019: 30th</p>
<p>The last Knick to average over 7.5 assists per game was Raymond Felton. Felton averaged nine assists per game in 54 games in the 2010-11 season. Stephon Marbury averaged 8.1 assists per game for the Knicks back in 2004-05 while playing in all 82 games.</p>
<p>Jalen Brunson at point guard gives the Knicks a word they haven’t been able to use for a long time — sustainability. Brunson handling the ball and facilitating the offense will help the team grow. With his ability to drive, he should be able to find open teammates and he can also run in transition.</p>
<p>An increase in usage and handling the ball could see Brunson be the first Knick to hit that 8-10 assists per game range in a very long time.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The progression of RJ Barrett </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133245" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F09%2F1239673193.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, RJ Barrett" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1239673193.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/09/1239673193-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. RJ Barrett makes a leap</h3>
<p>Arguably the biggest needle mover to the Knicks 2022-23 season is RJ Barrett. Barrett, the Knicks’ third overall selection in the 2019 draft, will be going into an important fourth season.</p>
<p>After hearing his name being dangled in Donovan Mitchell trade talks, the Knicks proved their loyalty to the 22-year-old by signing him to a <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/31/3-things-know-rj-barrett-four-year-extension-knicks/2/">four-year, $120 million extension</a> this offseason.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Locked in 🔒 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://t.co/IuzTSovvda">pic.twitter.com/IuzTSovvda
<p>— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1565424328799387649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 1, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Last season, RJ saw a <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4395625/rj-barrett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dip in percentages</a> as his shots and usage rate increased from the 2020-21 season. Dropping from 40.1% on threes in 2020-21 to 34.2% from deep in 2021-22 is a tad concerning, but it was the first time that he was expected to facilitate the offense. Sometimes young players get overwhelmed, and that could’ve been the case with Barrett.</p>
<p>It wasn’t all negative, as he raised his points from 17.6 in year two to 20 per game in year three. He also raised his free throw attempts from 3.8 to 5.8, a key stat that shows he was being more aggressive. Barrett finished 12th in free throws attempted per game last season while teammate Julius Randle tied for 14th.</p>
<p>The stats don’t always tell the story, though. His percentages might’ve gone down and he only raised his points per game by three, but RJ showed to be more of a complete player last season. Was he asked to do too much at times? Perhaps, which is why Brunson was brought in to run a more fluid offense.</p>
<p>RJ Barrett should continue to raise his points per game this season. The arrival of Brunson and hopefully a <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/05/new-york-knicks-moderation-key-julius-randle-resurgence/">resurgence season from Randle</a> should help take pressure off of RJ. He should no longer have to run the whole offense like he attempted to do in 2020-21.</p>
<p>He should be New York’s go-to scorer this season and with an increase in percentages, RJ averaging 25 points in 2022-23 is not a crazy statement, but it’s an expectation.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Youth movement </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-125681" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F04%2F1239592275.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/04/1239592275.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/04/1239592275-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">New York Knicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. Play the young guys!</h3>
<p>Hopefully, this will be the season where the Knicks let their young bucks run. Last season, Evan Fournier finished third on the Knicks in minutes per game at 29.5. Alec Burks finished fourth with 28.6. On a struggling Knicks team, there really was no reason for the 29-year-old Fournier to start 80 games. Knicks fans would’ve liked to see the younger players get more opportunities last season.</p>
<h2><strong>Immanuel Quickley:</strong></h2>
<p>Sophomore point guard Immanuel Quickley appeared in 78 games but only started three while playing 23.1 minutes per game. Quickley’s 14.59 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/ny/table/game/sort/PER/dir/desc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PER</a> ranked fifth on the Knicks and ranked above Kemba Walker, Alec Burks, and Evan Fournier. Here were Quickley’s <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/q/quickim01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Per 36</a> numbers: 17.6 points, 5.5 assists, and five rebounds. Quickley’s +264 was <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/player-best-plus-minus-2022-knicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first on the Knicks</a> and +99 better than Obi Toppin, who was in second.</p>
<p>Quickley played 42 minutes (a career-high) and electrified the Garden crowd with a 34-point <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/04/04/immanuel-quickley-records-triple-double-despite-new-york-knicks-coach-tom-thibodeau/">triple-double in the season finale against the Toronto Raptors.</p>
<p>Quickley was electric and effective in the minutes he did play. If he doesn’t see his minutes increase this season, there will be a lot of unhappy fans in New York.</p>
<h2><strong>Obi Toppin:</strong></h2>
<p>Obi Toppin had a frustrating sophomore season as well. Playing in 72 games, Toppin only started in 10 and played 17.1 minutes per game. When the Knicks drafted Toppin eighth overall in the 2020 draft, many expected him to be impactful in his first season. After a quiet rookie year, it was believed Toppin would have an increased role in 2021-22.</p>
<p>Held back by coach Tom Thibodeau all season, it wasn’t until the final five games of the season that Toppin<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/05/knicks-stunt-obi-toppin-growth-julius-randle-stays/"> would be unleashed</a> as he saw consistent minutes in the 30-40s.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sv9U8xWCSEw?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen title="Obi Toppin caps off CAREER-HIGH 42 PTS with double-double in season finale! 🔥"></iframe></div>
<p>These were Toppin’s stats in six games where he saw at least 30 minutes:</p>
<ul>
<li>25.6 points</li>
<li>53.05 FG% on 16.6 shot attempts</li>
<li>7.0 rebounds</li>
<li>3.3 assists</li>
<li>1.0 block</li>
<li>45.7% from three on 7.5 attempts</li>
</ul>
<p>A young player in the NBA needs consistency and flow to get acclimated into games and their career. Toppin has seen nothing but inconsistency in playing opportunities since he was drafted. Those final games of the season were a window into the player Toppin can be with more freedom.</p>
<h2><strong>Quentin Grimes:</strong></h2>
<p>The Knicks have a lot of hope for the combo guard they drafted 25th in the 2021 NBA draft. Grimes played in 46 games last season, averaging 17 minutes per game. Continuing on the trend of Quickley and Toppin, he only started in six of those games.</p>
<p>At six-foot-four, Grimes has good size at the guard position. He can knock down shots when needed, but his defensive instincts will prove valuable to the Knicks this season.</p>
<p>He can handle the scoring load if that’s what is asked of him. Averaging 17.8 points per game, Grimes was the leader scoring on a Houston Cougar team that made the Final Four in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He was also the second leading rebounder at 5.7 per game.</p>
<p>With Burks and Kemba Walker gone, Grimes should have more chances to see the court.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/OWwHuSv9rE0?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen title="Quentin Grimes sets new franchise record in BREAKOUT game for the Knicks! 💪"></iframe></div>
<h2>Cam Reddish:</h2>
<p>To keep a confusing story short, the Knicks traded for Cam Reddish last season and then barely used him. The 23-year-old, six-foot-eight Reddish is the prototypical wing/forward that teams want in the NBA today. He has the versatility to shoot from deep and also can put the ball on the floor and create opportunities.</p>
<p>While still a member of the Atlanta Hawks last season, Reddish showcased his ability to hit from deep when he hit a career high <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=D_wB2ml3ERA&feature=emb_title%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">eight three-pointers</a> against the Chicago Bulls. In the 2020-21 playoffs, Reddish hit <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/18/3-reasons-knicks-improved-compete-east-2022-23/3/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lugPjNjSphg%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">six three-pointers</a> in a game six loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.</p>
<p>On this Knicks team, he will most likely be asked to be a floor spacer. Probably better suited to come off the bench, Reddish could excel on this team by scoring in bunches.</p>
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