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.
a 112-85 loss</a> against the Brooklyn Nets.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>3 lessons learned from the Knicks’ difficult stretch of the schedule</h2>
<h3>3: Cam Reddish should receive more playing time</h3>
<p>After <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/10/21/revisiting-cam-reddish-knicks-trade-ahead-kevin-knox-return-garden/">being acquired</a> ahead of the trade deadline last season for Kevin Knox and a protected first-round pick, <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/reddica01.html" ref="nofollow">Cam Reddish</a> never found any sort of rhythm in New York before injuries ended his season prematurely.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cam doing it on both ends 🔒 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://t.co/4aeo537PJY">pic.twitter.com/4aeo537PJY
<p>— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1588686178248642560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 5, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</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/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Barrett back on track </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135796" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-135796" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F11%2F1439873501.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, RJ Barrett" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1439873501.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1439873501-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h3>2: RJ Barrett is going to be fine</h3>
<p>After a dismal 3-of-18 shooting game on opening night against the Memphis Grizzlies, many were <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/10/27/knicks-latest-belief-rj-barrett-offensive-struggles-absolute-nonsense/">beginning to question</a> RJ Barrett’s ceiling and whether or not he could contend for an All-Star spot as soon as this season.</p>
<p>However, he’s quietly put together an efficient stretch of play which is even more impressive considering the higher level of competition that the team has faced as of late.</p>
<p>On the season as a whole, Barrett is averaging 19.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 43% from the field, 31% from three, and 77% from the charity stripe.</p>
<p>It’s also worth noting that the 22-year-old has made developmental strides in many areas of his game that needed improvement last year, which is a positive sign that his scoring totals and efficiency will increase once he starts knocking down threes.</p>
<p>Barrett is shooting 50.5% on two-pointers which includes 67.3% on shots within three feet of the basket, a huge step up from his percentages last year of 44.2% and 59.6%, respectively.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RJ getting to the RIM ❗️ <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://t.co/e8y1i6Mc9O">pic.twitter.com/e8y1i6Mc9O
<p>— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1588683674630979584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 5, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>The former No. 3 overall pick has started to become the volume scorer that many Knicks fans were expecting him to be this year. With Reddish inserted into the starting lineup, Barrett can also conserve energy on the defensive end as he won’t be required to guard each opponent’s top option every night.</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/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A big rotation tweak </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135797" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135797" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F11%2F1438516591.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Obi Toppin" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1438516591.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1438516591-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Obi Toppin, New York Knicks. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h3>3. More Obi Toppin/Julius Randle minutes</h3>
<p>Perhaps the most surprising player through the first 11 games has been <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4278355/obi-toppin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Obi Toppin</a>, who’s averaged 10.3 points in just 17.6 minutes per game on absurd 48-40-100 shooting splits.</p>
<p>He needs to be getting more playing time, and one avenue into doing that is by playing him alongside Julius Randle in small-ball lineups. Thibodeau has been hesitant to give them playing time together, but the results are starting to speak for themselves.</p>
<p>The <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/05/tom-thibodeau-julius-randle-obi-toppin-desperation-plays-favor/">Randle/Toppin frontcourt</a> was essentially the main reason why the Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers, coming back from a double-digit fourth quarter deficit as soon as both power forwards checked into the game together.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">OBI TOPPIN ICE COLD FROM DOWNTOWN ❄️ <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://t.co/FDHmSfxbc1">pic.twitter.com/FDHmSfxbc1
<p>— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://twitter.com/KnicksMSGN/status/1588701913066795008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 5, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>It’s not an exaggeration to say that Toppin is the Knicks’ most efficient offensive player this year, ranking fourth on the team in scoring despite currently sitting at ninth in minutes per game. There needs to be a concerted effort by the coaching staff to make sure he gets more playing time.</p>
<p>In the 27 minutes that Randle and Toppin have shared the floor this season, New York is outscoring their opponents by 7.4 points per 100 possessions. Long story short, they need to finish the season with way more than just 27 minutes together.</p>
<p>While the Knicks didn’t dominate their recent stretch of games against some of the league’s elite, they still learned several valuable lessons that can set the team up for success both this season and beyond.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="dvYCHb7xcr"><p><a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/10/4-megastars-new-york-knicks-happy-trade-trove-picks/">4 Megastars New York Knicks would be happy to trade trove of picks for</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/11/3-things-knicks-learned-recent-tough-schedule-stretch/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/10/4-megastars-new-york-knicks-happy-trade-trove-picks/embed/#?secret=dvYCHb7xcr" data-secret="dvYCHb7xcr" width="500" height="282" title="“4 Megastars New York Knicks would be happy to trade trove of picks for” — Daily Knicks" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div><!—pageview_candidate—>">