Through the first two months of the season, the New York Knicks have posted a 10-12 record and are on pace to finish with 37 wins (again). The Knicks have lost five of their last seven games and looking ahead at their schedule, things aren’t going to get easier with the Mavericks and Cavaliers visiting MSG this weekend.
New York did right by signing Jalen Brunson in free agency, and after the first quarter of the season, he’s the team’s leading scorer with 21.3 points. However, even with a true point guard, the Knicks are still hovering in the play-in range of the Eastern Conference. With the trade deadline creeping up, the front office needs to make a few moves to improve the roster, but before we get to that point, there are a few players that must step up their game in the final month of 2022.
3 New York Knicks players that must perform better in December
3: Isaiah Hartenstein
Before signing Jalen Brunson and re-signing Mitchell Robinson, New York’s first move in free agency was to sign Isaiah Hartenstein to a two-year, $16 million contract. The backup center has impressed with his abilities on the offensive end, especially his floater, but he’s a liability on defense.
Robinson found himself in foul trouble in a few games at the start of the season before suffering a knee sprain that kept him sidelined for two weeks. That led to increased minutes for Hartenstein and Jericho Sims, and it became evident that the second-year center is a better defender than Hartenstein. One can even argue that Sims needs to be behind Robinson on the depth chart because he’s a far better defender and rebounder.
Tom Thibodeau doesn’t know what to do with a stretch five like Hartenstein, but unless the seven-footer improves on the defensive end and can help keep the Knicks afloat when Robinson isn’t on the floor, Sims needs to play.
Mavericks and Cavaliers visiting MSG this weekend.</p>
<p>New York did right by signing Jalen Brunson in free agency, and after the first quarter of the season, he’s the team’s leading scorer with 21.3 points. However, even with a true point guard, the Knicks are still hovering in the play-in range of the Eastern Conference. With the trade deadline creeping up, the front office needs to make a few moves to improve the roster, but before we get to that point, there are a few players that must step up their game in the final month of 2022.</p>
<h2>3 New York Knicks players that must perform better in December</h2>
<h3>3: Isaiah Hartenstein</h3>
<p>Before signing Jalen Brunson and re-signing Mitchell Robinson, New York’s first move in free agency was to sign Isaiah Hartenstein to a two-year, $16 million contract. The backup center has impressed with his abilities on the offensive end, especially his floater, but he’s a liability on defense.</p>
<p>Robinson found himself in foul trouble in a few games at the start of the season before suffering a knee sprain that kept him sidelined for two weeks. That led to <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/29/knicks-consider-moving-mitchell-robinson-trade-eligible/">increased minutes</a> for Hartenstein and Jericho Sims, and it became evident that the second-year center is a better defender than Hartenstein. One can even argue that Sims needs to be behind Robinson on the depth chart because he’s a far better defender and rebounder.</p>
<p>Tom Thibodeau doesn’t know what to do with a stretch five like Hartenstein, but unless the seven-footer improves on the defensive end and can help keep the Knicks afloat when Robinson isn’t on the floor, Sims needs to play.</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/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A fan favorite </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-136635" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"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%2F12%2F1245107453.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Obi Toppin" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/12/1245107453.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/12/1245107453-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Obi Toppin, New York Knicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2: Obi Toppin</h3>
<p>Knicks fans love Obi Toppin, and understandably so, but as of late, the 24-year-old has been going through a rough patch. It’s hard to criticize Toppin because he’s being criminally misused and underplayed <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/10/11/tom-thibodeau-disregard-obi-toppin-strong-push-increased-knicks-role/">by Thibodeau</a> even though the front office used a lottery pick on him two years ago.</p>
<p>In order to improve and develop, Toppin needs to spend more time on the court, but thanks to Thibs, that hasn’t happened. Even with Julius Randle playing well offensively this season, New York’s future doesn’t lie in his hands. Fans have seen what Toppin is capable of when he’s given the minutes and he’s proven that he should have an increased role.</p>
<p>Over the last couple of weeks though, Obi’s been struggling offensively. In the Knicks’ last 10 games, he averaged 5.9 points. He’s started to break out of his slump in New York’s last couple of games, but on the team’s five-game road trip, Toppin shot 17.8% from the field. That includes him shooting a combined 0-of-9 in games against Phoenix and Golden State. Because Thibodeau has Toppin on a short leash, Obi can’t afford to make too many mistakes. Hopefully, he’ll have a big month in December.</p>
<p>Perhaps sometime this season, the Knicks will part ways with Thibodeau and will bring in a coach that will better utilize Obi Toppin.</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/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The $107 million man </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-136636" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"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%2F12%2F1245265808.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, RJ Barrett" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/12/1245265808.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/12/1245265808-768x512.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>1: RJ Barrett</h3>
<p>For the Knicks to have a shot at making it to the play-in tournament, RJ Barrett needs to be more consistent. He started the season in a slump that lasted longer than fans thought it would, but recently, he’s <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"https://nypost.com/2022/12/01/knicks-rj-barrett-showing-signs-of-ending-shooting-slump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">turned a corner</a>.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RJ Barrett on November 26th after shooting 6-for-22 in a loss: “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”</p>
<p>RJ Barrett since: 😤 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"https://t.co/vlHwrrEIcW">pic.twitter.com/vlHwrrEIcW
<p>— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"https://twitter.com/TheStrickland/status/1598291181305491457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 1, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>New York signed Barrett <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/12/03/3-knicks-players-perform-better-december/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/09/20/3-reasons-why-rj-barrett-contract-extension-knicks/">to an extension</a> rather than trade for Donovan Mitchell over the summer, which caused people to scrutinize RJ’s game. It didn’t help that he got off to a shaky start, and even though he did the same in previous seasons, the Knicks can’t afford to not be able to rely on Barrett.</p>
<p>In Wednesday’s loss to Milwaukee, Barrett finished one point short of his season-high with 26 points (8-of-15), but after Grayson Allen hit a three-pointer to put the Bucks ahead by three with 30 seconds to go, RJ threw up a poor shot with time left on the shot clock when he could’ve gotten a better look. His decision-making is something that must improve.</p>
<p>It’s year four for RJ and although he isn’t responsible for New York’s roster construction, his extension signaled that the front office was moving forward with constructing the roster around him. The Knicks need a consistent RJ Barrett, so let’s see what he can do in these next 60 games.</p>
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