MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Phoenix Suns (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
New York Knicks fans have a few players worth cheering for in the NBA bubble.
As the NBA resumes play in Orlando, the New York Knicks are stuck at home getting ready to announce their new head coach in Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks are one of eight teams who weren’t invited to the Walt Disney World festivities that could eventually crown an NBA champion, if all goes well in stemming the spread of the coronavirus.
But just because the Knicks aren’t playing, it doesn’t mean their fans have no reason to watch as the league kicks back into action.
There are several intriguing storylines for basketball fans to follow. Which of the two teams from Los Angeles will make it through the Western Conference into the NBA Finals? Can either team beat Giannis and the Bucks? Will a surprise team emerge? What about Zion?
As interesting it will be to see how the 2019-20 season concludes, for Knicks fans, there are also particular players worth paying attention to in the bubble.
Knicks president Leon Rose will surely be watching upcoming free agents and potential trade candidates to evaluate potential fits for his broken roster.
There are reports that the NBA will allow the “Delete 8” teams to resume team workouts in August, perhaps for up to three weeks in length, with some scrimmages. This would allow Thibodeau an early chance to work with his new roster. But for Knicks fans looking to watch live games, they are left with what they can find in Orlando.
Let’s go through some players Knicks fans can root for in the bubble.
July 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>In parts of five seasons in New York, Thomas was limited on the offensive end, and could have been a much better contributor if he could knock down a perimeter shot, but his hustle on the defensive end was never questioned.</p>
<p>After he was waived by the Nets in October and mostly stuck in his apartment due to the pandemic, Thomas was able to somehow stay in shape so he would be ready in case a call came like one did from Brooklyn.</p>
<p>Thomas isn’t going to give fans the thrill that Jamal Crawford might in Orlando, but sometimes you just root for a good outcome for a good person.</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/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2) Basically a Knick </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-110715" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1212471505-850x560.jpeg" alt="Knicks" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 05: Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Players Knicks fans can root for in the bubble: Marcus Morris</h2>
<p>Rooting for <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/morrima03.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Marcus Morris</a> is almost like rooting for the Knicks, right? The rugged forward was one of the rare highlights to the 2019-20 season before he was traded in February.</p>
<p>Even the trade brings excitement to Knicks fans as it netted the team a late first round pick from the Clippers. And I suppose, if we want to see the best possible outcome for the Knicks, it would make sense to root against Morris and the Clippers so New York ends up with a better pick.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/jReTXyhvpuU?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>That said, it’s possible that Morris will turn into a short rental for the Clippers before he returns to New York as a free agent this fall. As I said, rooting for him is sort of like rooting for the Knicks.</p>
<p>Playing in 43 games for the Knicks, Morris averaged 19.6 points per game and pulled down 5.4 boards. He also was the team’s most consistent perimeter shooter, knocking down a career-best 43.9% from downtown, including several clutch shots in the season’s best win against Dallas.</p>
<p>Perhaps the best outcome for Knicks fans is the Clippers are upset early (helping that draft pick), but Morris continues to prove he is a player worth investing in down the road.</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/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1) Save the best for last </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-110714" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1198904961-850x560.jpeg" alt="Knicks" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the New York Knicks (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Players Knicks fans can root for in the bubble: Carmelo Anthony</h2>
<p>Save the best for last. We already got a classic Melo highlight in Portland’s recent scrimmage game. You can hear the 10-time All-Star using some choice words in calling for a rebound.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">“I got it, fu-k outa here”</p>
<p>Carmelo Anthony <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://t.co/QPDTNwxO8V">pic.twitter.com/QPDTNwxO8V
<p>— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1286388863192055808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 23, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Hoodie Melo has become Skinny Melo in Orlando, as early videos showed a slimmer down version of the former Knick. While fans have learned not to put too much stock in workout videos, it’s refreshing to see the future Hall-of-Famer in great shape as the league resumes play.</p>
<p>With Leon Rose taking over as president of the Knicks, speculation has already began about a <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://dailyknicks.com/2020/06/10/knicks-rumors-3-forwards-free-agency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">possible reunion at Madison Square Garden next season</a>. The Knicks could use a forward who can shoot, as well as a veteran presence to help mentor the young core. As long as Anthony is willing to take on such a role, it could be a home run move.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Who is the best coach in Knicks history?" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/22/ny-knicks-ranking-best-head-coaches/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/30/ny-knicks-4-players-root-orlando-bubble/"https://dailyknicks.com/2020/07/22/ny-knicks-ranking-best-head-coaches/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Who is the best coach in Knicks history? </a> </div>
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<p>Knicks fans will be watching Melo in hopes of seeing the player they fell in love with during his stint with the team. And maybe he can bring some of the remaining magic in his scoring touch back to New York in the offseason.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">