The New York Knicks are 3-4 to start out the season, most recently blowing a 23-point lead against the Atlanta Hawks at MSG on Wednesday night. The Knicks are now entering a tough weekend where they’ll play the Sixers and Celtics in a back-to-back.
New York got three straight wins over Detroit, Orlando, and Charlotte after falling in overtime to Memphis on opening night. Since beating the Hornets in overtime, the Knicks have lost three straight games.
Here we are seven games into the season, and there have been several takeaways regarding New York’s play thus far, whether they be concerning or positive. Let’s take a deeper look at four of these trends in particular. Which ones are legitimate? And which ones should fans brush off?
Barrett did well in the preseason, but to start the regular season, he hasn’t looked like the player that fans were hoping to see. He’s averaging 17.9 points and is shooting 40.7% from the field and 23.7% from three. In the Knicks’ first two games of the season, Barrett shot a combined 0-for-9 from deep. His three-point shot finally started falling against the Cavaliers, where he shot 3-for-4 from three.
His finishing at the rim has been an issue, as well as his efficiency. Those are two issues that have followed Barrett throughout his four-year career. As mentioned, it’s still early, and because it’s RJ, one can assume that he will turn things around. Things are different now than they were last year, though. Now that he has his money, New York needs him to step it up.
If you’re concerned about Barrett’s play, that’s fair. However, to go as far as to say that he isn’t worth $107 million when there are still 75 games left to play? Not only is that unfair, but it’s way too early to come to that conclusion. There’s still plenty of basketball left to be played.
signed a four-year</a>, $120 million (with $107 million guaranteed) extension in September. Ironically, the Knicks made the extension official on the same day that Donovan Mitchell was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After an offseason full of rumors, Barrett moved forward with New York as his team.</p>
<p>Barrett did well in the preseason, but to start the regular season, he hasn’t looked like the player that fans were hoping to see. He’s averaging 17.9 points and is shooting 40.7% from the field and 23.7% from three. In the Knicks’ first two games of the season, Barrett shot a combined 0-for-9 from deep. His three-point shot finally started falling against the Cavaliers, where he shot 3-for-4 from three.</p>
<h2>Should the Knicks be concerned about RJ Barrett’s play to start the season?</h2>
<p>His finishing at the rim has been an issue, as well as his efficiency. Those are two issues that have followed Barrett throughout his four-year career. As mentioned, it’s still early, and because it’s RJ, one can assume that he will turn things around. Things are different now than they were last year, though. Now that he has his money, New York needs him to step it up.</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about Barrett’s play, that’s fair. However, to go as far as to say that he isn’t worth $107 million when there are still 75 games left to play? Not only is that unfair, but it’s way too early to come to that conclusion. There’s still plenty of basketball left to be played.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Sell</strong></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/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Knicks' depth at center </a>
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in foul trouble</a>. And not only that, but some of the fouls that he’s committed have been questionable, to say the least.</p>
<p>Because Robinson’s spent more time on the bench than Hartenstein, some people have called for the former Clipper to start in Mitch’s place. However, it doesn’t work that way. Robinson needs to be smarter about the fouls that he picks up, yes, but Hartenstein starting in his place wouldn’t give the team the defense that they need.</p>
<h2>Mitchell Robinson shouldn’t be taken out of the Knicks’ starting lineup.</h2>
<p>Hartenstein is a better scorer than Robinson, whether it be with his floaters or his occasional three-pointers. Robinson, however, is a better rim protector and rebounder.</p>
<p>Hartenstein isn’t the same presence in the lane that Robinson is, and fans saw that against the Bucks last Friday. Giannis Antetokounmpo (14 rebounds), Bobby Portis (12 rebounds including 8 offensive rebounds), and Brook Lopez (11 rebounds) killed New York on the glass. Hartenstein played in 28 minutes and had eight rebounds and Robinson had nine rebounds in 20 minutes.</p>
<p>Hartenstein should continue to come off the bench, and Robinson needs to be a smarter player. He can’t take himself out of the game.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Sell</strong></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/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> An issue in the starting lineup </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135361" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"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%2F1438521202.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Evan Fournier" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1438521202.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1438521202-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Evan Fournier, New York Knicks. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2: Evan Fournier is hurting the Knicks in the starting lineup</h3>
<p>After the Knicks signed Jalen Brunson in free agency, the conversation about Evan Fournier no longer being in the starting lineup began to really ramp up. According to SNY’s <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"https://www.sny.tv/shows/the-putback-with-ian-begley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ian Begley</a>, members of the organization themselves had concerns about a Brunson-Fournier backcourt. Many viewed Quentin Grimes as the solution to that dilemma, especially after getting to watch him play over the summer.</p>
<p>Fans were disappointed to hear Tom Thibodeau say that Fournier was the frontrunner to start during training camp, but soon after, it was revealed that Grimes was dealing with a left foot injury. That injury kept him out of every preseason game except for the finale, where he re-aggravated his foot. Grimes made his regular season debut in the loss to the Hawks, but he was only on the court for five minutes due to his minutes being “situational.”</p>
<p>Because Grimes missed the first part of the season, he isn’t yet to the point where he can take Fournier’s place in the lineup. However, Immanuel Quickley should. Fournier’s coming off his worst game of the season thus far. He scored three points (1-for-6 from the field, 1-for-4 from three) and added two rebounds, one assist, and two turnovers in 19 minutes on Wednesday. Fournier’s a good shooter, yes, but his shot is so inconsistent. On top of that, he isn’t a good defender.</p>
<h2>It’s time for Knicks to take Evan Fournier out of the starting lineup.</h2>
<p>For now, New York needs to seriously consider starting Quickley, who finished with 11 points (3-for-7 from the field, 1-for-3 from three), a career-high 16 rebounds, four assists, and two turnovers in 29 minutes. He should’ve taken the floor with the other starting four in the second half, but instead, Thibs left the starting five on the floor to get crushed.</p>
<p>Fournier is <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/10/29/knicks-fans-nba-trade-machine-evan-fournier-lakers-deal/">hurting the Knicks</a> when he’s on the floor. There’s no reason for him to remain in the starting lineup, and apparently, everyone can see it except for Thibodeau.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Buy</strong></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/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Knicks' biggest move of the summer </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135308" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"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%2F1437555690.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1437555690.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/11/1437555690-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1: Jalen Brunson is the Knicks’ most consistent player</h3>
<p>The Knicks didn’t trade for a star guard over the summer, but they did sign Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract in free agency. At long last, New York finally has a point guard.</p>
<p>He’s made his <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"https://twitter.com/KnicksMSGN/status/1587955662868226048" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impact felt</a> too. Through seven games, he’s averaging 18.4 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 48.1% from the field and 32.1% from three. After he signed with the Knicks, many questioned if Brunson would be able to look like the same player without being alongside Luka Doncic, and he’s proved those people wrong.</p>
<h2>Jalen Brunson will be a positive for the Knicks throughout the season.</h2>
<p>New York’s on a rough three-game skid that involved the team blowing two double-digit leads against Cleveland and Atlanta. Unless the Knicks make a change, fans could be in for another rough season. If that ends up being the case, Brunson will be one of the few <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/11/04/buy-sell-4-knicks-trends-dismal-start-season/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/10/28/sports-illustrated-take-jalen-brunson-knicks-mindset-shifting/">positive takeaways</a> from the season.</p>
<p>Brunson’s effective at creating and leading an offense, which can’t be said for the team’s previous point guards. Simply having him on the court is enough for New York. His contract wasn’t an overpay because if anything, it was an underpay.</p>
<p>One thing that fans can appreciate right now and for the remainder of the year is that the front office was smart enough to go after Jalen Brunson in free agency.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Buy</strong></p>
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