Official Frank Ntilikina Thread

[robillionaire]

I didn't watch the game but from the looks of it I didn't miss anything that we already didn't know

[Dantares]

Would have much rather seen Frank score 15 points in 15 minutes then get 6 assists and 2 steals. We already know he is a decent passer and defensive player.

[mpharris36]

Would have much rather seen Frank score 15 points in 15 minutes then get 6 assists and 2 steals. We already know he is a decent passer and defensive player.

he's never going to do the former...so either you will always be disappointed or you will actually realize what his value can be. Especially with a team that lacks high level defenders and passers.

[ChaosHamster]

Yeah, I understand wanting to see Frank being more aggressive, getting some shot-up and trying to be the guy.

But I really don't think its who he is. Hes transitioning into being combo-wing with some decent handle, being able to guard 1-3 (maybe 4), and with some play-making ability. Now the question still is can he become a plausible 3-point shooter.

[GONYK]

I kinda think you guys are bugging. Frank was in the lane a bunch and created a lot of opportunities off the dribble and penetration.

Aggression doesn't always manifest itself as scoring.

[MaseInYourFace]

Do you hear yourself? What you guys keep saying equates to "We have enough good players. I like Frank so let him run around with those guys to make me feel better". Also, the scoring for those guys you mentioned have nothing to do with Frank's defense or passing. RJ, Mitch, Payton, Taj, Portis and Morris are plenty defense. So what your pushing is finding a role for Frank to run up and down the floor, pass it and hide on the offensive side...basically a continuation of what he's done to date. That's nuts!

no... i didn't think I needed to be more clear but I guess I have to.

We have guys that can score. That are effective in situations with the ball in there hands and making plays. What we don't have is a surplus of ball movers that can also defend. People equate aggressiveness to putting up shots...which I think is complete garbage.

He was plenty active and aggressive, he's just never going to be a high volume shooter. Peoples first reaction is 15 minutes he was 0-3 and don't care about anything else he brings to the table. When I'm saying if you are playing alongside guys like RJ, Randle, Knox...those guys need the ball..you don't need 5 scoring minded people on the court at the same time. Good basketball teams have balance.

I don't care if he's a high volume shooter. He does nothing to impact a game. The eye test can tell you this kid is not ready for the NBA. When his biggest attribute is he "gets out of everybody's way" then he has no attributes. In 2 seasons he's shown no substantial gains in offense (NOT scoring but creating, offensive aggression, urgency, things you need to visually see at this level). His defense has even taken a drop off and the few flashes he's shown seem to be enough for some guys to hang their hat on despite stagnation or regression at damn near every facet. This is the highlight's from todays game where he's playing along his fellow countrymen in a game he's more suited...

Watch on YouTube

...given 2 mediocre seasons with no progress and this game in a friendly environment, can you tell me what I should be excited about with him? I keep hearing the "give it time" or the "he'll improve" but there has yet to be visual evidence that he is working on it OR that he's capable of taking that next step, which if were being honest, it's a fairly simple step. No one is asking for elite shooting. No one is asking for Kawhi defense. No one is asking for JKidd captain skills. None of that is expected - but DAMNIT, give us SOMETHING! I refuse to keep blowing out birthday candles wishing for this kid to make simple improvements coaches expect from HS JV players. You've gotta realize that slight upticks of improvement in defense from Knox, RJ, Mitch, Trier, DSJr (which all are capable of) makes Frank the most useless player in basketball for any team. I don't have to pine over Frank's occasional D if the collective have taken pride in their craft enough to go from really good offensive players with average to below average defensive skills to really good offensive players who are average to above average defenders. His shooting is still a problem. He needs rapid improvement not a career of hopeful progress. And the age thing has long lost it's potency when there are kids coming into the NBA not just more talented than he is, but showing the will to get better.

Saw the highlights from the France game and while he looked like an overall positive out there, on an individual level there wasn’t enough there to hang a hat on as definite improvement. When I’m looking at video like this I am looking for things that might translate to an nba game, and unfortunately I cannot say I saw much of that. It’s just one game though so let’s see.

[Juco24]

I kinda think you guys are bugging. Frank was in the lane a bunch and created a lot of opportunities off the dribble and penetration.

Aggression doesn't always manifest itself as scoring.

See that's what makes me laugh... to your point- there are some guys here who ONLY use stats when it's in their arguments favor. Stats don't favor; "You can't just stats" or "Don't tell me you're one of those who only look at stats" LOL. Stats favor; "He didn't score enough"

I didn't see the game so I'm not stating how he played... just that some pick and choose when to use stats. I'll say this though as I've said before: Frank provides good defense and unselfishness. Put him on a good team and that equates to winning basketball. It's on Fiz to make the Knicks a winning brand and find a role for Frank

[MaseInYourFace]

Most posters on the board (saving a half dozen olds) are Knicks fans under 40. They have the one freak 54 win Melo season. Other than that they have never followed closely a successful basketball team. All of them seem never to have played basketball at any level. So, ldo, they have no understanding at all of what to look for in players in the first few years of their careers.

So we get these asinine posts about how KP is bad on defense. And so on. And so on. And so on.

This is why I have so many of you on my foe list.

@clyde_style - sry - I'll get around to the acronym tomorrow and/or tomorrow+1

I’m 37 and my best and most heartbreaking memories as a knicks fan were in the 90s. So not quite sure what you mean here. It was a long time ago now but the Knicks were really good for a sustained period during that time.

[thebuzzardman]

[Jalen Bluntson]

Most posters on the board (saving a half dozen olds) are Knicks fans under 40. They have the one freak 54 win Melo season. Other than that they have never followed closely a successful basketball team. All of them seem never to have played basketball at any level. So, ldo, they have no understanding at all of what to look for in players in the first few years of their careers.

So we get these asinine posts about how KP is bad on defense. And so on. And so on. And so on.

This is why I have so many of you on my foe list.

@clyde_style - sry - I'll get around to the acronym tomorrow and/or tomorrow+1

I’m 37 and my best and most heartbreaking memories as a knicks fan were in the 90s. So not quite sure what you mean here. It was a long time ago now but the Knicks were really good for a sustained period during that time.

Yeah...30 and under Knicks fans are the ones who've suffered the most. Like...Cubs fans...but worse!!! Even worse than Jets fans!!

[Nazrmohamed]

Would have much rather seen Frank score 15 points in 15 minutes then get 6 assists and 2 steals. We already know he is a decent passer and defensive player.

he's never going to do the former...so either you will always be disappointed or you will actually realize what his value can be. Especially with a team that lacks high level defenders and passers.

Well his employers, scouts and GMs don't see the value in it either so we can either keep going around in circles or he can SCORE 15 FRICKEN POINTS on a team with guys almost out of the NBA themselves.

What you or I value is inconsequential at this point.

[NYKAL]

Would have much rather seen Frank score 15 points in 15 minutes then get 6 assists and 2 steals. We already know he is a decent passer and defensive player.

he's never going to do the former...so either you will always be disappointed or you will actually realize what his value can be. Especially with a team that lacks high level defenders and passers.

Well his employers, scouts and GMs don't see the value in it either so we can either keep going around in circles or he can SCORE 15 FRICKEN POINTS on a team with guys almost out of the NBA themselves.

What you or I value is inconsequential at this point.

I said it a couple of times: The fact that Frank couldn't even out play Burke or Mud was an indictment of his ability...hell Allen is now above him on the depth chart. This team need to let Frank go because he will be best served in a very structured environment.

I totally soured on him after that 0/0/0 game.

[NYKAL]

Frank is a Knick because Phil loves the triangle and Frank is a system player.

The minute Phil left, so left any chance for Frank to show growth on the Knicks.

You can pin blame wherever you want, but the franchise has given him very little chance to grow. It’s obvious that they have no intention of developing him in house and are just biding time for the maximum return on a trade.

The world will never know how good Frank is until he gets traded to Popp or another system-based ball movement team.

Phil should have never been allowed to make that draft pick. He was fired like the day after the draft.

So true. What a weird ass time to fire someone. Fire, then pick. Derp

at the time, I don't think the Knicks had wanted to fire Phil but, he kept giving statement to the press that were destroying Melo's trade market and with Melo taking the high road and keeping quiet, the Knicks were looking REAL bad. Had Phil shut the F-up and quietly moved Melo, I think he would have "at least" been here for that season. That said, the way Phil uses guards in the triangle, Franks inability to hit the 3 would have still kept him from getting much play time.

[j4remi]

So Frank played for 15 minutes and clocked 6 assists but the people who didn't watch the game saw no improvement and arrived to trash him for a few pages? That's about right.

[Nazrmohamed]

he's never going to do the former...so either you will always be disappointed or you will actually realize what his value can be. Especially with a team that lacks high level defenders and passers.

Well his employers, scouts and GMs don't see the value in it either so we can either keep going around in circles or he can SCORE 15 FRICKEN POINTS on a team with guys almost out of the NBA themselves.

What you or I value is inconsequential at this point.

I said it a couple of times: The fact that Frank couldn't even out play Burke or Mud was an indictment of his ability...hell Allen is now above him on the depth chart. This team need to let Frank go because he will be best served in a very structured environment.

I totally soured on him after that 0/0/0 game.

I'm actually a fan but imagine this. You're his friend or old teammate, maybe one of his old coaches from France. What advice do you give him? I imagine it sounds something like this


"Frank I think I taught you well. I taught you to put the team above yourself, to move the ball and take good shots(in terms of when and where to take them), I taught you to play good defense and so far you've done all those things. But for chrissakes Frank, they're about to kick you out of that league. The same league you told me was a dream for you to get to. You really gonna let this moment be lost because you refuse to shoot? So for maybe half a season forget what I've taught you and just be what they want you to be. Check off boxes. Shoot the ball and hey, if your defense slips it slips. Nobody is cutting Knox because of his defense.......or you can be back here in a yr playing defense with me"

[Nazrmohamed]

And that's what it is for me. It's more annoyance because I believe he could do it but he sabotaging himself with these 3 shot efforts. Knox will come in and shoot 38%,same as Frank. And people are aware of his poor shooting but notice people dont say he cant score. Why is that? Because he attempts shots. And I'm not saying I enjoy it but for F sakes. People are literally begging Frank to score. How the F are you gonna score shotting 3 shots. Youd have to shoot 100% and have them be all 3s to get a measly 9pts on three damn shots. Hes supposed to be smart, use your Fing brain.

SHOOT THE DAMN BASKETBALL.

From now on dont even tell me the result. Just tell me how many shots he attempted and I'll know if hes made progress.

[Deeeez Knicks]

So Frank played for 15 minutes and clocked 6 assists but the people who didn't watch the game saw no improvement and arrived to trash him for a few pages? That's about right.

And a FIBA exhibition at that.

[MaseInYourFace]

Well his employers, scouts and GMs don't see the value in it either so we can either keep going around in circles or he can SCORE 15 FRICKEN POINTS on a team with guys almost out of the NBA themselves.

What you or I value is inconsequential at this point.

I said it a couple of times: The fact that Frank couldn't even out play Burke or Mud was an indictment of his ability...hell Allen is now above him on the depth chart. This team need to let Frank go because he will be best served in a very structured environment.

I totally soured on him after that 0/0/0 game.

I'm actually a fan but imagine this. You're his friend or old teammate, maybe one of his old coaches from France. What advice do you give him? I imagine it sounds something like this


"Frank I think I taught you well. I taught you to put the team above yourself, to move the ball and take good shots(in terms of when and where to take them), I taught you to play good defense and so far you've done all those things. But for chrissakes Frank, they're about to kick you out of that league. The same league you told me was a dream for you to get to. You really gonna let this moment be lost because you refuse to shoot? So for maybe half a season forget what I've taught you and just be what they want you to be. Check off boxes. Shoot the ball and hey, if your defense slips it slips. Nobody is cutting Knox because of his defense.......or you can be back here in a yr playing defense with me"

I mean an open shot is a good shot. Him not wanting to shoot those is not a sign he was taught well. To be fair though I don’t think he was taught to not take good open shots. He plays scared to fail at times.

[NYKAL]

I said it a couple of times: The fact that Frank couldn't even out play Burke or Mud was an indictment of his ability...hell Allen is now above him on the depth chart. This team need to let Frank go because he will be best served in a very structured environment.

I totally soured on him after that 0/0/0 game.

I'm actually a fan but imagine this. You're his friend or old teammate, maybe one of his old coaches from France. What advice do you give him? I imagine it sounds something like this


"Frank I think I taught you well. I taught you to put the team above yourself, to move the ball and take good shots(in terms of when and where to take them), I taught you to play good defense and so far you've done all those things. But for chrissakes Frank, they're about to kick you out of that league. The same league you told me was a dream for you to get to. You really gonna let this moment be lost because you refuse to shoot? So for maybe half a season forget what I've taught you and just be what they want you to be. Check off boxes. Shoot the ball and hey, if your defense slips it slips. Nobody is cutting Knox because of his defense.......or you can be back here in a yr playing defense with me"

I mean an open shot is a good shot. Him not wanting to shoot those is not a sign he was taught well. To be fair though I don’t think he was taught to not take good open shots. He plays scared to fail at times.

he STILL looks like a Deer in the headlights. Maybe he needs someone to roofy his ass and take him on a trip like the Movie the Hangover to help him grow some balls.

[dablackprodigy]

lol Dennis Smith gonna kill him in training camp