Frank Ntilikina's getting better

RoxSteady · Post #1 » by **RoxSteady** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:01 pm

Yes, his offense is still more bad than his defense is good, and he might not really be a point, but Frank Ntilikina's game and confidence are trending in a positive direction.

Post #2 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:08 pm

In 10 starts this season he's shooting 40% from 3 on 2.5 attempts per game. As long as he can be a consistent 3PT threat he's a huge plus to have on the floor. His defense has been amazing and fiz has been forced to use him with Payton and DSJ out. Hopefully fiz isn't a COMPLETE idiot and keeps playing him.

Swish1906 · Post #3 » by **Swish1906** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:15 pm

Still not sold on his playmaking but as long as he can hit the open three he is going to have a place in this league.

I think the best situation for him would be playing alongside Lebron or Luka as 6-6 3&D guard...

UcanUwill · Post #4 » by **UcanUwill** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:17 pm

I just dont see it with him. I think there are much better players not in the league than him, and teams should more often look for those than irrationally trying to salvage something from obvious busts. At least Portland cut Wade Baldwin right away, and look at him in Europe right now, he is terrible. How no NBA team matched an offer for Nando DeColo this year, he was UFA, like what are some of those execs are thinking?

GreatWhiteStiff · Post #5 » by **GreatWhiteStiff** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:24 pm

Clyde Frazier wrote:In 10 starts this season he's shooting 40% from 3 on 2.5 attempts per game. As long as he can be a consistent 3PT threat he's a huge plus to have on the floor. His defense has been amazing and fiz has been forced to use him with Payton and DSJ out. Hopefully fiz isn't a COMPLETE idiot and keeps playing him.

but in his nonstarts he missed a few three pointers and that brough his percentage below 35. That's actually pretty decent if he was at all efficient at scoring inside. Anyways his isolated mediocre percentages are less impressive than the fact he picked up a sweet 22 blocks+steals in a 5 game stretch where he played more than 20 minutes a game.

Also he shut down Kristaps/Porzingis in about a dozen possessions in a recent game I think, though my memory could be flawed on that one.

Dubious Handles · Post #6 » by **Dubious Handles** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:26 pm

This guy would be a beast on a contender imo. Plays the correct way, amazing defender, moves the ball etc.

TDotJon · Post #7 » by **TDotJon** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:26 pm

he's not good at all. he's the next rodrigue beaubois, they just keep him around because they are obsessed with his wingspan

Post #8 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:30 pm

GreatWhiteStiff wrote:
Clyde Frazier wrote:In 10 starts this season he's shooting 40% from 3 on 2.5 attempts per game. As long as he can be a consistent 3PT threat he's a huge plus to have on the floor. His defense has been amazing and fiz has been forced to use him with Payton and DSJ out. Hopefully fiz isn't a COMPLETE idiot and keeps playing him.

but in his nonstarts he missed a few three pointers and that brough his percentage below 35. That's actually pretty decent if he was at all efficient at scoring inside. Anyways his isolated mediocre percentages are less impressive than the fact he picked up a sweet 22 blocks+steals in a 5 game stretch where he played more than 20 minutes a game.

Also he shut down Kristaps/Porzingis in about a dozen possessions in a recent game I think, though my memory could be flawed on that one.

I mentioned starts because he's actually getting consistent playing time in those as opposed to random 5 minute stints. 10 games on reasonable volume is a decent sample size to look at as a *possible* sign of things to come. His overall efficiency is still low, but he isn't a high usage guy at all, so just being a 3PT threat is huge for him. He's doing ok in P&R and keeps the ball moving on offense. He isn't going to be a primary ball handler, nor should he be. The way he's playing right now, though has become very valuable.

Post #9 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:30 pm

TDotJon wrote:he's not good at all. he's the next rodrigue beaubois, they just keep him around because they are obsessed with his wingspan

why comment on a guy you very clearly barely watch play? what's the appeal there? what's the point?

Post #10 » by **Dirk** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:32 pm

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him do this and got really dizzy with vertigo.

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Post #11 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:32 pm

UcanUwill wrote:I just dont see it with him. I think there are much better players not in the league than him, and teams should more often look for those than irrationally trying to salvage something from obvious busts. At least Portland cut Wade Baldwin right away, and look at him in Europe right now, he is terrible. How no NBA team matched an offer for Nando DeColo this year, he was UFA, like what are some of those execs are thinking?

again, how much have you actually watched him play? his defense has been off the charts good this season. his stat are never gonna stick out even if they continue to improve. he's an impact guy. his on off is now at +11.1 and the defense is 5.9 pts per 100 better with him on the floor. that isn't an accident.

Hero_Panda · Post #12 » by **Hero_Panda** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:39 pm

If he can improve that 3pt shot, what's to stop him from becoming another Danny Green?
Kind of sucks that Fiz and Co. were "forced" to play/develop him rather than focused on developing him from the start and was instead put in the doghouse for some reason. Nothing about Frank screams that he's not a hard worker.

Roddy · Post #13 » by **Roddy** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:57 pm

The past years he was a little too nervous with the ball in his hands. And clearly not a good shooter.
I think that the world cup last summer was a great thing for him. He has improved his ball handling, his shooting and he seems a lot more comfortable.
And he is only 21 years old, he could become a really good 3 and D combo guard.

MotownMadness · Post #14 » by **MotownMadness** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:08 pm

Give him time and patience.

Swish1906 · Post #15 » by **Swish1906** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:09 pm

TDotJon wrote:he's not good at all. he's the next rodrigue beaubois, they just keep him around because they are obsessed with his wingspan

lol...the next beaubois because he is....french? :roll:

Roddy was actually a really good scorer. I think without that foot injury he becomes a borderline allstar.

blueNorange · Post #16 » by **blueNorange** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:20 pm

his defense was always his calling card but he'd just show flashes, now his defense is consistent and at a point where defenders stop dribbling and pass it because they don't want to turn it over when frank is guarding them.

Post #17 » by **Capn'O** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:50 pm

The comp I have for him is Doug Christie.

Less because of playstyle and more because I remember a season where Christie played for the Knicks and in the limited time he was allowed to play just looked like a deer in the headlights on the court. Once he got over his jitters, he was a lockdown defender, threat from the outside, and otherwise good enough on offense to justify starting on a contender. Also, they are the same height. That's the upside of Frank.

He starting to not look lost on offense and it has translated to a situation where the team looks best on both ends when he's on the court.

Nazrmohamed · Post #18 » by **Nazrmohamed** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:56 pm

Swish1906 wrote:
TDotJon wrote:he's not good at all. he's the next rodrigue beaubois, they just keep him around because they are obsessed with his wingspan

lol...the next beaubois because he is....french?

Roddy was actually a really good scorer. I think without that foot injury he becomes a borderline allstar.

Like maybe in that Lou William's way but I see that.

But my thing is why bring Frank up on the GB as if he wasn't gonna get a ton of hate? You couldn't get most people to not think our best player at any time is total trash. Why would we expect anything less of a player who within Knicks fandom is a huge question mark? Hes a developing prospect and project. Definitely has improved. At quick enough a rate? Probably not but the knicks suck right now. Best just keep quiet right now.

OrangeBlueSkies · Post #19 » by **OrangeBlueSkies** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 6:01 pm

TDotJon wrote:he's not good at all. he's the next rodrigue beaubois, they just keep him around because they are obsessed with his wingspan

wait, Roddy B played defense? I remember him as a super quick undersized 2 guard, with a few lucky games from the 3 point arc.

This kid is a bulldog on defense.

antonac · Post #20 » by **antonac** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 6:09 pm

I think players like Ntilikina are actually incredibly useful in the NBA.

You have the league going more positionless, and one of the side effects of that is that the ball handler, traditional point guard role, is now being given to guys that are not point guards. The top 2 playmakers in the NBA right now are Lebron and Doncic, both are built like forwards, then you have Denver running their team through a 7' foot center and Philly putting the ball in the hands of a guy around 6'10.

But I think there's still a place for smaller, quicker players, and players like Ntilikina that play lock down defense can definitely be of use in a system that puts the ball in the hand of a larger star player. I actually wanted to see the Mavs get him as part of the KP trade, not for any reason other than it would be fun to see them run a nearly all euro-lineup, in retrospect it would actually be an excellent fit.

as with literally every NBA player though the caveat is the 3pt shot has to become consistent.