Fort Knox: A defense of Kevin Knox

[blueNorange]

i still think knox is a bench player, but hey this year will truly tell.

as long as he remains a good catch and shoot/lives off the free throw line he’ll be fine.

[iLLmatic860]

Fiz's magnetic personality is a strong draw for top free agents so that makes up for his apparent lack of coaching acumen.

It's his magnetic personality that's allowed him to skate by with no offensive system.

Are u talkin In Memphis? Or just ny?

[iLLmatic860]

i still think knox is a bench player, but hey this year will truly tell.

as long as he remains a good catch and shoot/lives off the free throw line he’ll be fine.

Nah hes def a starter. I see his ceiling being a Tobias Harris tier player

And thats not a knock (no pun intended lol)

[blueNorange]

i still think knox is a bench player, but hey this year will truly tell.

as long as he remains a good catch and shoot/lives off the free throw line he’ll be fine.

Nah hes def a starter. I see his ceiling being a Tobias Harris tier player

And thats not a knock (no pun intended lol)

knox was the worst defensive player in the history since drpm was documented.

so no he's not a def starter, he lacks the lateral quickness to ever keep up with his man unless you make him strictly a 4, but then you have a weak rebounding 4.

[BigRedDog]

i still think knox is a bench player, but hey this year will truly tell.

as long as he remains a good catch and shoot/lives off the free throw line he’ll be fine.

Nah hes def a starter. I see his ceiling being a Tobias Harris tier player

And thats not a knock (no pun intended lol)

knox was the worst defensive player in the history since drpm was documented.

so no he's not a def starter, he lacks the lateral quickness to ever keep up with his man unless you make him strictly a 4, but then you have a weak rebounding 4.

i agree knox probably needs to move to the 4 to ever be truly effective. He prob needs a few years to bulk up to do that though

[BigRedDog]

I must be missing something here. Hasn't he only just turned 20? Seems like there's plenty of time of his game to grow as well as his understanding. To put things in to perspective Siakam had only been playing bball 3 years at this same point and he's turned out alright. From an outsider looking in, it seems to me that Fizdale is perhaps the worst coach at developing young talent. Frank wasn't allowed to play through any mistakes whereas Knox was able to develop bad habits with impunity.

with ty lue and jason kidd out as head coaches its def possible that Fitz is the worst coach in the league

[Zenzibar]

I must be missing something here. Hasn't he only just turned 20? Seems like there's plenty of time of his game to grow as well as his understanding. To put things in to perspective Siakam had only been playing bball 3 years at this same point and he's turned out alright. From an outsider looking in, it seems to me that Fizdale is perhaps the worst coach at developing young talent. Frank wasn't allowed to play through any mistakes whereas Knox was able to develop bad habits with impunity.

with ty lue and jason kidd out as head coaches its def possible that Fitz is the worst coach in the league

[thebuzzardman]

Fiz's magnetic personality is a strong draw for top free agents so that makes up for his apparent lack of coaching acumen.

It's his magnetic personality that's allowed him to skate by with no offensive system.

Are u talkin In Memphis? Or just ny?

Just NY. He ran an actual system in Memphis.

The assumption is he didn't in NY because:

He was tanking
The players were incapable
The players were incapable because they were too young.

I hope it's not reason #3, as it's on the coach to coach up players to perform and bench the ones that don't execute.

Assuming losses were the goal, last year that doesn't matter; in fact it was a good thing.

As has been posted a lot by me and a lot by others, this is the year we get to really assess Fiz as a coach, because while the roster isn't great, in my opinion it's not bad, and it's absolutely deep with "decent" or "average" talent, plus there are a number of players who can play multiple positions. I mean, I'm not saying the Knicks have that advantage over any other team, in that there are players who can play multiple positions, but what is true is that nearly every player on the roster could play another position, if even for limited stretches AND the roster goes 14 or 15 deep, if you count Bullock.

Centers: Mitch, Gibson, Randle, Portis
- Knicks will absolutely play Randle as a small ball C. Gibson can bang with bigger C's. Portis can stretch the floor on offense from the 5 or 4.

Power Forwards: Randle, Morris, Portis, Gibson (Gibson and Portis somewhat limited due to many stretch 4's but can see time here), Knox, *Iggy (maybe)

Small Forwards: Morris\Knox\RJ\Iggy\Frank\Bullock (probably won't play) Even Dotson can hold down some SF in a 3 guard line up.

Shooting Guards: RJ\Trier\Dotson\Ellington\Frank?\Payton?. Not discounting a 2 PG look at times; Didn't add Iggy here but I think he could play "SG" a little, but only in small doses and dependent on who the other wing is.

Point Guards: DSJr\Payton\Frank\Trier. Special mention to RJ. So, that's 3 deep, but Trier can play a LITTLE PG, as long it's only a minute or two. RJ has point skills, but I doubt anyone wants him bringing it up against NBA defenses. Just highlighting his ability to function at the point of an offense gives Fiz more looks, and less excuses

Lots of looks to show other teams; lots of combinations to use on offense and defense, no reason not to find lineups that work and no reason not to bench guys who aren't bringing effort or executing the system on offense or defense.

[iLLmatic860]

It's his magnetic personality that's allowed him to skate by with no offensive system.

Are u talkin In Memphis? Or just ny?

Just NY. He ran an actual system in Memphis.

The assumption is he didn't in NY because:

He was tanking
The players were incapable
The players were incapable because they were too young.

I hope it's not reason #3, as it's on the coach to coach up players to perform and bench the ones that don't execute.

Assuming losses were the goal, last year that doesn't matter; in fact it was a good thing.

As has been posted a lot by me and a lot by others, this is the year we get to really assess Fiz as a coach, because while the roster isn't great, in my opinion it's not bad, and it's absolutely deep with "decent" or "average" talent, plus there are a number of players who can play multiple positions. I mean, I'm not saying the Knicks have that advantage over any other team, in that there are players who can play multiple positions, but what is true is that nearly every player on the roster could play another position, if even for limited stretches AND the roster goes 14 or 15 deep, if you count Bullock.

Centers: Mitch, Gibson, Randle, Portis
- Knicks will absolutely play Randle as a small ball C. Gibson can bang with bigger C's. Portis can stretch the floor on offense from the 5 or 4.

Power Forwards: Randle, Morris, Portis, Gibson (Gibson and Portis somewhat limited due to many stretch 4's but can see time here), Knox, *Iggy (maybe)

Small Forwards: Morris\Knox\RJ\Iggy\Frank\Bullock (probably won't play) Even Dotson can hold down some SF in a 3 guard line up.

Shooting Guards: RJ\Trier\Dotson\Ellington\Frank?\Payton?. Not discounting a 2 PG look at times; Didn't add Iggy here but I think he could play "SG" a little, but only in small doses and dependent on who the other wing is.

Point Guards: DSJr\Payton\Frank\Trier. Special mention to RJ. So, that's 3 deep, but Trier can play a LITTLE PG, as long it's only a minute or two. RJ has point skills, but I doubt anyone wants him bringing it up against NBA defenses. Just highlighting his ability to function at the point of an offense gives Fiz more looks, and less excuses

Lots of looks to show other teams; lots of combinations to use on offense and defense, no reason not to find lineups that work and no reason not to bench guys who aren't bringing effort or executing the system on offense or defense.

Def tanking. Fiz doesn’t even seemed concerned tbh. Lol you dont win 17 games and say “it went according to plan”

Read on Twitter

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[thebuzzardman]

i still think knox is a bench player, but hey this year will truly tell.

as long as he remains a good catch and shoot/lives off the free throw line he’ll be fine.

Nah hes def a starter. I see his ceiling being a Tobias Harris tier player

And thats not a knock (no pun intended lol)

knox was the worst defensive player in the history since drpm was documented.

so no he's not a def starter, he lacks the lateral quickness to ever keep up with his man unless you make him strictly a 4, but then you have a weak rebounding 4.

I don't think he should have started as a rookie, but as the goal was tanking, why not?

This year he SHOULD come off the bench as Morris is just better, no question, in every facet of the game. I think it will be to Knox's benefit. Also, it's possible Knox was drafted to be a 4, but as a project, in which he wouldn't play the position for a several years; like at least 3.

Unless anyone hasn't been paying attention, every Knick pick the last 4 years has been a project.
KP? Project. Surprised everyone by playing into the starting lineup. Even the brass thought he was a year or two away.
Frank? Obvious project.
Knox? I mean, he's 19 and late to basketball. Clearly a project.
RJ? They really had to take him or get skewered. Obviously, if the Knicks were truly to committed to more "ready now" players, they'd have traded down for more picks. RJ is a project by default, but not part of a philosophy.

Mitch a project. Iggy and Trier more ready. Knicks seen to be drafting for upside high up, taking more higher floor, lower ceiling types lower. Not a bad late in the draft philosophy.

Then again, kind of what all teams to to a degree, since the players get into the league so young now.

[robillionaire]

Nah hes def a starter. I see his ceiling being a Tobias Harris tier player

And thats not a knock (no pun intended lol)

knox was the worst defensive player in the history since drpm was documented.

so no he's not a def starter, he lacks the lateral quickness to ever keep up with his man unless you make him strictly a 4, but then you have a weak rebounding 4.

I don't think he should have started as a rookie, but as the goal was tanking, why not?

This year he SHOULD come off the bench as Morris is just better, no question, in every facet of the game. I think it will be to Knox's benefit. Also, it's possible Knox was drafted to be a 4, but as a project, in which he wouldn't play the position for a several years; like at least 3.

Unless anyone hasn't been paying attention, every Knick pick the last 4 years has been a project.
KP? Project. Surprised everyone by playing into the starting lineup. Even the brass thought he was a year or two away.
Frank? Obvious project.
Knox? I mean, he's 19 and late to basketball. Clearly a project.
RJ? They really had to take him or get skewered. Obviously, if the Knicks were truly to committed to more "ready now" players, they'd have traded down for more picks. RJ is a project by default, but not part of a philosophy.

Mitch a project. Iggy and Trier more ready. Knicks seen to be drafting for upside high up, taking more higher floor, lower ceiling types lower. Not a bad late in the draft philosophy.

Then again, kind of what all teams to to a degree, since the players get into the league so young now.

I agree, I think he was asked to do way more than he should have been last year and I'm hoping this year is more developmental and hopefully Morris or Gibson will be a positive mentors who will teach him a few things about playing with more physicality and defense, he was the youngest player in team history, he shouldn't have been asked to go be the primary scoring option right out of the gate. He probably should come off the bench this year.

I don't think he was drafted to be a 4 though. Maybe they saw him as "positionless" player. But he seems to have grown a little taller since we drafted him, he might be a legit 6'10 now

[8516knicks]

Would anyone in the league trade for Knox now? Anyone think he could bring more than a 2nd round pick?

[MaseInYourFace]

I think perhaps the knicks didn’t focus too much on installing a system because it was an extremely young team and they were still too much in the talent evaluation stage. I would like to think it’s that at least. Anyway Fizdale definitely needs to show some concrete improvements this season.

[MaseInYourFace]

Would anyone in the league trade for Knox now? Anyone think he could bring more than a 2nd round pick?

Doesn’t really make sense at this point to trade him by himself as the main part of a deal. Right now he could sweeten a package though.

[BigRedDog]

Would anyone in the league trade for Knox now? Anyone think he could bring more than a 2nd round pick?

i could consider swapping malik monk and id definitely swap dwayne bacon or willy hernangomez for knox.

I wouldnt swap miles bridges or pj washington (yet)

[Juco24]

Would anyone in the league trade for Knox now? Anyone think he could bring more than a 2nd round pick?

Absolutely not!! No one in the league wants a 20 year old who has tons of potential. We might as well waive him

[Zenzibar]

Would anyone in the league trade for Knox now? Anyone think he could bring more than a 2nd round pick?

Absolutely not!! No one in the league wants a 20 year old who has tons of potential. We might as well waive him

pssst, I think this guy is..

[Zenzibar]

Would anyone in the league trade for Knox now? Anyone think he could bring more than a 2nd round pick?

i could consider swapping malik monk and id definitely swap dwayne bacon or willy hernangomez for knox.

I wouldnt swap miles bridges or pj washington (yet)

Bacon had 1 highlight game of 25pts, while Knox had one of 31pts. The difference you ask?
Bacon was 24yrs old and Knox 5 years younger at a mere 19.

[BigRedDog]

Would anyone in the league trade for Knox now? Anyone think he could bring more than a 2nd round pick?

i could consider swapping malik monk and id definitely swap dwayne bacon or willy hernangomez for knox.

I wouldnt swap miles bridges or pj washington (yet)

Bacon had 1 highlight game of 25pts, while Knox had one of 31pts. The difference you ask?
Bacon was 24yrs old and Knox 5 years younger at a mere 19.

Right, that's why I said i would be willing to swap Bacon for Knox. Bacon is the better player right now, but I think Knox catches up over time.

[Fat]

knox finished last year pretty well and showed improvment in summer league. why trade him?

if he looks the same way on defense as last year thats a different story. he is probably not a good enough shooter to neutralize that weakness and will see more bench than playing time since there is a little bit more comp on the roster this year and he is no longer a rookie.

but i like the Rj, Knox, mitch tandem they mesh with each other it just depends how hard they work to improve their skill sets.