New Year’s resolutions for many key Knicks

New year… new Knicks? Collin Loring and Tyrese London lay out resolutions for a number of the Knicks’ key players, like RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, and more.

I won’t call upon any of the time worn cliches, but it’s a new year, thankfully. 

And these New York Knicks look like a new version of (relatively) the same team. 

Whether we like it or not, and whether or not we formally dub them resolutions, each of us walks into a new calendar year with goals and aims for the upcoming twelve months.  None of us are above improvement. Especially the New York Knicks. 

So Tyrese and I sat down and expanded upon where each of the guys can improve. 

Kevin Knox

I touched on his progress in my latest piece, but the biggest thing for Kevin Knox going forward is just maintaining a determination to stay the course. The way he’s playing right now is just what the team needs from him. Knox is averaging just 8.2 points, but he’s knocking down 44% of his 3-point shots, and has taken strides on the defensive end of the ball. His hands haven’t been quick enough to swipe the ball from opposing players, but he’s had some nice moments blocking shots this year already. And you wouldn’t know it, but the kid is averaging career highs across the board in terms of shooting percentages. If he can continue to focus on the X’s and O’s and follow the offense, he'll only get better. All New York needs from their 21-year-old forward is a consistent three ball and up-to-par defense that won’t have him labeled as a liability by opponents. Focusing on what’s ahead should be enough to keep Kevin Knox in the game, and in play for Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks. 

Elfrid Payton

To the dismay of many, Elfrid Payton’s first few weeks back in a New York Knicks uniform haven’t been terrible. While his shooting has fallen off at times, the 26-year-old point guard has still been a consistent scoring presence for the team, and at the rim specifically. Hell, Payton’s hit the occasional 3-pointer this year as well. In just 10 games thus far he’s knocked down seven shots from deep, quite literally half of his total from last season. But as the point guard in New York’s starting lineup, the Knicks need to see a higher percentage of assists going forward, if he is to retain that role throughout the rest of the 2020-2021 season. Through 12 games he’s posting just 4.5 on a nightly average, a drop off from his 7.2 last year. There’s also the issue of his career-low 25% assist rate, which comes on a career-high 24.2% usage rate. Payton has got to find a way to make better use of his passes if he hopes to continue on as the New York Knicks starting point guard. 

Immanuel Quickley

When Tyrese and I first decided to go forth with this article, I was honestly clueless as to what I would offer for Immanuel Quickley going forward. New York’s second selection from the first round started off his rookie campaign laying fire and siege to any and all non-believers. Once made firmly active by head coach Tom Thibodeau after suffering a hip pointer in the first game of the season, Quickley posted back-to-back games with nine and 16 points, from the surprising position of point guard. In four games after that, Quick hit just two of 24 shots, looking out of sorts and seemingly questioning himself. The last two games have been a revelation, though: IQ has made 16 of 32 shots, including 6-13 from deep, and has set a new career high in two straight games, with 19 and 23 points.

For Quickley, his top priority has got to be managing his shot selection. Despite his two recent hot performances, Quickley’s posting just a 37% shooting average from the field and knocking down only 32% of his threes. New York’s rookie guard needs to hone in, assess his opportunities, and take fewer contested shots. Because for Elfrid Payton to be removed as starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley will have to prove that he brings significantly more to the table than the lead veteran guard. 

Alec Burks

No one could have predicted Alec Burks shooting his way into the Knicks’ best player debate, but alas, so he has. The 29-year old veteran posted a 20.7 points per game average over his first three games with New York, and knocked down 10-of-15 attempts from deep. On top of that, Burks also moved the bell pretty well to start the year. He collected 11 assists over that three-game span, with five of those coming in the Knicks’ first win of the year. That was over the Milwaukee Bucks, for those of you unfamiliar. Although a sprained left ankle has sidelined the sharpshooter for now, it’s been the best start to a season in his entire career. So once he gets back on the floor, Burks’ only concern and aspiration should be to remain healthy. 

Nerlens Noel

After raving on and on about how good an addition he was for the New York Knicks, even I have to admit that Nerlens Noel has been a disappointment to start the year. He’s averaging just three points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks over 11 games played thus far. His rebounding has largely come as advertised, but his defensive effort has been one hell of a roller coaster ride. 

On one or two nights this season, Noel looked as if he could challenge Mitchell Robinson for the starting job, but every night in between has had fans questioning how and why he ended up in New York. The 26-year old big man needs to find any kind of rhythm on offense, where he’s standing out the most within five-man units (in a bad way). Noel’s had a number of sequences go poorly due to a weird dichotomy of having either sticky fingers or stone hands, and he also appears to be misreading plays. He’s posting an 87 offensive rating per 100 possessions. 

The Knicks’ backup big has got to find a way to stay on the floor, not because he’s guarding the rim (although that’s been nice when he does), but because he can help put points on the board. 

Frank Ntilikina

Last year wasn’t the breakout season fans were hoping Frank Ntilikina would have, and this year’s not shaping up to be that season, either. Once again, our favorite Frenchman has caught the injury bug, and hasn’t played in a game since before the New Year — and even then, didn’t seem like he’d be getting the opportunity we all know he needs if he’s going to get better. For Ntilikina, getting onto the floor has got to be the top priority, but if he’s to make it any further in his NBA career; the guard has to crack Tom Thibodeau’s rotation when he returns. There is no illustrious career awaiting Frank Ntilikina if he can’t put his defensive prowess to use and earn trust from the coach who values those instincts more than anyone. 

RJ Barrett

Everyone’s favorite New York Knick youth had a strong start to his sophomore season: a 26-point, eight-rebound, five-assist performance in the season opener. But he followed that up with a 2-of-15 shooting performance in a trend that would continue on in the weeks that followed. Barrett went through an absolute shooting rut over the next ten games. He put up 15 points per game thanks to his improved free throw attempt rate (but still shoddy percentage), but shot the ball terribly — 33% from the field and 13% from behind the arc. Things have turned around since, however, with Barrett now coming off of back-to-back 20-point outings, albeit in two close losses for the Knicks. But that alone provides us with a mantra for RJ going forward: keep shooting the ball. If he had taken a timid approach throughout his shooting slump (his 16.6 field goal attempts say otherwise), he may have never broken it.

Julius Randle 

Whatever you’ve been doing before games recently, keep it up, Julius. Julius Randle has been on a tear to start the season, ranking top 15 in the NBA in both rebounds and assists per game, as well as top 30 in points per game. The increase in offensive output has also come with an increase in defensive output, with notable contributions from Randle in wins against Milwaukee and Indiana (which is still crazy to type out). This New Year for Randle should be honing this new decision-making and play and making it the norm instead of a fleeting hot streak. He’s always had the potential to enter his name into the upper crust of NBA stardom, this is his opportunity to capitalize.

Mitchell Robinson

Mitchell Robinson has solved his foul woes for the moment, playing over 30 minutes a night, and the Knicks are currently an above average-defensive team. In the two outings this season in which he logged 30-plus minutes (he logged five 30-plus minute outings in 61 games last season), the Knicks had their two most convincing wins of the season. He is third on the team in net rating (the first two players are RJ and Burks, who has missed time with injuries). Are these a series of coincidences, or are they indicative of something that we’ve known for a long time — that if Mitchell Robinson stays on the court, he is a defensive anchor that can help win games even when the offense is sputtering. The resolution for 2021 should be simple: continue to cut down on the fouls (and maybe pull that jumper once in a while). 

Reggie Bullock

Reggie Bullock is an enigma. When he’s hot, his shooting along with his defensive versatility makes his $4.2 million price tag look like a steal and has us firing up trade machines in anticipation of a Bullock sweepstakes. When he’s cold, he’s cold, and almost anyone else in the lineup can be seen as an upgrade. In the new year, the goal for Bullock should be consistency, whether it be ending the season on the Knicks or another team.

Austin Rivers

The Winter Park Wonder has revitalized the Knicks’ injury-plagued bench with his return to the lineup, and has delivered with big shots and highlights alike. While Rivers has always had a bag to rival the best of them, decision-making and maturity have never been his strong suits. This seems to be changing, however, with his immediate rise to a leadership role within the team and defensive intensity that hasn’t been seen from him in quite a while. For Rivers, 2021 should be the year of consistency. He’s still only 28, despite being in the league what feels like forever, so him embracing the role of being an efficient and engaged super sixth man can pay dividends in realizing his goal of restoring the Knicks to their former glory.

Obi Toppin

The sample size is small, but this season will be a year of adjustment for the Knicks rookie. Going from an undersized big who primarily worked in the post to a more versatile forward who works as a dynamic floor spacer with the ability to explode to the basket will be quite a transformation. However, in the long run, it will be vital to his development and progression into the player the brass envisions him to be. 2021 will be the year to trust the process and the environment around him. While it may not all immediately click into place for Toppin, the ends will justify the means.

Theo Pinson

Just keep being you, buddy. Your energy is infectious and I look forward to fan cams of you dancing during blowouts on the bench and your surprisingly good passing ability.