Jackson, Knicks need to continue developing players
They all don’t work as hard as Ron Baker, an undrafted free agent out of Wichita State who had to fight his way into the league and onto the Knicks roster and will keep on fighting until they rip the uniform off him.
“Getting to this point is very satisfying but I want more,” Baker said after helping the Knicks beat the Miami Heat on Friday. “I want to see where my ceiling is.”
In yet another lost season for the Knicks, there is a silver lining. Phil Jackson’s team, with general manager Steve Mills serving as the point man, have put more thought and work into player development.
The NBA is a superstar-driven league but the best organizations learn how to cultivate and develop their own players. Some of those players are found in the second round like Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon, a leading Rookie of the Year candidate. Or those players are rescued from the scrap heap like Miami’s Hassan Whiteside, one of the NBA’s top young centers.
On Friday, the Knicks started Willy Hernangomez at center, a former second-round pick out of Spain who went from fringe player in October to a rotation player in March. He is clearly part of the Knicks’ future.
Baker, who started at point guard and more than held his own against Miami’s Goran Dragic, has worked his way into the Knicks’ plans although as a restricted free agent he could receive a bigger offer elsewhere.
“You’re always trying to prove yourself regardless of your situation,” Baker said. “I had a similar situation in high school and college. I’m kind of used to the unknown type of deal.”
The Knicks have a core group under the age of 25: Baker, Hernangomez, Chasson Randle, Marshall Plumlee and of course Kristaps Porzingis, who’ll turn 22 in August. They’ll add another young player, perhaps even a teenager, in the June draft.
“We’ve seen improvement with all of them,” Jeff Hornacek said of the Knicks’ youngest play- ers. “A lot of that is offen- sive player development. We’ve got to get these guys on the defensive side of it. That’s an attitude you have to develop as a young player.
“To be a winning team … and you can probably use Miami as an example. They had some guys hurt, but they started the year just playing basketball. Then all of a sudden they found if they get after it defensively the whole game we can have a chance to win games. Then they get their confidence going and get after it even more. It’s a different level, a different mentality that you have 17-59 21-55 22-55 27-50 28-48 to have to win in this league.” They all seem to have the right mentality since all have maintained a positive outlook under less than ideal circumstances. Jackson, the team president, has been publically critical of Carmelo Anthony and those comments have not played well in the locker room. Anthony’s season is not ending well and his future with the club remains uncertain. He seems more detached as the season crawls to a finish. On Friday, he watched the first half from the bench but then spent the second half in the locker room. Anthony may be available for Sunday’s matinee against Boston after being held out of Friday’s win with a sore lower back. Anthony was ruled inactive just one game after declaring that he didn’t know his role on the team. Usually when a player says he’s unsure about his role it means he doesn’t like his role. The comment came after Anthony was held scoreless in the first half. Jeff Hornacek, who is trying to hold .224 .276 .286 .351 .368 -4.0 4.5 9.5 11.0 30-47 .390 12.5 30-45 .400 13.5 31-44 .413 15.0 .434 16.5 * to Celtics **to Kings
With the Knicks likely to miss playoffs again, it’s time to turn our attention to some ping-pong balls and the draft! Here’s a look at the battle to win the No. 1 pick and select super UCLA talent Lonzo Ball.
the group together amid all the chaos, missed a perfect opportunity to go back at Anthony in a calm and logical manner.
When asked about Anthony’s comment Hornacek avoided the issue, saying “we’re giving the young guys some opportunities to play a little bit more.” He then added “Carmelo probably didn’t get as much.”
The better answer would have been, “Carmelo, like every player on the team knows his role. It’s to defend, rebound, share the ball and play hard. That’s it.”
That’s what Baker, Hernangomez, Randle etc. are doing whether it’s to keep their job or move into the rotation. That’s the type of attitude the Knicks need from their veteran players every night. It’s the attitude they brought to both ends of the court against Miami.
It’s what LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and James Harden bring every night. You’ll never hear them say there is confusion over their roles. ackson erred by not going for a full rebuild last summer as opposed to believing that the additions of Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee would make the Knicks a playoff team.
Going younger may be the best option this offseason. And at least now the Knicks have the infrastructure in place to develop players and increase the value of their own assets. That’s what all the best organizations do.
JKNICKS vs. CELTICS