HARDLY HONOR ROLL
Whole lotta reasons Knicks are not making the grade
SO HOW are the Knicks doing in the post-triangle era? Sometimes it’s not only antiquated systems causing defeats but lack of roster talent. The Steve Mills/Scott Perry pick-and-roll Knicks are in the dumpster coming out of the All-Star break just like Phil Jackson’s Knicks always were at this time.
Here’s the All-Star break report card — reflective of a 23-36 record and an eightgame losing streak. Read it and weep.
MICHAEL BEASLEY
It took a while for Jeff Hornacek to trust him, but once Tim Hardaway Jr. went down, he had no choice. Beasley scores easily and in multiple ways and the Knicks coach has praised his passing and is surprised by his defensive acumen. He’s averaging 12.9 points while shooting 50.3 percent. A steal for the vet’s minimum. Now can you re-sign him?
ENES KANTER
A brute inside, the Turkish center could be a keeper as he’s just 25. He’s one of the NBA’s best offensive rebounders and low-post scorers. Strong as an ox, Kanter is averaging a double-double (14.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 60 percent shooting), loves being here and the locker room is better for it. His rim protection and lateral quickness on defense have led to him sitting parts of crunch time.
TREY BURKE
Anytime he’s gotten playing time, Burke, who was signed in January, has looked solid. He has a strong handle and shooting stroke. His playing time was slamdunked with the Emmanuel Mudiay deadline trade. Burke is shooting 54.1 percent (41 percent on 3s) in 13 games. Size still is an issue with brass but he needs to play.
COURTNEY LEE
Tentative in his first year in New York, Lee has never played better, posting career-highs in points (13.1 ppg). Looks like a different offensive player than he did last season but hasn’t done a thing in final-minute situations of close defeats.
KYLE O’QUINN
The backup center played well enough to make building block Willy Hernangomez an afterthought who ultimately got traded for two second-rounders. O’Quinn is shooting 59 percent and averaging 5.9 rebounds per game but coaches and brass have been most impressed by his defense. The suits have even embraced his clownish lockerroom behavior. That said, he’ll probably opt out of his contract and sign somewhere else.
JARRETT JACK
Figured to be cut once Joakim Noah returned from his drug suspension in mid-November, Jack won the starting point guard job after three games. He was a calming influence (5.8 assists) until the season got away. Coming off his knee surgeries, he stayed healthy but was a liability on defense. His work is done e as club is now eyeing development t of young PGs.
KRISTAPS PORZINGIS
Grading this right would confound an Oxford professor. The range depends on placing a grade value on durability and whether an ACL tear is viewed as a freak injury or result of knee weakness. Porzingis, who was voted in as a first-time All-Star reserve, was an A-plus in October/November, then saw his shotmaking fall off to a modest 43.9 percent. He was the NBA’s top shot-blocker before going down. Too bad his 2017-18 season will forever read just 48 games.
LANCE THOMAS
Defensive specialist and co-captain, you need a guy like Thomas on your team. In leadership void, he has spoken up frequently and was unsung reason Knicks topped out at 17-14 after beating Boston on Dec. 21. His suspect shot-making (39 percent) allows defenses to sag which is an issue.
FRANK FRA NTILIKINA
He’s 19, living by himself in a new country, playing p on basketball’s biggest big stage and had the misfortune misfo of being on the draft board alalong with Rookie of the Year favorifavorite Donovan Mitchell and LeBron James favorite Dennis Smith Jr. Considering this, he’s held up with amazing maturity. However, numbers don’t lie (5.3 points, 35 percent shooting). His offensive tentativeness is alarming and his instincts driving the ball are a concern. Opponents are anticipating his pocket passes. His length and commitment to defense makes him a potential keeper and has good form on his jump shot. But the fear is the Frenchman only becomes a defensive-specialist shooting guard off the bench.
DAMYEAN DOTSON
Knicks rookie shooting guard needs to play a lot in final 23 games after showing potential in garbage time stints as a willing 3-point shooter (just 25 percent though) and fierce defender.
TIM HARDAWAY JR.
His second Knicks stint was going splendidly until he suffered a stress reaction in his lower left leg on Dec. 3., costing him six weeks. On his return, he mysteriously fell into a funk more mental than physical. His egregious shooting numbers are the main reason for the team’s losing streak. He’s held to the highest standard because of his $71 million contract and he is down to 41 percent shooting.
RON BAKER
After signing a lucrative roomexception deal (two years, $9.1 million), the combo guard got belted with injuries beginning in training camp, capped by his season-ending shoulder tear on Jan. 30. Still a rah-rah presence in locker room and a solid defender. But he could be out of the league after next season if he doesn’t develop a corner 3, scouts say.
JOAKIM NOAH
He had said all the right things as fourth man in a four-center glut until he blew his top at Hornacek last month for not playing him enough. In his seven games, the $72 million man did show some defensive spark. But when the team wants you to stay away, you’re not doing something right — like, at the very least, mentoring.
EMMANUEL MUDIAY
Knicks brass wanted a penetrateand-dish specialist to eventually meld with shooters Porzingis and Hardaway Jr. We may not see a Mudiay pass to Porzingis until Christmas. He’s 21, a lottery pick and the Knicks gave up virtually nothing.
JEFF HORNACEK
He doesn’t overcoach. He doesn’t call a lot of timeouts during opposing team’s monster runs. He’s not overly dynamic. He doesn’t always seem to have the right guys on the court in late-game situations and isn’t always creative enough in those situations. He deserves some responsibility for the team’s 2-6 record in games decided by three points or fewer. But the Knicks have played very hard for Hornacek. The roster — as everyone projected — is just good enough to win 30 or so games. He gets a bad rap.
KNICKS BRASS
Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry have a long-term vision and even the catastrophic Porzingis injury didn’t deter them at the trade deadline. They haven’t given up any No. 1 picks and the Carmelo Anthony deal is still a good one.