PG RATING
2 of 3 Knicks guards proving future worth
It is rare to see Frank Ntilikina get riled up.
But after the reserved Knicks point guard scored his NBA-high 15 points in Saturday’s streak-busting Garden rout of the Hornets, the Frenchman didn’t like to hear Jeff Hornacek’s concern about his defensive matchups the past two games.
According to Hornacek, he gave Ntilikina limited minutes against Philadelphia on Thursday to avoid the rookie facing 6-foot-10, rookieof-the-year candidate Ben Simmons. And, despite Courtney Lee’s absence, Hornacek wouldn’t start the rookie Saturday, in part, because of the presence of 6-foot-8 shooting guard Nic Batum. It was too much size and strength for the 19-year-old Ntilikina to handle.
Or not?
“As a competitor, I don’t agree with that,” Ntilikina said in an impassioned voice. “That would make myself be — I don’t know how to say it in English. But I just want to take every challenge. That’s the coach’s job and decision to put who he thinks will be better on the court, but as a player, you got to be ready when he calls you.”
As the Knicks’ three-headed point-guard auditions careen to their final 12 games, two out of three stepping up ain’t bad.
Ntilikina has had his moments and Saturday lived up to his favorite nickname — “The French Prince.’’ But his highest NBA scoring output, in which he connected on 5-of-8 shots, including a fourpoint play, followed a depressingly scoreless dud against Philly.
Emmanuel Mudiay, who has started 11 straight games out of the All-Star break to justify the tradedeadline deal, has offered few gems, though his no-turnover performance Saturday could be a stepping stone.
Hornacek refused to start Trey Burke, but he has been by far the best of the bunch. He added another 14 points in 19 bench minutes.
Perhaps referring to the young troika, Hornacek warned Friday nobody is assured a spot on the roster next season. Ntilikina, Mudiay and Burke all have pacts for next season, though Burke’s is non-guaranteed.
Perhaps his performance against Charlotte is the start of a stirring finish to Ntilikina’s topsy-turvy season highlighted only by his spidery defense.
“It means something to me, of course,” Ntilikina said of his milestone in a season during which he’s averaging 5.3 points on 35 percent shooting. “It shows improvement. Now I feel more comfortable than the beginning of the sea- son. It gives me motivation to get more.”
Burke deserves to start over Mudiay, averaging 10.5 points, 3.5 assists and shooting 51.2 percent in 16.8 minutes.
But team brass probably won’t elevate him because of a desperate need to get a better read on the 22year-old, 2015 lottery pick by Denver. Had he enrolled in college, Mudiay would be a senior.
Burke broke into a smile when asked why he’s still coming off the pine.
“I’m not sure,’’ he said. “I get those questions. I can only control what I can control.
“Every time I get an opportunity, I try to take full advantage of it by not playing too outside my role but by being myself. I’ve been doing a pretty solid job. It’s confidence, attack, be aggressive and not be tentative and passive. That’s not who I am. I think my coaches, teammates, they see me play, come in and provide a spark. In the past, I was too conservative.”
In previous stops with the Jazz and Wizards, Burke said he believes he lost his swagger. He found it by embarking on a comeback via the G-League Westchester Knicks. “I got back to know who I am as a player and not fit in what someone else wants me to be,’’ said Burke, who came aboard in January. “I’m a scoring point guard. They’re allowing me to play to my strengths here and it’s shown.”
It’s hard to imagine Mudiay, Ntilikina and Burke all on the roster next season — not with combo guard Ron Baker returning and two starting shooting guards in Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr. under long-term contracts.
Who will be odd man out? Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, in town last week, said it shouldn’t be Ntilikina.
“New York has got a foundation piece with him,” Carlisle said. “He’s not putting up big numbers, but he is an excellent defender. His recognition of situations and his shooting, all that stuff, is going to take quantum leaps.”