Attack plan has Ntilikina finishing with big flourish
CLEVELAND — The Knicks’ season shuts down Wednesday against the Cavaliers, but a light bulb has turned on inside rookie Frank Ntilikina’s head.
Although it’s probably too late for Ntilikina to make one of the two all-rookie teams, the 6-foot-5 point guard has adapted more of an attack mode/scorer’s mentality — weaving in some razzle-dazzle moves to boot.
Since mid-March, Ntilikina has posted five of his top eight scoring games, capped by a career-high 17 points Monday against LeBron James’ Cavs at the Garden. He set his previous career high (French leag ue included) with 15 on March 17 against the Hornets.
While James touted Ntilikina’s “cerebral’’ play before the rookie’s scoring outburst, trying to make nice after a November slight, Ntilikina is now putting on the moves.
Though he could have been whistled for traveling, Ntilikina wowed the Garden crowd Monday with a dash down the lane, faking an underhand feed before going all the way to the basket.
Friday, the so-called defensive specialist performed a similarly imaginative play against the Heat, heading to the rim and faking a behind-the-back pass before laying it in.
“I’ve tried some things I’ve been working on and I can do on the court during games,” Ntilikina said. “I feel when I get more comfortable I can do a lot more things. Obviously [Monday] I got to the rim a lot of times, tried that Euro step. I’m going to keep working on my game to be more comfortable and do a lot of great things.”
Ntilikina’s offensive numbers are still underwhelming — 5.8 points on 36. 2 percent shooting and 3. 2 assists — but the 1 9 - ye a r - o l d lottery pick from Phil Ja c k s o n ’s reign has developed his scoring since midMarch. In his past 11 games, he’s averaging 8.2 points on 39.8 percent shooting and 3.5 assists.
“I just feel like the game is slowing down, that I can do a lot more things,” Ntilikina said. “I try to do things I’ve been working on at practice. It was a whole new atmosphere, a whole new experience. I learned a lot here. Now I will bring a lot of things with me this summer. I know what to work on.”
Knicks officials believe Ntilikina hit the rookie wall after his hyped, early January showdown in Dallas, where he outplayed fellow rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr.
Ntilikina admits to winter weariness, and coach Jeff Hornacek has made note across the way of Ntilikina tiring late in games and playing with minor knee/quad pain.
“Obviously I might hit a wall during the season when you’re tired and feel not comfortable on the court,’’ Ntilikina said. “The rookie guys, we don’t play that much games when we’re younger in college, high school and EuroLeague we don’t play that much games. It might be hard to adjust. That maybe why I was feeling like that.”
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle called Ntilikina “a foundation piece,’’ and Spurs guru Gregg Popovich praised his “confident’’ demeanor.
On Monday, James, who took a dig at the Knicks in November when he said Smith should be in New York instead of Ntilikina, said of the Frenchman, “He knows how to play the game.”
“It will motivate me a lot,’’ said Ntilikina, who will play in July’s Las Vegas summer league.
NBA scouts attending Knicks games the past month have keyed in on the Knicks’ three young point guards, figuring something will shake out this summer. Emmanuel Mudiay, 22, is done for the season and will have missed the f inal three games with a concussion.
“It d e f i n i te ly didn’t start in one day,’’ Ntilikina said of his recent attack mode. “Like the prime of players isn’t there until 27, 28. As a player you keep working on your game until you retire. It’s not going to come like that [soon]. It’s just the work I put in every day. It’s paying [off ].’’