New York Knicks

Losers of four straight, Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and the rest of the New York Knicks play on without a legitimate point guard.

New York Knicks (14-18)
Detroit Pistons (17-14)
Today, 7:30 PM on MSG, FSD+
Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York

By Robby Sabo

Forget stats for a moment. Forget what you read and what you hear. Instead of relying on such things, simply use the eye test and your noggin.

Once done you’ll realize the New York Knicks won’t go anywhere as currently constructed.

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The reason? The squad’s point guard play is beyond horrific.

There is no excuse for losing four straight games and posing as a below average NBA team with two players on the level of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. This is even the case with the young KP struggling to find his way as of late. Both guys are just too talented to be in this situation.

Recent grumblings have leaked out of the locker room suggesting certain players are now questioning Derek Fisher’s in-game decisions, via Marc Berman of the New York Post.

In an interview with the Post, Charley Rosen, the man who is Phil Jackson’s confidant and is putting together a lengthy documentary on the Zen-Master, revealed the Triangle Offense is indeed lagging behind under Fisher’s watch.

“If you run the triangle, you have to make a total commitment to the triangle,’’ said Rosen, who writes a technical basketball column for todaysfastbreak.com. “It’s not like a part-time thing that you just use some of it. If that’s your offense, you got to commit to it. It doesn’t look like they’re really committed to it.

“They’re running it in a half-assed way. It’s not creating the kind of shots it would normally create.’’

Unnamed players told Berman Fisher has been more of a “preacher” or “motivator,” while assistants such as Kurt Rambis and Brian Keefe are the tacticians.

Though this is definitely a legitimate concern – the progress of Fisher as a head-man – if the Knicks truly possessed a point guard who can run the show, it would serve as a secondary story.

34-year old Jose Calderon simply slows down the roster.

Whenever the Knicks are on the floor with Calderon, the team suddenly slows down to a halting screech. He cannot get them going int he transition game and very rarely makes a quick decision with the ball.

The Knicks currently sit dead last in the NBA with a porous 8.2 fast break points per game.

If I have to watch this man perform that slow pump-fake as he fakes a mini-jump with his left toe still barely scraping the floor, I’m going to lose my mind.

His only strong attribute is his shot. And in this area he is failing (7 PPG). Among the 30 starting point guards in the league, there is nobody worse defensively. This problem rears its ugly head every time the Knicks square off against a shifty point guard.

Of course, it would be nice if rookie Jerian Grant can assume the starting role, but it doesn’t seem as though he’s ready. Confidence is a major issue with the kid at the moment.

Langston Galloway can fill in and provide solid minutes at the No. 1 spot, but he’s not a true show-runner.

New York will simply struggle until Jackson can find this team a legitimate starting point guard. It’s that simple.

NEXT: Hey Porzingis, Take More Shots During Crunch-Time

Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. Washed up strong safety and 400M runner. SEO: XL Media. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). SEO: XL Media. Email: robby.sabo[at]jetsxfactor.com