The New York Knicks got a quick start on the week winning their first two games. Then they went on the road, a place that hasn’t been too kind to this squad. New York lost their last two contests to leave them at an even 2-2 for week 6 of the NBA season. The week ended on a sour note, but there is a reason for optimism in the New York Knicks weekly recap.
New York Knicks Weekly Recap: Stay Off the Road
The Record: 10-9 – 9th in the Eastern Conference
The MVP: Courtney Lee
The starting shooting guard made a big impact for the Knicks this past week. In four games, Courtney Lee averaged 17 points and shot 47 percent from three-point range. Along with his excellent long-range shooting, Lee shot 64 percent from the field. These numbers only boast the excellent season that Lee is having in New York. He is not only making an impact on the offensive side, but also the defensive side of the ball. Lee has averaged 1.5 steals in the last four games.
Michael Beasley Offensive Explosion
With Kristaps Porzingis missing Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets, Michael Beasley stepped into the starting lineup. The Knicks did not miss much in Porzingis’ absence as Beasley exploded for 30 points while shooting 61 percent from the floor. Also grabbing eight rebounds.
Beasley is one of the main players on a Knicks bench that has a lot of depth. Beasley is a player capable of starting for any of the 30 NBA teams. A former first-round pick whose career numbers slowly went down after averaging a career-high 19.2 points per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 10′-11′ season. Beasley looks to be headed back to the bench despite his big game, but performances like this will help him see more minutes on the court.
Diamond in the Rough
Picked up on a non-guaranteed contract, Jarrett Jack was the player the Knicks never knew they needed. The veteran point guard has started 16 of the 17 games the Knicks have played this season.
With rookie Frank Ntilikina still learning the league, Jack is the perfect player to guide this young rookie through his first NBA season. In four games this week, Jack has averaged eight points and the assist numbers have been welcomed. He’s been a consistent presence on the offensive side of the ball. The Knicks would definitely not be off to this surprising start if it weren’t for Jack
Road Woes
The Knicks are a completely different team when they play on the road compared to playing at home. At home, the Knicks sport a dominant 9-3 record. On the road, the Knicks only have one win out of seven games.
The main problem comes with their offensive splits. At home, the Knicks are averaging 109 points, while on the road they’re averaging 97 points. In a lot of these road games, the Knicks have held large leads that they usually let go. They have shown they can play on the road, but the defense seems to slowly disappear in the third and fourth quarters.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the Knicks have proven they have the talent to be a playoff team. Even though they have nine losses, they have held large leads in at least half of those games. When the team gets a large lead, the Knicks start throwing up bad shots that allow the other team to come back and gain confidence.
The Knicks play three games this week against the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, and Orlando Magic. This week will be a success if everyone can stay healthy and they end with at least two wins. Especially against the bottom-dwelling Bulls and the Magic who has cooled off from their hot start.
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