Change of atmosphere. The euphoria of last season has evaporated in Manhattan. Return of frustrating evenings, irregular performances, defeats… and obviously drama. Fourth place in the East had raised hopes of a rise in the New York Knicks. Off the road in the first round and a few months later, the franchise is in trouble again.
Twelfth in the East, with only 12 wins after 27 matches. In addition, the trend is intended to be downward. The players of Tom Thibodeau remain for example on three consecutive defeats. They didn’t exist against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night (97-112). Unable to compete with the defending champions. Illustration of the yawning gap between the two organizations.
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However, the Knicks aspire to play in the big leagues. They didn’t sign any real stars during the offseason but the arrivals of Kemba Walker and D’Evan Fournier were to help the team to change course, especially offensively. In the end, the first is already out of the rotation and the second is having his worst individual season since 2015. A failure presented as a fiasco by the New York media, always quick (and ready) when it comes to getting down. franchise.
New York Knicks, a leaderless team
Recruitment is logically singled out. But the current issues highlight another deep loophole within the group: the lack of a pack leader. As the designated star of the team, Julius Randle could inherit this responsibility. But the interior is struggling. Less sharp, less efficient, less skillful. His stats are down. 19 points against 24 last season. From 41 to 32% behind the arch. The most significant regression.
But the discomfort goes beyond the quantified framework. Randle’s attitude, his body language on the pitch, doesn’t inspire confidence. He himself admits to being a silent man, sometimes even away from the locker room according to the New York Post.
“There is not really someone who gives voice while there is one in every other team in the championship”, entrusts a local newspaper source.
So who’s to wake up the Knicks? Walker and Fournier will find it difficult to take on this role with their current difficulties. Derrick Rose is rather discreet. RJ Barrett may still be a little young. Taj Gibson would be almost the most believable. Or Thibodeau. But the coach needs a relay in his workforce.
It may be a lead when adjusting the roster in the coming weeks. On the one hand, find additional players capable of impacting the game on both sides of the floor, but also locker room spokespersons able to re-mobilize a drifting group.
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