The New York Knicks were thoroughly dismantled by the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. However, one of the more notable headlines of the night was head coach David Fizdale's decision to bench point guard Frank Ntilikina once again.
This is the third consecutive game in which Ntilikina was listed as a DNP. According to Steve Popper of Newsday, Fizdale indicated that may very well change moving forward:
“Maybe, I probably should have. I can always look at him. It ain’t like he’s out though. Again, it’s going to be a long season. Frank will be getting his opportunities again.”
It is difficult to gauge when exactly Fizdale plans on making a change based on his comments. However, it is safe to assume that Ntilikina is hoping they come very soon. The eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has endured a rough start to his career. Unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worst this season.
It would certainly make sense for Fizdale to insert Ntilikina at some point in the near future. It is no secret that the Knicks have struggled on the defensive end this year. This has become extremely evident as of late after allowing at least 110 or more points in the last five games. Despite his deficiencies on offense, Ntilikina is known for his prowess on defense.
New York made quite the investment in the former lottery pick. The fact that Frank Ntilikina has been stashed away on the bench is a serious cause for concern moving forward, and one has to wonder if there is a trade in the works given the recent rumors.
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