The New York Knicks aren't playing for much after star forward Kristaps Porzingis was sidelined for the remainder of the season with a torn left ACL, but coach Jeff Hornacek will try to salvage what's left of the 2017-18 campaign by giving his young guys some run.
Hornacek warned there would be some changes made after the All-Star break, and with one day left until the NBA tips-off for the second half of the season, the man at the helm revealed his plan for the next 23 games.
“Just giving the young guys more chances,” he said, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. “We’ll throw them out there. They’ll take some lumps probably at times but they’ve got to get through that. They’ve got to battle through and learn.”
Newly-acquired Emmanuel Mudiay has been seen taking first-team reps over the break, which could result in him replacing veteran Jarrett Jack, as he and rookie Frank Ntilikina split minutes at the point guard position.
Others like Damyean Dotson and center Luke Kornet could see more playing time, and eventually even log starts at the end of the season, as veterans like Courtney Lee, Lance Thomas, and Enes Kanter face the possibility of being shut down at some point down the stretch.
At this point, the Knicks organization is putting all their chips on the strong development of their backcourt, considering Porzingis' impending return and hoping to create a balance. These last 23 games should show enough of a sample size to figure out who should start at the point going into the offseason, as well as addressing areas of need.
Follow Us
Subscribe