New York Knicks wing Kevin Knox is in the starting lineup against the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon just two days after he was benched against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Marcus Morris Sr. is sidelined due to cervical spasms according to the Knicks Twitter account, opening up a spot for Knox in the rotation:
Marcus Morris Sr. (cervical spasms) will not play today against Boston. Kevin Knox II will start.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) December 1, 2019
Knicks head coach David Fizdale siad that he was exercising “tough love” in benching Knox on Friday, something that he has done with other young players–like Frank Ntilikina–in the past (via Peter Botte of the New York Post):
“I was tough on Frank last year and I just feel like Frank has come back with a whole different mindset about how he’s going to go about this season.
“I’ve been so happy with the way he’s played and produced. But I do think a little bit of tough love on some of these young guys isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
Knox got plenty of run last season after he was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, but he has struggled to see the floor as Fizdale continues to spread the minutes this year. The former Kentucky star is averaging just 7.8 points and 2.9 rebounds on less than 20 minutes per game and a mere 6.5 shot attempts per contest. Although he is shooting 38 percent from deep, he has been brutal in the mid range.
The Knicks fell to 4-15 after losing to the Sixers, and they are just a half-game out of last place in the Eastern Conference. Fizdale can look to motivate Knox and co. all he wants, but at some point those youngsters are going to have produce if they want to start winning games.
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