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After last year's incredible showing, many New Yorkers hoped that the Knicks would be back to relevance. Behind an emerging Julius Randle and RJ Barrett turning into a star, everyone was hailing the return of New York. Getting swept in the first round by newly-crowned enemy of NYC Trae Young and the Hawks was seen as growing pains.
However, this 2021 – 22 season, the Knicks have been back to their bottom-dweller ways. An inconsistent offense and Randle's worst attributes showing up has led to a supremely disappointing 25 – 34 record heading into the All-Star break. There are numerous questions surrounding this team. Let's take a look at some of them.
3 burning questions for Knicks after 2022 All-Star break
What do we do with Julius Randle?
Julius Randle burst onto the scene as a bona fide All-Star last season. The former Lakers first-round draft pick became the focal point of a suddenly resurgent Knicks offense, displaying a blend of playmaking and scoring never before seen from him. It seemed like the potential scouts dreamed about him was starting to materialize.
However, 2021 brought around a severe regression for Randle. After a career year last season, the Knicks star's scoring cratered all of a sudden. A six-point dropoff in scoring, along with his shooting splits tanking, has been the story of Randle's 2021 season. He's still a damn good player, but he isn't playing like the lead star the franchise was hoping he'd become.
Worse, issues about Randle's character have cropped up. Reports of him failing to be a leader in the locker room, as well as an incident of him blowing off an assistant coach being caught on live TV only serve to sour his image amongst Knicks fans. Not to mention his comments regarding the critical New York crowd not sitting well with fans.
The question now is: do you hope that this season is just a down year for Randle and continue to stick with him? Or do you cut your losses and trade him while he still has some value? The Knicks have the last half of the season to figure out the solution to this problem.
Is Tom Thibodeau the right coach?
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Tom Thibodeau's first season with the New York Knicks was the best thing any fan could've asked for. After many turbulent seasons under mediocre coaches, the city finally felt like they had the perfect coach in Thibs. Leading the franchise to their first playoff appearance in over seven years will do that to you.
However, Thibs' second year showed the same issues that became his downfall with his previous teams. The hallmark of a Thibodeau team used to be his unflinching resolve to play his starters for long stretches. His overworking of his players became the downfall of guys like Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, who succumbed to injuries.
The same situation happened again in New York, with RJ Barrett suffering a serious injury during a blowout where he had no business being on the court. Thibodeau's insistence in playing his starters a lot pays off in the short term, but for a team like the Knicks with so many young talent, it might cost them a productive future.
If those young talent get to play, anyway. Another criticism of Thibodeau has been his overreliance on veterans and refusing to play younger players. Cam Reddish was the Knicks' biggest acquisition prior to the trade deadline, but he's barely played for them. It got so bad that talks of trades for him loomed AFTER he was already dealt to New York.
The Knicks should thoroughly evaluate Thibodeau and see if he's the perfect man for the job.
Is this a lost season?
To say that the Knicks' 2021 campaign hasn't gone well is a massive understatement. The team went all-in in the offseason, signing veterans in order to contend for a playoff spot. Instead, they find themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with a play-in sight possibly in sight.
The question now is: is it worth it for the Knicks to get into the playoffs? The way the team is playing right now, there's no doubt they wouldn't stand a chance in a seven-game series against the East juggernauts. It might be better for them to cut their losses and find ways to develop their younger assets.
These questions are rather difficult for this team to answer. However, getting clarity with these issues will go a long way in improving the future outlook of the team.
