Briefing: April 16

Mitch wants to score in many ways, Zion declares, should we be worried about the Clippers?

Apr 16, 2019

Good Morning,

Mitchell Robinson hopes to add shooting (and more) to his offensive arsenal. “I want to shoot 3s next year. That’s not the No. 1 focus [but] really to get stronger, work on my post moves. And then when it gets close to summer league, start bringing in that jump shot.’’ [Marc Berman]

Meeting with fans: Mitch will be in Manhattan on Wednesday to participate in the NBA’s “Principal for a Day’’ program. He will also be at the NBA Store on April 25 at 4:00 PM to sign autographs.

Summer Plans: Mitch is still deciding with his agent on whether he will spend the bulk of his time this summer in Dallas, New Orleans, or New York. It’s possible he could arrange another workout with Anthony Davis, as he did last summer. [Marc Berman]

Zion Williamson officially declared for the draft. Knicks fans have been counting their lottery odds all season long (14% for those still counting) in hopes of landing the Duke freshman. Williamson called his year at Duke the “best year” of his life. (Watch his announcement)

MUST READ: Re-Drafting the Entire 2018 NBA First Round

Jonathan Wasserman puts all three Knicks rookies in the first round with Mitchell Robinson 8th (he was drafted 36th), Kevin Knox 13th (9th), and Allonzo Trier 19th (undrafted).

Allonzo Trier snapped back at a fan throwing shade on Twitter. Trier also shared on social media that he will be appearing on an upcoming Desus & Mero show.

Macri’s Thoughts: Allonzo Trier…Kevin Durant…The Clippers

With two and a half months to go before July 1, Monday was a good reminder that there's not going to be any such thing as a slow news day where the Knicks are concerned from here on in.

Early yesterday, Mark Berman released a piece that quoted an anonymous NBA source as saying Allonzo Trier's play was "cancerous" and that other players didn't like how he looked off open teammates.

"Cancerous" is one of those sports buzzwords you'd ideally like to not have associated with the team you root for. While there's a small silver lining in the fact that the player wasn't saying Trier himself was cancerous, it's still concerning.

If I had to guess the source, Trey Burke seems like a good option. Berman mentioned an obscure play from a late November game in which Burke was the culprit of Trier's ball-hoggery, and the former Knick may be feeling slighted he didn't get the benefit of the same city block-length leash that fellow point guard Emmanuel Mudiay received.

Regardless of who it was, it sheds light on a complaint that many fans had during the year: Fizdale allowed certain players to get away with more stuff than others.

I always felt that all three rookies were given a fair bit of leniency...which is fine. They're rookies, and rookies make mistakes. The alternative to letting them play through those mistakes is, well, not letting them do so, and no one wanted to see that this year.

Am I worried it portends some deeper flaw in Fizdale's coaching? As I've said many times this year, wake me when the goal of a season isn't development and a draft pick. He let guys work out the kinks, and gave more leeway to ones he knew a) had a scorer's mindset you can't teach and b) would be around longer. I don't have an issue with it, especially when the guy being complained about also happened to be the Knicks' most efficient guard by a mile.

In the same article, Trier's relationship with Kevin Durant was mentioned, and KD had himself a night to forget in Game 2 vs the Clippers. His team lost a 31-point lead after Durant fouled out late, making their series more interesting than anyone figured.

Am I worried that the team poised to be a prime competitor for Durant's services come July just gave him a taste of the kind of special brew they have cooking up under Doc Rivers' watch? You're damn right I am.

Seriously...what could be worse than the Clippers pushing this series to six or seven hard fought games with a bunch of supporting pieces (albeit really good ones) and no star?

With Kendrick Perkins saying on yesterday's Woj Pod that he thought KD wanted his own team, wouldn't a situation like LA - one where he could both win and have the spotlight all to himself - be ideal? The Knicks Fan PTSD in me needs a shot.

Oh, and Zion Williamson declared for the draft yesterday, which made me think: if Durant really does want the full spotlight, would coming to a team with arguably the most ballyhooed rookie since LeBron actually be a negative? I've said that if New York ends the summer with either guy it would be a massive win, so I guess it falls under the category of "good problems to have," but still...why can't anything ever be easy?

(Sigh)

Remember when…

April 16, 2014: Knicks sign forward Lamar Odom.

April 16, 1998: Despite playing with a sprained ankle, Larry Johnson scores 26 points to lead the Knicks to a 108-79 romp of Toronto at Madison Square Garden and the club’s 11th straight playoff berth.

April 16, 1990: Knicks score a franchise record 46 third-quarter points, as they defeat the Miami Heat 119-102 at Madison Square Garden.

April 16, 1972: Knicks hold on to a 106-105 victory over the Celtics at the Garden, as John Havlicek misses a potential game winner in the final seconds, to give the Knicks a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Dave DeBusschere leads the way with 24 points, including a fall-away jumper that gives New York a three-point lead with :24 to play.

April 16, 1971: Knicks grab a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the Bullets 89-84 at the Garden.

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