Preview
The Young Knicks Will Try to Keep Rolling in Final Home Matinee Against the Raptors
No Melo, Porzingis, and Thomas once again in an affair featuring presumptive no. 1 draft pick Markelle Fultz sitting sideline
In the past seven days, the undrafted and battle-tested rookies have had their hands full with the likes of playoff contender regulars. The season’s final Sunday matinee features a match up where the Toronto Raptors has its star point guard back at full health.
Kyle Lowry was missing in action the last time these two played, but that wasn’t a huge factor. DeMar DeRozan couldn’t be stopped — not by Courtney Lee, not by Carmelo Anthony, not by Lance Thomas. There are many moments that will stick out about this season. Personally, this game in particular sticks out because it ended as a foreshadowing fashion of a team headed for the tank.
Nonetheless, here we are. It’s April, and Coach Hornacek has been letting (perhaps encouraging ‘Melo) to rest his aching body. Kristaps Porzingis is once again sidelined. The Knicks have relied on youth and the gutsy lineup changes as an effort to exhibit that they are trying to squeeze out some wins. Against the Raptors, the most intriguing match up to pay attention to swings back to the guard position.
Kyle Lowry vs. Ron Baker
Let’s be honest, Lowry will likely torch Ron Baker. However, Baker’s minutes as a rookie are more reliant on his ability to disrupt the passing lane and run the floor. His most prominent strength in this offense is being a good ball distributor. With Chasson Randle possibly unavailable again, Baker and Sasha Vujacic (why, God, why?!) are going to be busy staying in front of Lowry. Offensively, Baker has the slight upside though — as he’s shooting 43 percent from the field in his four starts this month, compared to Vujacic’s 25 percent.
Also worth nothing is that this will be Kyle Lowry’s third game back since his injury. Despite playing a full workload and not showing any signs of restriction, Baker’s pesky nature as a defender could be enough to force Toronto’s main ball handler to move the ball left to right.
What to make of Maurice Ndour’s development?
I’m mostly apathetic about Ndour and I’m sure I’m not alone there. Yet you can’t hate a guy who comes out and just plays hard the entire time he’s on the floor. That outward passion is often missed on the Knicks’ roster when losing is the expected norm. Even in the face of losing, it’s nice to see a young guy doing the little things to try to help his team get the victory. Obviously, playing up in Westchester has worked out for the best because all signs point to the Ndour being prepared for the minutes Hornacek has given.
Ndour has taken Lance Thomas’s place in the front court as the hybrid athletic wing. Ndour has shown that he can score at-will too. Not only is he getting stops at the rim (averaging a block and six boards this month), but he’s shooting 48 percent right now. With the Knicks feeling the effects of a shallow bench, Ndour has provided a decent spark in the absence of KP and Thomas. This doesn’t mean he’ll be here next season but as we’ve all said, the Knicks need to have a clear picture of what they have before the summer.
A few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure the Knicks would finish the season with 30 wins. They have exactly that. Today is one of the last games that we could see ‘Melo in the Garden. Maybe that reality is enough for the young guys to play up — way up — to the level of a team that isn’t bogged down by the future.
Markelle Fultz, Washington Huskies guard who declared for the NBA Draft, will be in attendance for this afternoon’s game (according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski). Also, it is confirmed that Anthony, Porzingis, and Thomas are out today (via Al Iannazzone/Newsday).
— James Woodruff, site writer
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