PHILADELPHIA — Five observations from Wednesday’s 109-104 loss to the powerful Sixers in which the Knicks squandered a 17-point lead with 3:21 left in the third.
1. Kevin Knox’s sophomore campaign hit rock bottom in Philly. Knicks coach David Fizdale wouldn’t play Knox in the second half after he made a series of lazy defensive plays in his 10:19 of action in the first half. He seems to lack defensive instincts and gave a modest effort on a 3-point close-out and when a couple Sixers players drove past him for buckets. Knox put up three points and had one nice assist on a bomb pass to Dennis Smith Jr. for a layup. But Fizdale is holding Knox accountable for his mistakes now as opposed to last season. In the prior game, Fizdale yanked Knox for Wayne Ellington in the first half. Knox told The Post in Philly his goal is still to become a starter by season’s end. Fizdale said Knox is making progress “slowly but surely” but doing so outside the glare of being the rookie lottery pick. As rookie RJ Barrett held court at the morning shootaround Wednesday surrounded by 10 reporters, Knox was all by his lonesome sitting a few seats away. “I don’t really care about the media and getting all the attention like last season,” Knox said.
2. Since the Steve Mills Press Conference Game on Nov. 10 that appeared to put David Fizdale on a 10-game notice, things have been on the uptick. Mills wanted to see “consistent effort” and he’s gotten it. Indications are the coach’s hot seat is cooler halfway through this 10-game trial. Their record is 2-3 since the James Dolan-inspired conference, but could easily be 4-1 (they blew big leads to Charlotte, losing on a last-second 3-pointer, and, of course, had Philly dead in the water).
Even the lone clunker in Chicago wasn’t so bad as they were tied entering the fourth quarter. Fizdale’s attempt in Chicago to get Dennis Smith Jr. back in the groove in his first game back from personal leave was taking one step back to move two steps forward. Fizdale, who has two wins over Kristaps Porzingis, has found a rotation that includes Smith, Damyean Dotson and Mitchell Robinson as key reserves, a starting lineup that puts gritty Taj Gibson at center and has cultivated the growth of starting point guard Frank Ntilikina, who looks more confident each game.
The Knicks had to really sink south for a coaching change to be made by Game 20. Indications are it was far-fetched for a change to be made this early anyway. Was owner James Dolan, who has given Fizdale private reassurances, really going to let president Mills hire a new coach from the outside on a long-term deal with Fizdale still having at least one season fully guaranteed on his pact for 2020-21? Sources indicated the major deterrent to making a change at Thanksgiving was the sketchy alternative of promoting one of the assistants – Jud Buechler, Keith Smart or Kaleb Canales.
3. Ntilikina looked snazzy in Philly with his 17 points on 6 of 8 shooting. He posted zero assists, though a couple of his dishes for open 3-pointers didn’t fall. He’s finding space in the pick-and-roll to bury soft mid-range jumpers and banged in two 3-pointers on four attempts — not to mention his ferocious play on defense. Fizdale is still desperately trying to rev up Smith’s career, but everyone saw the momentum turn after he took Ntilikina out with 1:29 left in the third quarter. Fizdale needed to put Ntilikina back earlier than with 8:42 left. The Knicks were already down one.
4. The Knicks seem to forever fail to guard the 3-point line when it matters and the Sixers killed them late, particularly Mike Scott with three fourth-quarter 3-pointers. The Knicks are ranked 22nd in the NBA in 3-point defense, allowing a 36.3 shooting percentage. It’s only fitting Ben Simmons finally hit the first 3 of his career against the Knicks Wednesday – a monumental event that had the fans cheering for nearly a minute.
5. Good news on the G League front. Remember Oregon’s uber-athletic power forward Kenny Wooten, who stood out in summer league but had an ankle injury throughout training camp? The Knicks signed him to a Schedule 10 pact and the athletic forward set a Westchester franchise record with nine blocks Wednesday. He’ll likely be on the Knicks later this season once they either make a trade or waive a player who hasn’t worked out, say, a rehabbing Reggie Bullock, Elfrid Payton or Wayne Ellington. Also, two-way point guard Kadeem Allen has made it back from knee issues, posting a near triple-double: nine points, 11 boards and eight assists.
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