{"id":141283,"date":"2020-12-25T02:25:27","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T23:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/the-knicks-biggest-issue-is-rearing-its-ugly-head-again\/"},"modified":"2020-12-25T02:25:27","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T23:25:27","slug":"the-knicks-biggest-issue-is-rearing-its-ugly-head-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-knicks-biggest-issue-is-rearing-its-ugly-head-again\/","title":{"rendered":"#The Knicks\u2019 biggest issue is rearing its ugly head again"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#The Knicks\u2019 biggest issue is rearing its ugly head again<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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The star of the Knicks\u2019 preseason is already hurt. Two former lottery picks at the same position developed splinters on the first night. And their journeyman starter was unimpressive.<\/p>\n

Point guard remains inarguably the Knicks\u2019 No. 1 issue.<\/p>\n

Immanuel Quickley, the first-round pick out of Kentucky who was already becoming a fan favorite after his strong performance in the final two exhibition game<\/a>s, suffered a hip pointer in the season-opening loss to the Pacers on Wednesday night and is listed as day-to-day. He was held out of a light workout Thursday after he felt tightness in his hip upon waking up.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, it won\u2019t be long,\u201d coach Tom Thibodeau said after Thursday\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n

Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr., 2017 lottery picks (Smith was chosen by the Mavericks) who are still trying to establish themselves, didn\u2019t do enough to impress Thibodeau during the preseason to warrant being part of his 10-man rotation. Even without Quickley in the second half Wednesday, Thibodeau opted to use Alec Burks at the point over Ntilikina and Smith, neither of whom got their rookie contract extensions by Monday\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is based on performance,\u201d said Thibodeau, who eventually turned to Ntilikina in the closing minutes Wednesday night. \u201cYou have to make tough decisions, and we have. But I never write anyone off, so long as they continue to work, and when their opportunity comes, just be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then there is Elfrid Payton, the veteran who got the nod over Quickley in the starting lineup and was a minus-15 against Indiana, committing more turnovers (five) than he had assists (three) or made field goals (three).<\/p>\n

It is uncertain if Quickley will be able to play in the home opener against the 76ers on Saturday at the fan-less Garden. Before he got hurt, Quickley scored five points and had an assist and a steal, continuing his quality play. Thursday was just a walk-through and the Knicks are off Friday, so he will be using the time to get treatment. Quickley suffered the injury in the second quarter after getting hip-checked by Pacers forward Myles Turner.<\/p>\n

\"Elfrid
Elfrid Payton driving during Wednesday night\u2019s loss.<\/figcaption>
AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI felt OK at first, then I tried to run and it just didn\u2019t feel right,\u201d Quickley said. \u201cHopefully it gets better.\u201d<\/p>\n

If he can\u2019t go, Ntilikina or Smith could get a chance, unless Thibodeau again opts for Burks, who can play either on or off the ball.<\/p>\n

Burks had a strong debut, scoring 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting, added three assists and just one turnover in 32 minutes. But the argument can be made the Knicks are better off using him as a starter at shooting guard or making sure he\u2019s focused on scoring rather than running the offense.<\/p>\n

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