Friday, February 17, 2017

Grading Each Knicks Guard at the All-Star Break

The 2016-2017 season has moved along at a rapid pace, and the Knicks have been a massive disappointment in the Eastern Conference. As a team that bulked up in the off-season, all eyes were on New York to see if they could compete for a playoff spot for the first time since 2012-2013. Since that time, the franchise has hit a major snag and will enter the All-Star Break with more questions than answers. 

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Ron Baker (left) speaks to Courtney Lee (right)

In this article, we will grade each guard on the Knicks and provide a quick recap for what they have done this year. Please make sure to keep an eye out for the other positions, which will be released within the coming days.

Grades for Forwards: HERE

Grades for Centers: HERE




Derrick Rose
Grade: B+

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- The Knicks took a gamble when they acquired Rose from the Chicago Bulls, but it was a calculated risk. The 28-year old is in the midst of a contract year, and has averaged 17.7 PPG and 4.5 AST in 32.2 minutes per game. Before the season, we projected Rose to reach 60 games played, and it appears that he will surpass that mark. As it currently stands, the eight-year veteran has 48 games played with 25 left to play. It is unclear if he will be dealt before next week's trade deadline, but at this point he has been a nice addition. 

Courtney Lee
Grade: B

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- Lee was promised a starting gig when he signed with the Knicks this past summer, and so far the 31-year old has earned his keep. He is shooting 41% from three-point range with 10.3 PPG, but has showed a streaky side with his overall game. Essentially, Lee has been exactly what the Knicks expected, but he may be better in a bench role after this year due to his inconsistent track record. 

Brandon Jennings
Grade: B-

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- Jennings started the year as major spark plug off the bench, but has since fallen into mediocrity as a back-up point guard. I like Jennings quite a bit, but his erratic shooting and overall "feast-or-famine" offensive play style has been frustrating to watch at times. Right now, he has 8.7 PPG and 5.0 AST in 25 minutes of play per game, which equates to "decent" numbers for a backup guard. On a more positive note, Jennings has managed to stay on the court all season so far, which is something that has has struggled to do for the past 4-5 years. 

Justin Holiday
Grade: A-

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- Prior to the season, I predicted that Holiday would morph into a nice role player for the Knicks, and he has done just that. Averaging 7.4 PPG in limited play time and shooting 83% from the free throw line, Holiday has been a solid addition and should continue to serve as a fine bench player for the foreseeable future. At 27-years old, the University of Washington product may have finally found a home in the NBA. 

Ron Baker 
Grade: B-

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- For a short period of time, the entire Knicks fan-base developed a strong love for Ron Baker. As an undrafted free agent out of Wichita State, Baker has been the epitome of your typical "rags-to-riches" story, and is young enough (23) to have a legitimate future in the Big Apple. Granted, Baker has only played in 28 games with an average of 11.7 minutes per appearance, but the tools are certainly there. If the Knicks decide to trade Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings before the deadline, look for Ron Baker to get an extended look at the point guard position. 

Sasha Vujacic
Grade: C

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- There is not much to say about the veteran Sasha Vujacic. At 32 years old, he has only received 8.2 minutes per game and served as a minutes-eater during blowouts. The Knicks gave him a small contract in the summer, and he was not expected to play a large role on the court. Despite this, he has the reputation of being a good veteran presence for the younger players. 

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