Player Grades

Julius Randle - Fact is we wouldn't be close to a .500 team without him but if they had an award for Most Declined Player of the Year, he would win it in a landslide. Randle went from All-Star, All-NBA, Most Improved averaging 24 ppg on 46/41 to 19 ppg on 42/31. Add the lazy defense and moping, he get's a C -

RJ Barrett - Grade might be too low but I had high expectations and I don't think he made that jump but he's playing better lately C

Evan Fournier - Boston games aside, he's been a great disappointment and gives me flashbacks of Bargnani D

Kemba Walker - Knew he wasn't the long term answer at PG and getting removed from the rotation was not answer and he did play better once he got back but he's not dependable and is a huge defensive liability C

Derrick Rose - So wish he was a little younger cause he brings us to another level when he can play but he's starting to break down physically and didn't have the same impact as last season B -

Alec Burks - Nice vet to have on your team but he is not a PG and we ask him to do too much B -

Immanuel Quickley - Keeps improving his defense and playmaking, he's a keeper B

Obi Toppin - Improved overall and brings a lot of energy but that 3PT shot either needs to go or he needs to improve B

Mitchell Robinson - Maybe a little too low and unfair but I had higher expectations. Lost weight and has had better games here and there but he's very inconsistent and I don't think he's a long term solution anymore C

Quentin Grimes - He's no Ntilikina, he can actually play! Love how fearless he is and that jumper is pretty! Defends well too! B

Taj Gibson - The grandpa on the team but always dependable and doesn't hurt you when he plays B

Nerlens Noel - Huge disappointment so far. Always injured! D

Deuce McBride - He tries hard defensively and has some offensive skill B

Jericho Sims - Great find at the end of the 2nd round! B

Kevin Knox - Draft bust who hasn't improved much since his rookie season D

Tom Thibodaue - I have no idea how we are 20-21 with how poorly Randle and RJ have played at times and even our team defense hasn't been consistent. Thibs is a great coach and if you're optimistic about the rest of the season, Thibs is a big reason why. B

Prediction for rest of the season - We have the second hardest remaining schedule left and unless we make a trade, I see 36-46, 10th seed in the play-in tournament.

IQ started rough but has come along nice. RJ is showing flashes of brilliance. Sims gets a “B”? Not really seeing much from him either. Incomplete. Same for Nerlens.
How does Kemba and RJ get the same grade?

Taj is solid, Grimes is coming nice, and OBI is a good role player. Im not happy, but im not freaking out either.
Game under .500. Meh.

Pretty accurate.

On more positive note, my predictions for second half.
EF hits 4 games winners and averages 25 a game..
JR turns it around and tells fans to STFU.
RJ goes on 3pt tear and becomes part of our big three.
Kemba comes back and solidifies the starting unit.
MR averaged 5 blocks a game and shines in PnR with Kemba and IQ.
IQ gets mentioned for sixth player award.
Burks gets mentioned for sixth player award.
Grimes averaged 5 threes a game off the bench.
Rose comes back and has his strongest run since becoming a Knick
Obi air balls a three. JK. Obi finally gets more run and wins dunk contest.
Knicks get to Eastern Conference finals!

SergioNYK wrote:

fishmike wrote:Randle is a D and Thibs is a C+ at best. Too many guys underperforming and Randle having the worst shooting season since his rookie year. That's not a C/B, that's a D/C

Now we are 1 game under .500 and part of the reason I STILL think we go on a run is we are well coached and RJ/Randle will get better. Basically my EXPECTATION is these grades go up with strong 2nd halves from all 3

Can't argue those grades but considering we are just 1 game under .500, it didn't feel right giving Randle a 'D' or Thibs a 'C'. Hard to give the best player on the team who is averaging 19/10 a 'D' and a HC who still has us 5th in defensive FG% against (my preferred stat for grading team D) and close to .500 despite all the craziness we've had a 'C' too.

And yeah, grading is selective and it comes down to expectations and performance. Seems crazy to give someone like Sims a 'B' and Randle 'D' but it's all about having discussion and opinions.

ToddTT wrote:All of these grades look good to me.

Taj might deserve an A though. I think he gives exactly what’s expected, and then some.

Thibs getting a B might be high. Hard to say without knowing what takes place off the floor.

Agree Taj is an A

BRIGGS wrote:

ToddTT wrote:All of these grades look good to me.

Taj might deserve an A though. I think he gives exactly what’s expected, and then some.

Thibs getting a B might be high. Hard to say without knowing what takes place off the floor.

Agree Taj is an A

I think THIBS should get a B considering the injuries and protocols

Noel 17 games
kemba 24 games
rose 26 games
taj 25 games

RJ, Randle, Fournier have been very inconsistent.

He’s looked excellent on the suns bench

Philc1 wrote:Elfrid Payton - A

He’s looked excellent on the suns bench

The whoopie cushion of Ulitmate Knicks humor............First time is funny. 25th, not so.
"pull my finger". Ha ha!
Phil is our resident "Mrs Meisel"........