What to expect as the Pacers travel to MSG

Knicks’ Players to Watch

If you’ve kept up with the Knicks at all, there are few things to be excited about. One of the few bright spots is RJ Barrett. The rookie out of Duke has shown flashes through his first 21 NBA games, but struggles with consistency. He’s shot less than 40 percent from the field and barely eclipsed the 30 percent mark from distance. The numbers will almost certainly improve later in his career, but don’t be surprised if he hits the 20-point mark tonight.

Another young player to be aware of his second-year big man Mitchell Robinson. The springy center has averaged 2.3 blocks per game since entering the league while playing barely 20 minutes per game. He’s able to make plays few players in the entire league can. The main problem is staying on the court. He gambles often which leads to many unnecessary fouls. There are a few things that are certain for him tonight: a couple dunks, a couple blocks, and more than a couple fouls.

Lastly, there is third-year guard Frank Ntilikina. Frankie Smokes will likely be one of the primary options for containing Malcolm Brogdon tonight. He has long  been known for his stout defensive, the French guard has shown some improvements on the other end of the court this season. Ntilikina shot a putrid 35.4 percent from the field his first two seasons, but this year it’s closer to 40. The bigger jump has come from distance where he made the jump from 28.7 percent last season to 36.5 percent this year. A strong FIBA World over the summer led directly to an uptick in scoring, assists, and steals.