The New York Knicks have finally realised their season is over in terms of standings. Which means that they can look at the remaining games like training. Look at some different ways to setup the team, mix it up a little, change lineups, give people different jobs and see how they fair.
Kurt Rambis has made some tweaks to the Knicks, to the delight of some people like Jerian Grant, but also to the distaste of people like Arron Afflalo and Langston Galloway.
According to a source, the Knicks now view Galloway as purely a shooting guard — their attempts to make him a playmaker having failed.
“[Grant] has been working on the shot all year,” Rambis said Thursday. “He knew it was something he had to work on to keep defenses honest. Hand placement. His balance. Just for younger players to learn to shoot from the NBA 3-point line. It’s different than college. He’s working hard on it. He knows it’s part of the game he has to get better.”
Lost in Anthony’s commitment issues is Rambis’ low-key decision to try Afflalo as sixth man. That’s a smart maneuver — with Jackson acknowledging the need to erase this season’s shoddy starting backcourt of Afflalo and point guard Jose Calderon.
“This is not a punishment,” Rambis said of Afflalo’s demotion. “It’s more his natural position.”
“All players want to start — I get that,” Rambis said. “I’m sure he’d rather be starting.”
The Calderón/Afflalo partnership was hated amongst Knicks fans. They hated watching that, so this apparent demotion for Afflalo is welcomed.
I’ve wanted Jerian Grant to get a chance all season and now that Langston Galloway is in a slump, there is no better time for Grant to show what he’s about. Grant is essential for the Knicks’ future. If he shows out for the rest of the season, then maybe the Knicks won’t need a star point guard.
