Knicks Links 10/8/18: A point guard battle for the ages

What’s up y’all? Who’s ready for some more preseason basketball tonight? I know I am! But let’s catch up on some news beforehand.

Here’s some tunes to listen to:

What’s the haps with the Knicks today?

— The Knicks’ much-discussed battle for the starting point guard spot... continues to be discussed.

Marc Berman/NY Post: “Burke started the first two preseason games, Mudiay started the last one and Ntilikina hasn’t started any. Whether Ntilikina gets his look Monday against the Wizards in the second-to-last preseason game is still being decided, Fizdale said.

Reading the tea leaves after Fizdale’s remarks following Sunday’s practice, he prefers Ntilikina as a versatile guard who can get minutes at shooting guard and small forward. That way the coach can utilize all three players in his rotation. Left unsaid is the fact Ntilikina’s ball-handling still isn’t superb.”

Chris Iseman/Bergen Record: “Ntilikina hasn’t spent much time on the ball through preseason. When he’s been on the floor, he’s almost always alongside either Mudiay or Burke.

The Knicks still haven’t really decided on which position suits Ntilikina the best.

Fizdale doesn’t believe that’s necessarily a bad thing. Ntilikina is 6-foot-6 and can guard multiple positions on the court.”

Steve Popper/Newsday: “The deciding factor may be who is on the floor against the Knicks or even who is on the floor for them — finding a point guard who works best in concert, proving chemistry with that group. While Ntilikina has not started, he did start the third quarter against Washington with a three-guard lineup on the floor, and the Knicks raced to a 14-0 run to turn the game around.”

— Speaking of Marc Berman, I have to give this guy some serious props. He’s the longest-tenured guy on the Knicks beat, and yet he’s still getting out 2-3 stories a day like a man half his age.

First, Berman writes that the David Fizdale Knicks are already fixing one of Jeff Hornacek’s worst calling cards from his two seasons here — horrible starts to the third quarter.

Second, Poppa Berms talks about Lance Thomas’s re-emerging role as a leader on a very young Knicks team this year.

Third, Berman details Ron Baker’s path to probably securing his roster spot this season, basically due to playing harder than anyone on the floor.

And finally, Berman writes about how David Fizdale deserves a lot of credit for the Knicks’ impressive 3-0 start in the preseason. Good job, Berman! Keep it up!

— Popper notes that, while still a relatively young man of 26, Enes Kanter has become one of the leaders of the young Knicks.

— Speaking of Kanter, NYDN’s Stefan Bondy reports that, due to Kanter’s ongoing struggle with his home country of Turkey, he may not be able to make the trip with the Knicks to London for their game against the Wizards on Jan. 17.

— Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic details Fizdale’s strategy of getting former Knicks of the past like Clyde Frazier and Patrick Ewing to pass on their knowledge to the current young Knicks.

— HoopsHype predicts that the Knicks will finish 14th in the Eastern Conference this year. Yeesh.

— During a larger story about the Timberwolves/Jimmy Butler conundrum, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN mentions that the Knicks never even made a call:

The Clippers and Nets never found traction in conversations with Minnesota, and the Knicks never called, sources said.

— Daily Knicks ranked the top 15 floor generals in Knicks history. Outside of the top few, it’s, uh, frankly a little depressing.

That’s all for now! Enjoy the game later!