WASHINGTON — Four observations from the Knicks’ 108-95 loss to the Wizards in the nation’s capital that dropped them to 3-7 after 10 games.
1. Demoted backup Enes Kanter racked up a bullish 18 points and 14 rebounds in 24:16 but still got pulled for rookie Mitchell Robinson with 5:36 left of a six-point game. The move backfired as the Wizards ran away and Robinson lost his cool, picking up fouls and a technical. Kanter left the locker room without speaking to reporters. In fairness, a group was interviewing Robinson when he quietly scooted out. However, one reporter stopped Kanter and asked if he could talk about the rookies. He declined.
More telling, Kanter posted a tweet later of a period mark. It didn’t appear to be an accidental (butt) tweet. Consider it a symbol for being speechless at what is transpiring after coach David Fizdale recently said the club is not “chasing wins.” That’s the risk Fizdale ran when he made the center switch so early in the season, in October, after five games. Kanter has been an affable leader of the locker room but seems more detached since the demotion. Fizdale said he sensed Kanter’s fatigue in the fourth and planned to bring him back before the score got too quickly out of hand. If you enjoy soap operas, stay tuned.
2. On that note, Fizdale has his young new starting five in place for now but doesn’t have his finishing group yet. Fizdale said the new lineup he first put out against Golden State would get a five-game run and then be re-evaluated. Following the loss, marking the five-game barometer, Fizdale said he’s not changing and is happy with the energy of the group that posted wins against the Nets and Dallas. He will move on with Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Damyean Dotson, Noah Vonleh and Robinson.
Expect lottery-pick Kevin Knox to regain the starting small forward slot at some point over Dotson, though the 2017 second-rounder is playing well on both ends, averaging 12.6 points. Fizdale has said he would like to continue with surprise rookie sniper Allonzo Trier on the court at the close because of his ability to create his own basket. Fourth quarters haven’t been kind. The Knicks have been at least tied in the final frame in six of their seven losses but ultimately collapsed.
3. This was a bad night for the Knicks’ three young point guards. Now that Emmanuel Mudiay is healthy, Fizdale is rolling with all three. They combined for nine turnovers Sunday.
Mudiay has been the first point guard off the bench. The use of Mudiay and Burke together has been a surprise. Last season, then-coach Jeff Hornacek didn’t go that route, feeling it was a bad combo defensively. Ntilikina had a lousy night against John Wall (26 points, seven assists, five steals). Ntilikina committed four turnovers and scored six points, missing all four of his 3s. Ntilikina has suddenly gone cold from the 3-point stripe (0-for-10 in his last three games), bringing his 3-point percentage down to 30.8. Meanwhile, since Mudiay came back last week, Ron Baker is out of the rotation. “The Bake Show” came on in garbage time and promptly bricked a 3.
4. Next time these two teams meet will be in London on Jan. 17 — with or without Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis. The Wizards are forgoing a home game to stage the London affair. Until the Knicks get Porzingis back, this is how they are viewed by other clubs, as summed up by volatile Wizards forward Markieff Morris: “No disrespect to the Knicks, but they’re a young team trying to find itself,” Morris said afterward. “I think we’re supposed to win.”
The Wizards were 1-7 entering the contest and without Otto Porter (bruised toe).