So, um, Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr. were not happy following the New York Knicks’ drubbing at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
The root of their problems?
A lack of concentration and synergy.
Here’s what Lee said after the loss, per Newsday‘s Al Iannazzone:
Courtney Lee said some players don't know the plays and they need to pay attention more in practice.
— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) October 25, 2017
And here’s Hardaway, via the Record‘s Steve Popper:
Tim Hardaway Jr: "We’re all out there just running like we don’t know what’s going on. It can’t happen."
— Steve Popper (@StevePopper) October 25, 2017
Lee then took his comments one step further on Wednesday, per the New York Post‘s Marc Berman:
“We messed up on a lot of plays, whether it was the ball getting delivered on time, or one or two guys not being on the same page as far as play calling,” Lee said. “That’s on us, we got to pay attention more in practice and make sure we execute when we’re out there.”
These takes are neither hot nor unfounded. The Knicks rank dead last in points scored per 100 possessions through three games, according to NBA.com. They’re 26th in turnover percentage as well.
Hardaway and Lee, to be sure, haven’t helped matters with their play. Lee is shooting under 29 percent from three, while Hardaway cannot buy a bucket from anywhere. But someone has to speak up, and Porzingis is still a little young to do so. He’s also tasked with carrying the Knicks’ sorry butts at the moment.
No immediate solution is going to present itself. Lee and Hardaway should improve upon their efficiency, but the Knicks aren’t blessed with a ton of talent. Even the most devout optimists know they’re not built to win. And yet, to hear these sentiments again, after they were expressed in various forms last season, is hardly a ringing endorsement for head coach Jeff Hornacek.
