NBA Power Rankings week 12: injury fallout, OKC Thunder highs and lows
27. . 11-29. Previous: 24th. New York Knicks. 28. team
New York Knicks:
Offense: (105.0) 26th
Defense: (112.9) 28th
Net: (minus -7.9) 27th
Games Week 12 (1-3): Won vs. Heat: 124-121Lost vs. Lakers: 87-117, Jazz: 104-128, Pelicans 111-123
Games Week 13 (3 games): Tues at Bucks | Thurs vs Suns | Sat vs 76ers
Bobby Portis is quickly developing a reputation as a dirty player. It’s not like he already didn’t have a bit of that narrative to his name having broken teammate Nikola Mirotic’s jaw in practice along with some other questionable plays (read: dirty) in his NBA tenure.
Bobby Portis ejected after smacking KCP across the head... pic.twitter.com/Ju1aoNDXBP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 8, 2020
But this past week has cemented that reputation with back to back games of headhunting.
The first altercation occurred in LA against the Lakers when he swung at Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s head removing his headband with the swipe and coming nowhere near the ball.
Hey, when Rajon Rondo is discussing what’s appropriate with you – that should be your first clue this was way out of line.
Bobby Portis gets a flagrant 1 for his foul on Bojan Bogdanovic. He got a flagrant 2 and an ejection last night in LA for his hit on KCP. Here's the MSG replay which gives a clearer visual of the foul pic.twitter.com/vlAi03PTRM
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 9, 2020
Yet, the very next game he pulled the same stunt although he did appear to be attempting to reach the ball. The issue here is you just got nailed for $25k for the flagrant 1 on KCP why even go for the ball if you aren’t sure you can reach it the very next game?
It speaks to Portis’ inability to read and assess the situation or he simply doesn’t care. Either way, with news the Knicks are one of the teams inquiring about Andre Drummond you can be sure Portis is one of the players they’ll include in any trade package and given Dwane Casey’s squad recent attempt to emulate the Bad Boys crews it’s a team who might be open to picking up Portis and utilizing his questionable skill set.
Mitchell Robinson shooting and draining corner 3s before the Knicks game tonight against the Pelicans. pic.twitter.com/ynVaOs5WQl
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 10, 2020
There is one glaring problem with this trade however, — Mitchell Robinson. The youngster has feasted in his minutes (play him more Mike Miller) and is even getting up 3-point shots in practice. The ceiling for Mitchell is untapped and he simply needs more run but for whatever reason coach Miller seems opposed to seeing precisely how high that ceiling is.
The Knicks finished off their week taking advantage of the Heat who mailed in the second half.