Knicks vs Hornets Pregame Notes

David Fizdale is still preaching the same process for his team, and has some praise for his second-year forward flying under the radar.

There's times when it feels like Knicks head coach David Fizdale is out of touch with all the conversation happening around his team.

Whether it's calls for Frank to start, or more pick and roll, or less switching, or whatever the hot topic of the moment is, it seems like the chorus for change simply doesn't get heard. This is how frustration builds...not because fans can't stand a rough patch, but because they don't trust the process behind the the occasionally unsightly mess in front of them.

Before Saturday’s game, Fizdale pushed back on this notion, whether he realized he was doing so or not. During his pregame media availability, the coach stated loud and clear: to our fans, how we play matters as much as whether we win or lose.

He's right, and whether this was a slip of the tongue or a pointed message to get in the good graces of the populace, it represents hope for those who not only want results, but need to see the execution of a long term vision as well.

In talking about his goals for the night, he recited the usual tenets: move the ball, set screens for each other, and of course, trust.

It's not the first time we've heard these things, but Fiz noted that these principles may have been reinforced that much more following a 48-minute complete game performance that marked New York's best of the season.

In terms of tonight, the starters remain the same, although he did note contemplating moving Mitchell Robinson back into the starting lineup. He also wants to get Frank Ntilikina and Dennis SmithJr. more time on the court together, as well as trying out RJ Barrett more at small forward to inject a much needed dose of quickness into his lineups.

And then there's Kevin Knox - a forgotten man by some this season who the coach couldn't praise enough for how he's handled his move to the bench after a rookie year with its fair share of ups and downs:

On the court before the game, Kevin Knox's father Kevin was telling me about his son's journey so far, and how each step of the way has represented another moment of significance - first getting drafted, then starting, and now beginning his second year as a pro.

He noted how the work they've been putting in all offseason is finally paying off in the form of a shooting stroke that not only might be the prettiest on the team, but has resulted in an effective field goal percentage of .545 - over 100 points higher than what it was as a rookie.

For Knox and the rest of the Knicks, tonight represents an important benchmark. It's not a "must win," because this is the NBA, and there is no such thing before April. But it does serve as a "must show up and execute" in the exact ways the head coach preached.

This Hornets team shouldn't be taken lightly, sitting with a record of 5-7 after being pegged to finish dead last by the fine folks in Vegas. Fizdale noted how their quick guards would pose a challenge, and how New York has clearly struggled defending such players all season long.

The rest of the season starts tonight. The Knicks need to follow up this Dallas win with something 180 degrees different from how they did last time.

And the coach knows it.