Midseason Grades for Every NY Knicks Player

F grades for everyone!

The whole New York Knicks roster, the coaches, the trainer, the front office, the guy who mops the sweat off the court. Everyone.

OK, that's severe. In fact, some players have actually improved since the last time I graded them. But in the midst of a repugnant 1-9 stretch, you can understand my reflex to whip out the Red Pen of Rage.

As a refresher, here's how my grading system works: It's a split between usage (up to 30 points), expectations (up to 30), defense (up to 20) and offense (up to 20). 

The system is built so that a rotation player who simply does his job earns a C, while a starter who does his job gets a B. Reserves who've played 100 or fewer minutes total are only given pass/fail assessments. Starters get the extra points for usage but are graded harder on expectations. Defense and offense measure their contributions to the team, not what their contributions "should" be according to public opinion. No one loses points for missed games due to injuries.

The final grade is an average of both their recent work and their original grade.

Oh, and don't expect any A's.

Reserves and Low Performers

Marshall Plumlee

2016-17 Stats (per game) : 1.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.0 blocks

There's not much new to say about rookie 7-footer Marshall Plumlee—brother of Miles and Mason. He hit the hardwood only three times this season (the last being Dec. 15). He was tough but foul-prone on those brief occasions. New York's NBA Development League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, however, are appreciating the efforts of Plumlee, who recently had a double-double against the 87ers.

Grade: Pass (unchanged)

Maurice Daly Ndour

2016-17 Stats (per game): 2.3 points, 46.7 FG%, 1.4 rebounds, 0.1 blocks, 0.4 steals

The Westchester Knicks are also getting the best of Maurice Daly Ndour, who's regularly putting forth impressive performances, like a 26-point, four-block effort versus the Grand Rapids Drive on Jan. 4.

Ndour has flashed his impressive hops, an instinct for knowing when and where the ball will be and the ability to make life more difficult for opponents during his limited minutes with the big-time Knicks (34 minutes total in the past four weeks). Considering how many struggles the Knicks have had defensively, it's surprising head coach Jeff Hornacek hasn't given Ndour more opportunities to play.

Grade: Pass (unchanged)

Sasha Vujacic 

2016-17 Stats (per game): 8.6 minutes, 2.0 points, 0.8 assists, 31.9 FG%, 25.9 3FG%

Sasha Vujacic, your friend and mine, is rarely on the court unless it's to give cool low-fives to his teammates. He did play big minutes versus the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 28, logging one steal, one block and five rebounds but only shooting 1-of-7.

Nevertheless, Vujacic gets a pass because he's a pro. He forces more turnovers than he commits. He always has energy. He isn't afraid of big moments. The coaches know he'll be ready when his number is called. That's why, when you take a glance at the sideline, you will always see Vujacic in a uniform, never a suit.

Grade: Pass (Changed from C)

Lance Thomas

2016-17 Stats (per game): 5.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 39.2 FG%, 43.8 3FG%, -4.8

There's no question that Lance Thomas' performance has improved in recent weeks. Yes, the Giannis Antetokounmpo buzzer-beater that crushed Knicks fans' souls Jan. 4 might have sailed over Thomas' head, but he had been keeping excellent pressure defense on The Greek Freak all game up to that point.

Plus, Thomas had redemption Jan. 6, making a clutch steal during the final moment of the second game in the home-and-home versus the Milwaukee Bucks. He nabbed it out of Antetokounmpo's feline paws, and Ron Baker picked it up and pushed it to Courtney Lee for the layup, giving the Knicks the wider lead they didn't have two nights earlier.

If not for Thomas' hustle, the Knicks might not gotten the only W they've had in the past 10 games.

As usual, though, the stats don't reflect improvements in actual performance. His on-court plus-minus, which had been one of his key assets last season, remains the worst on the squad. He does, however, have the best 3FG% (41.7%) of any Knick in the past four weeks. Thus, Thomas is one of the only players whose grade gets a bump up. 

Grade: C- (up from D)

Willy Hernangomez

2016-17 Stats (per game): 5.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 blocks

Willy Hernangomez and the NBA game are still getting to know each other, but he may be learning to defend opponents faster than they're learning to guard him.

Like all post players in a New York jersey this season, he's been foul-prone, but inside of 10 feet, he's holding opponents to 3.4 percent below their normal field-goal percentage. Some defenders have him corralled, but many find his high-post dancing hard to follow. One of the results was his nine-rebound, 17-point performance in Denver on Dec. 17.

Grade: C  (unchanged)

C Students

Justin Holiday

2016-17 Stats (per game): 6.9 points, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.9 rebounds, 41.9 FG%, 36.0 3FG%

Justin Holiday looked a step slow for a few games—like perhaps he'd enjoyed Christmas cookies too much. Yet he has been sharper the past week, bringing back the pressure defense and occasional threes for which the Knicks previously relied on him.

In the team's devastating loss against the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday, Holiday arrived to improve (though not fix) the perimeter defense. He also drilled some key jumpers and had a gorgeous two-man play with Joakim Noah. Holiday used a pick set by Noah to drive straight down the lane and then dished a pretty pocket pass to the big man for the and-1 stuff.

Nevertheless, Holiday is largely responsible for perimeter defense, which has been woeful, and for that reason, his grade must fall.

Grade: C (down from B)

Brandon Jennings 

2016-17 Stats (per game): 8.5 points, 5.0 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 0.9 steals, 2.8 rebounds, 40.1 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, -3.5

He's lovable, maddening, essential, dispensable, productive, unpredictable, exciting, explosive and wonderful. When he's good, he's great: draining triples, slithering to the hoop, dishing, dishing, dishing.

He had 12 assists in the win over the Orlando Magic on Dec. 22. He rang up seven assists and 32 points during the loss to the Houston Rockets on Dec. 31. When he's off, it's contagious: Recording two turnovers and no points in five minutes during the thrilling victory over the Bucks is why he played only five minutes.

Jennings can be a major playmaker, but lately, he hasn't made the plays when they counted.

Grade: C (down from B)

Mindaugas Kuzminskas

2016-17 Stats (per game): 5.1 points, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.4 rebounds, 44.0 FG%, 38.3 3FG%

Kuzminskas' defense is not quite up to NBA speed yet, but his ball denial and defensive rebounding are improving as the season progresses. During the Knicks' excruciating Jan. 4 loss to the Bucks, Cheese was everywhere, logging two steals and one block to go along with his 15 points.

During the losing streak, cheers of "Kuz" have become more timid, but fans are still hopeful that the Lithuanian rookie will find the bottom of the net. Rightly so: Kuzminskas is shooting a sparkling 52.9 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from downtown over the past four weeks.

The Knicks' recent struggles are not down to him.

Grade: C+ (unchanged)

Joakim Noah

2016-17 Stats (per game): 5.5 points, 2.3 assists, 8.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.8 blocks, 49.7 FG%, 2.8 personal fouls, -3.1

Yes, the defense has been problematic, to say the least. But in recent weeks at least, the onus cannot all be placed on the shoulders of Joakim Noah. He's averaged 10.0 rebounds per game over the past four weeks and is holding opponents below their field-goal percentage (-0.8) within 10 feet of the hoop. (On the perimeter is a different story.)

He's becoming much more aggressive going to the hoop—slamming it down decisively over Antetokounmpo, for example—and more comfortable defending again—like denying the ball from Sixers wunderkind Joel Embiid and snatching a pass out of the sky. There's still a way to go for Noah, but he's on the way up.

Grade: C+ (up from C) 

Ron Baker

2016-17 Stats (per game): 3.5 points, 1.4 assists, 0.7 turnovers, 1.6 rebounds, 0.4 steals, 38.3 FG%, 20.0 3FG%

Let's not all lose our minds just yet. Yes, Ron Baker has been the lone bright spot during this losing skid—but he played only half of the games and averaged 12.4 minutes in that time. A few good quarters isn't going to earn an A.

Let's talk about one excellent quarter, though. The Knicks were down by way too many to start the fourth quarter versus the Milwaukee Bucks in the second game of the home-and-home, and it looked like the Knicks weren't going to get back Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo's heart-wrenching buzzer-beater two nights prior.

But here comes Baker! Hornacek puts him in to run the point, and suddenly the Knicks go on a run. While Derrick Rose watches from the sidelines, Baker lifts the Knicks to a spirited 116-111 road victory. He's fearless in the face of big minutes and has proved his value to the 15-man NBA roster.

Grade: C+ (up from Pass with flying colors)

Courtney Lee

2016-17 Stats (per game): 9.9 points, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.8 rebounds, 44.9 FG%, 45.0 3FG%, -2.6

Courtney Lee is like an undercover agent. He draws no attention to himself for weeks and then suddenly springs out with an insane fast-break jam, chase-down-like-a-cheetah block from behind or three-point dagger at just the right moment. 

He unleashed a full repertoire of pain on the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 7. Then he raced down the baseline to flip in a flying, acrobatic backward layup versus the Sixers Wednesday night. For the season, he still has the second-best three-point shooting percentage in the league (45.0%). But over the past four weeks, he doesn't even have the second-best percentage on his team (38.5).

He's struggling defensively as of late too.

Although Lee is holding three-point shooters 3.8 percent below their average, over the past four weeks, opponents are shooting 13.9 percent better everywhere else. (Derrick Rose has been taking heat for many of the backcourt's defensive futility, but his stats tell a much better tale.)

Ball-handlers driving past Lee when he plays them too close has been an issue for the Knicks' pick-and-roll D. That's one thing he'll need to fix going forward.  

Grade: C+ (down from B)

Kyle O'Quinn

2016-17 Stats (per game): 6.2 points, 1.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 0.4 steals, 2.3 personal fouls, 55.7 FG%, -0.9

KO has come back down to earth after a stellar rise early in the season (and a bout of the flu), but he's still performing well above his 2015-16 level.

His usage has dropped as Noah's game has improved. He's also struggled with foul woes—a powerful 15-board, 10-point, two-block game over the Sixers Wednesday night could have been legendary had it not been repeatedly interrupted by O'Quinn sending opponents to the line. He was also fined $25,000 for a flagrant-2 foul on Anthony Davis.

Nevertheless, he's had some exemplary games and has still averaged 1.2 blocks, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 points in just 15.4 minutes over the past four weeks.

O'Quinn would have more minutes if he could keep himself in the game, and the Knicks need more of him. Not only is he a rebound-and-block machine, but he's an electric playmaker as well.   

Grade: B (down from A)

Carmelo Anthony

2016-17 Stats (per game): 22.1 points, 3.1 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks, 42.2% FG, 35.1% 3PT, -2.3

Some of the Knicks' losses have squandered otherwise outstanding showings by Carmelo Anthony, such as the 30-point, 11-board, seven-assist killer against Milwaukee Jan. 4 and the 28-point, three-block heartbreak against Philadelphia on Wednesday. 

Yet the fact is that Anthony's energy largely determines the energy of the entire team, and on some recent occasions, his frustration has carried into boredom.

His coach bears some of the burden for leaving him on the court at those times. His teammates—even the veterans who have been stars themselves—share the blame for being unable to muster enough gusto on their own. Yet the main man himself has to own some of this too.

Anthony's defense runs white hot and ice cold. He flashes beautiful ball movement and then falls into iso-Melo even when his stroke is off and his mood is worse. The Knicks need to figure this out, and that starts with this guy. 

Grade: B (down from A)

Derrick Rose

2016-17 Stats (per game): 175 points, 4.4 assists, 2.4 turnovers, 0.7 steals, 3.9 rebounds, 45.0 FG%, 24.5 3FG%, -1.2

Yes, failing to call his team before skipping a game and hopping a flight to Chicago was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad decision—especially when the team is depressed from losing and anxious during trade season.

When it comes to plusses and minuses, though, Rose's regression has not been as bad as that of his compatriots. He has the best of the bad differentials. At 44 percent, his field-goal percentage has been better in the past four weeks than that of Carmelo, Lee, Jennings and Kristaps Porzingis. His assists have actually ticked up from 4.4 to 4.5 in that time, and he's getting to the line more often too (4.0 to 3.5).

Rose is more aggressive—he's even dunking again. He flashed a particularly decisive crossover and two-handed tomahawk over the Bucks.

Individual defensive stats (if you believe them) say that Rose is doing a better job than Lee at keeping the pressure on opponents, holding them to 3.5 percent below their average overall. 

Nevertheless, close losses are still losses. Not as bad is still not good.

He is the point guard of a losing team, so D-Rose gets slashed with the red pen like the rest of them. And if he hadn't been the most reliable of the lot to start the season, he'd be hurting worse than this. 

Grade: B (down from A)

Kristaps Porzingis

2016-17 Stats (per game): 19.4 points, 1.4 assists, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 3.7 personal fouls, 44.9 FG%, 40.2 3FG%, -1.1

Despite the Knicks' defensive struggles, Kristaps Porzingis has become a top-10 rim protector, building his strength and learning how to put that considerable wingspan to good use.  

His terrific offense nearly goes without saying...but let's say a bit about it anyway.

The finest moment recently came during the only win to speak of—the Jan. 6 victory over the Bucks. Porzingis stared down Giannis Antetokounmpo and coolly drilled a three-pointer all the way from Green Bay.

It was a moment that must have given even The Greek Freak a chill.

On the other hand, there was Wednesday night in Philadelphia, when Porzingis was wide-open and could have put the Knicks up by four to seal a win. He instead shot an air ball, which resulted in a turnover and a Sixers buzzer-beating win.

Granted, the latter is not typical KP behavior, but neither necessarily is the former. The Knicks are not relying on him for game-winners this season, and he has racked up his 16.9 points on 42.1 percent shooting in the past four weeks in a rather ordinary, ho-hum manner (at least by Porzingis standards).  

His grade may be saved by the sore Achilles that kept him on injured reserve for three unhappy games. KP still has work to do if he expects an A—even an A for effort—to end this season.

Grade: B+ (down from A)

Note: Stats per NBA.com