Schmeelk: Enes Kanter Does Not Help Knicks Win Games

Enes Kanter had lot to say after the Knicks blowout loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday night. He is not happy coming off the bench in favor of Luke Kornet. Here's what Kanter had to say courtesy of Marc Berman of the New York Post and ESPN's Ian Begley.

"I don't understand," he said. "This is too early in the season to shut me down. My goal is to go out there and try to be an All-Star this year. That was my goal. But now, look at the situation. You can't do anything about it. You've got to stay positive. Just got to stay positive."

(The Knicks aren't shutting him down. He still played 17 minutes in a game where he was 0-6 from the field. He only played 14 minutes the previous game, but that was because Luke Kornet was playing the game of his life, making seven three pointers.)

"For me to get to the next level just be a good teammate, support my teammate out there and clap for him and cheer for him,'' Kanter said the day before during the Knicks practice in Utah. "I'll go out and do my job and help my team win. If we're winning, it's good. But if we're losing it's a problem. If this adjustment is going to get us a win, cool. But if not, there's a problem. I came off the bench in OKC and Utah, so I'm used to this role and I'm going to lead the second unit again."

In fairness to Kanter, he did add this after the game against the Jazz on Friday night.

"I just want to go out there and play basketball," Kanter said. "I want to win. I don't know why they're shutting me down. I just want to go out there and win. It doesn't matter starter or come off the bench.

"I think every player's job to just go out there and fight every minute on the court. That's what I want to do. Just want to go out there and just play basketball. So, I don't understand why they're shutting me down."

Despite the more team-friendly sentiments in the previous quote it couldn't be more obvious Kanter isn't happy coming off the bench and potentially interfering with a potential All-Star bid (LOL). It might only get worse with Mitchell Robinson nearing his return that might negatively impact his minutes even more. Kanter seems confused why the Knicks would reduce his minutes when he is scoring 14 points per game in 26.6 minutes on 54.3% shooting while grabbing 10.6 rebounds per game. Here's why, Enes.

The Knicks play significantly worse when Kanter is on the floor and it has been that way since Kanter came in the Carmelo Anthony trade in 2017. What should be obvious to anyone with functioning optical nerves, Kanter is a huge hindrance to the team's defense. He can't move laterally, guard the pick and roll or protect the rim. It's so bad that other NBA players publicly call out his pick and roll defense.

First there is what former teammate Steven Adams told his Thunder teammates about Kanter's defense on picks and rolls.

Dennis Schroder said Steven Adams said to keep putting Enes Kanter in pick and roll: pic.twitter.com/y8nCsahFgI

Then there's Devin Booker who got right to the point on twitter:

----‍♂️ "Pick n Roll at 00 every time" https://t.co/riaizpFpZV

There's more than just anecdotal evidence. The Knicks defensive rating is even worse when Kanter is on the court, dropping from 113.2 to 113.4. When Kanter is on the bench, the Knicks defensive rating improves all the way to 107.9, which would make the Knicks the 13th best defense in basketball. That sort of negative impact is the difference between wins and losses. Only Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kevin Knox have a bigger negative impact on the team's defense.  

This is not something new for Kanter. It has been a consistent feature of his career. Going back to the 2013-2014 season, his team has performed significantly better defensively when he is on the bench and most seasons the numbers aren't particularly close.

But Kanter's offense certainly makes up for his defense, right? Nope. Here's the real kicker: The Knicks are actually scoring LESS when Kanter is on the court this season. The Knicks are scoring 102.8 points per 100 possessions when he plays, and 103.6 per 100 possessions when he doesn't.  Their EFG% (effective field goal percentage) drops from 51.6% to 46.8% when he plays. They also play faster when he is on the bench, getting more than two extra possessions per game.

The Knicks net rating (+/- points per 100 possessions) when he plays is -10.6 but only -4.3 when he is on the bench. Last year their net rating was 2.7 points better when Kanter was on the bench versus on the floor. It's been a pretty consistent feature of Kanter's career (2016-2017 with OKC the most recent exception) and not unique to his time with the Knicks. That's why Kanter isn't starting and probably shouldn't be playing at all. The team consistently get outscored by more points when he is on the floor. He makes them worse.

Kanter's biggest contribution to the Knicks this year (aside from his social media accounts) is going to be getting them as many ping pong balls as possible on lottery night. As an expiring contract, he will not be back on the team next season. Unless David Fizdale is trying to lose games (he's not), Kanter should be getting fewer minutes than both Kornet and Robinson when the rookie is ready to play.

Kanter's goal to make an All-Star team is not the Knicks problem. From a completely rational point of view, it is also delusional. With center no longer a position to vote for, being removed in favor of "front court", Kanter would need half the league to disappear before he would even be in the conversation. He puts up good numbers but he is not a good basketball player and everyone knows it.

Fizdale, General Manager Scott Perry and Team President Steve Mills might also consider whether Kanter should be on the roster at all. With an expiring contract he isn't part of the team's future. He is complaining about playing time. His complete inability to defend the screen and roll or move at all laterally cripples Fizdale's ability to scheme a competent defense.

If culture is important, what sends a better message than releasing a player that can't function defensively, slows the team's pace and offensive efficiency and complains about his role and playing time? Kanter might get vocal or physical with opposing players and bring some toughness in the paint to the court, but should the way he plays and complains about his role be something that is rewarded with a return to a larger role? I'm not sure how the answer can be anything but "no".

Knicks fans should understand the reality that trading Kanter is not an option. Every other team in the NBA knows exactly what his weaknesses on defense are that make him virtually unplayable. He makes 17.15 million dollars this season. The only way the Knicks move him is if they are willing to take a longer contract back, which they shouldn't be given their desire to accumulate cap space this summer. If any team could just taken him onto their roster with only having to pay his salary I'm not sure any would. No one wants Enes Kanter to make a playoff run because he helps teams lose games, not win them.

Kanter likes to talk. He does on the court to his opponents, with his teammates, on social media, and to reporters to complain about his role. If he played half as well as he flapped his lips, an article like this wouldn't have had to be written. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Enes didn't understand why his role was bring reduced, and now he should. Unless of course, the Knicks are secretly tanking with Kanter as their Tank Commander. If that's the case, then we will be seeing him in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.

Schmeelk's Snippets

-        One more note on Kanter that isn't relevant to this article but I think needs to be said to give some context. He does deserve a lot of credit for speaking up against his native Turkey's increasingly authoritarian regime. It has cost him his home country where is now considered an enemy, the ability to see his family that still lives in Turkey, and potentially the ability to travel internationally. When it comes to that, Kanter should keep talking as much as possible. It is brave, admirable, even heroic, and he should be celebrated for it.

You can follow me on twitter at twitter.com/Schmeelk and check out my new Knicks Podcast called The Bank Shot. You can download it on any of your normal podcast services.