Somehow, the New York Knicks are finding their way to the top of the Eastern Conference in a league filled with dominant teams, much like the 2004 Pistons. OG Anunoby’s arrival has strengthened Tom Thibodeau’s defense to the point where it resembles Fort Knox, and once Mitchell Robinson returns, the paint in Madison Square Garden will be one of the most impenetrable areas in the world. However, Anunoby’s impact is only part of the equation. Reserve point guard Ryan Arcidiacono is playing a crucial role in limiting opponents’ scoring. His performance during the 2023-24 season has been far from impressive, resembling Happy Gilmore’s struggles on the putting green in the seventh circle of hell.
Since the start of the season, Arcidiacono has failed to score a single point in 20 games (he is averaging 2.3 minutes per game and is 0-for-6 from the field, all from beyond the arc). This surpasses the previous NBA record of nine consecutive games without scoring. The league should investigate what prevents him from scoring, as it defies belief. This embodies the essence of New York basketball: gritty, hyped-up, with scaffolding lining the streets to protect residents from Arcidiacono’s unsuccessful attempts.
Putting jokes aside, Arcidiacono is to Jalen Brunson what Thanasis is to Giannis or Taj Gibson to Thibs on a 10-day contract. He’s simply there for the team chemistry. Arcidiacono and Brunson were teammates at Villanova, with Arcidiacono mentoring Brunson during his freshman year. As the starting point guard before Brunson, Arcidiacono was a highly efficient shooter, boasting a 50-40-90 shooting percentage. This makes his current situation with the Knicks even more puzzling.
Arcidiacono’s most memorable moment at Villanova was his pass to Kris Jenkins, leading to the game-winning shot in the 2017 national championship game against UNC. During the offseason, Arcidiacono joined the Knicks alongside Brunson, Hart, Rick Brunson, and Brunson’s godfather Leon Rose. The contrast between Brunson and Arcidiacono’s career paths couldn’t be greater.
Thibodeau’s defense feels like playing on rims with double the resistance and chainlink nets, while Arcidiacono plays like he’s been haunted by Anunoby and the rest of the team during practice. The NBA needs more players like Arcidiacono. This is a formal request for all teams to allocate more playing time to their own version of Ryan Arcidiacono.
Since Arcidiacono last scored a point against the Pelicans last season as a Portland Trail Blazer, there have been four instances of players scoring 70 or more points. Out of the 172,453 points scored by teams this year, Arcidiacono has contributed none. There’s nothing more relatable to the average fan than an NBA player who struggles to score like they do. At this rate, he could be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Bad Basketball Wing, alongside the Detroit Pistons. When he finally makes a shot, The Garden might celebrate with confetti.
The NBA is experiencing an unprecedented surge in scoring. It’s easier to score in today’s NBA than at any point since the merger with the ABA. However, until the league implements strict rule changes to rebalance defenses or Congress intervenes to protect the paint, Ryan Arcidiacono and the Knicks are the unexpected heroes we never knew we needed.
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