Westchester Knicks’ Takeaways From The Quarter Mark Of 2018-19 Season

The Westchester Knicks are 9-3 on the season and are nearly at the quarter point in the 2018-19 campaign. There are several takeaways through the team’s first 12 games, which includes the team bolstering a top defense. John Jenkins stellar play is keeping his name in the call-up conversation. How has Luke Kornet looked since being assigned to Westchester on Nov. 5?

John Jenkins’ stellar play is keeping him as a call-up candidate.

Through the early parts of the season, John Jenkins has been lighting up the G League. With the scoring prowess he possess, it should come as no surprise that he is averaging 29.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from three-point range. Jenkins is getting his shots off so effortlessly, which was evident when he dropped a franchise-record 44 points against the Lakeland Magic. He won’t be playing until early December since he is with the USA Men’s Qualifying team, but he’s looking to continue his strong production when he returns to Westchester.

Westchester is maintaining a top defense.

The Westchester Knicks are 9-3 through their first 12 games and are maintaining one of the top defenses in the G League. The Knicks have players who can get after the ball and can keep up with their defenders off switches, while keeping their opposition on their toes. Westchester has given up less than 100 points in five of their victories, which includes giving up 75 points to the Wisconsin Herd.

Here are some of Westchester’s defensive stats through the first 12 games:

No. 1 in opponent points per game (97.8)
No. 1 in opponent field goal percentage (37.5%)
No. 1 in opponent points in paint (42.8)
No. 1 in defensive rating (94.1)
No. 4 in opponent three-point percentage (30.1%)
No. 10 in opponent second chance points (13.3)

Assignment tracker: Luke Kornet

After seeing limited action (3.2 minutes per game in four games) through the early part of the 2018-19 season, the New York Knicks assigned Luke Kornet to Westchester. Luke has remained with the team since and is playing 32.4 minutes per game. He’s done a little bit of everything through his seven G League games.

Kornet showed his ability to protect the rim against the Raptors 905 where he recorded a career-high seven blocks. He’s shown that his passing is an underrated skill he possess and dished out six assists three times. His most notable skill he brings to the Knicks is his perimeter game. He’s connecting on 46.7 percent of his shots from deep and is nearly making three triples (2.8) per game.