The New York Knicks are on the right track through the first 24 games with a 12-10 record that has them sitting at sixth place in the Eastern Conference. New York might not be a championship contender this season but they are on the right track towards becoming a playoff team. Here is a look at four reasons why the Knicks have been respectable this season.
Kristaps Porzingis Emergence
The fans that booed the selection of Kristaps Porzingis at the 2015 NBA Draft are cheering now as the second-year forward has emerged as one of the most dynamic young big men in the association. Porzingis ranks second on the Knicks behind only Carmelo Anthony with an average of 19.9 points per game and he has averaged 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 assists per game. Porzingis has been able to stretch the floor with 2.1 three-point shots per game and his ability to work inside and outside makes him that much more dangerous. The Knicks hit it big with the fourth-overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and it’s a big reason why they have been so good early on this season.
Derrick Rose Has Been Excellent
For all of the doubters that wrote him off, Derrick Rose has actually been really good so far this season while managing to stay healthy through the first 21 games. In the offseason, so many people question the Knicks acquisition of him. Is he old? Is he finished? Is his legal case going to be a big distraction for the Knicks? As it turns out, he’s been one of their most important players.
Rose has averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds while serving as an excellent compliment to Anthony and Porzingis. Rose is still learning how to maximize his potential with his new teammates in head coach Jeff Hornacek’s offense and based on the early results, there is still room for this group to really become one of the better trios in the Eastern Conference. You can clearly see how different the Knicks are without him in the lineup as he missed the matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday and the Knicks got smoked by 32 points. They haven’t had a quality point guard in a while and Rose is one of the main reasons this team has elevated their standing in the Eastern Conference.
All-In With Hornacek
For as much as the Knicks have been criticized because of Phil Jackson’s support of a triangle offense that might not be the perfect fit in New York, Hornacek has put his own spin on the offense and maximized the potential of the players at his disposal in it. Hornacek has his players really pushing the pace while still maintaining some principles of the triangle in order to satisfy Jackson’s desires. The Knicks are getting contributions from across the board and a big reason why Anthony, Porzingis and Rose have been so good is the quality coaching they have received from Hornacek this season.
Supporting Cast Steps Up
The supporting cast has stepped up big time in New York where their big three hasn’t had to do it all alone. Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings have combined to averaged 17.3 points per game while Justin Holiday has been a decent depth player as well in their guard rotation. Joakim Noah has played at a high enough level at both ends of the floor to make him a decent option at the five-spot in this rotation and as long as he stays healthy he can continue to be a quality veteran contributor. The Knicks aren’t as deep as some of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference but right now they are getting enough secondary support to remain on track to make a return to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference this season.
Carmelo Anthony Still Delivers
There has been plenty of talk about Carmelo Anthony being past his prime, falling off and no longer being a superstar. We saw how false those claims were at the 2016 Summer Olympics and Anthony is continuing to prove the naysayers wrong in the regular season as well. He’s still the Knicks leader on the court and is averaging a healthy 22.4 points per game with 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Between him, Rose and Porzingis, they’re averaging about 60 points per game. As long as Anthony says All-Star caliber, this team will be in playoff contention this season.
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