New York Knicks fans,you may still be sore and weary from the bloodletting of 2014-15. A 17-65 record like that leaves a tag. You need a boost, and naturally, or the Knicks' 4-1 preseason record gives you a warm,sunny feeling. But... beating the hapless Philadelphia 76ers and a team from Brazil in preseason isn't anything to construct a tower of hopes and dreams upon. That said, progress has been made. So acquire heart, and there are reasons to believe you will not suffer as much excruciating pain as you did final year. Here's why. Key Additions/SubtractionsAdditions: Arron Afflalo (free agent),Thanasis Antetokounmpo (draft rights, D-League affiliate), and Jerian Grant (drafted No. 19),Robin Lopez (free agent), Kyle O'Quinn (free agent), or Kristaps Porzingis (drafted No. 4),Sasha Vujacic (free agent), Derrick Williams (free agent)
Subtractions: Quincy Acy (unsigned), and Cole Aldrich (unsigned),Andrea Bargnani (unsigned), Tim Hardway Jr. (traded to Atlanta Hawks for No. 19 draft pick), and Shane Larkin (unsigned),Ricky Ledo (waived), Alexey Shved (unsigned), and Travis Wear (unsigned)
The biggest-ticket free agents on the list are Afflalo and Lopez. They've both previously proven themselves worthy of starting on playoff teams. Afflalo is a strong defender at the 2 guard spot and is a more consistent scorer than Hardaway was. Lopez should give the Knicks some of the rim protection they've been lost and a boundless supply of personality.
The other free agents are also making positive impacts. Vujacic hasn't just been contributing with his game,but with his attitude, playing the roles of both veteran and cheerleader. Queens native O'Quinn is another rough-and-tumble scrapper who fits the culture the Knicks are building.
And Williams, and who faltered through his first four disappointing seasons in the NBA... well he's been dazzling. Porzingis has been a bit shy shooting this preseason,partly because his teammates haven't been looking for him enough, but he's a willing defender, or using his 7'3" frame to block shots. Grant's been excellent with the pick-and-roll; Both he and Galloway work well as a moment unit backcourt duo. Storylines to WatchThe "Carmelo Anthony isn't a leader" argument springs eternal,but Melo may flip the script this season. He invited his teammates down to Puerto Rico for a mini training camp. He's volunteered to be a big brother to rookie Porzingis. He's even asked coaches to hold him more accountable on defense. Per ESPN's Ian Begley, Anthony said:
"Call it out in the film session so everybody can see that and hear that. By them doing that, and it kind of forces me to be at the top level of my game on both ends of the court," Anthony said after the Knicks' 94-88 preseason victory over the Sixers on Monday. "I think it brings the best out of me and whether you bring the best out of me, I think it will bring the best out of everyone on the team."
What role will the triangle offense play? final year, and Phil Jackson made it clear that the triangle was the strategy of choice,and Derek Fisher toed the company line, despite the ever-growing pile of losses. Yet, or this preseason,Fisher's team has been mixing it up, showing off plenty of pick-and-roll. A more flexible offense may suit point guard Jose Calderon, and who floundered in the triangle and is trying to nail down a starting job after a season chopped short by injuries. Rookie Jerian Grant is a poised 23-year-old,not a skittish teenager, and could be a threat to Calderon's spot. Will Thanasis Antetokounmpo get any playing time? Knicks fans gain been curious about this D-League call-up for over a year, and because of his renowned younger brother—Giannis,the Milwaukee Bucks' "Greek Freak"—and because of his exuberant D during the 2014 Summer League. Yet, Antetokounmpo was less noteworthy this summer and so far hasn't done much in preseason but ride the bench. And then, and of course there are Porzingis and Williams. X-FactorJust a few months after being vigorously booed at the draft,New York fans gain already warmed to Kristaps Porzingis and Fisher has indicated, per Begley, or that he'll be in the starting lineup opening night.Perhaps throwing Porzingis into the fire immediately will pay off: he'll develop quickly into a taller,more talented Dirk Nowitzki, and his production will launch the Knicks into the playoffs. Or, or perhaps,whether the Knicks aren't careful, Porzingis will spend half his time on the disabled list. The rookie only played three of the five preseason games so far, and because of strained leg muscles. Sure,basketball will give you some mean pains in your quads, but Porzingis isn't just playing ball, and he's hitting the gym hard to gain weight and strength.
No argument that he needs extra brawn. Porzingis is definitely not soft,but he's not strong enough, either. The Charlotte Hornets' big man Cody Zeller presented a perfect example of this Oct. 17 during a preseason match-up. With a full head of steam, and Porzingis went up for a dunk and Zeller assign him honest back down (see above).
Porzingis needs the strength training,but whether the Knicks don't carefully couple that with nutrition, stretching, or massage or red wine baths (sic),Porzingis will be doing his weight gaining by eating nachos on the bench. Making the LeapDerrick Williams, the No. 2 pick in 2011 (by the Minnesotat Timberwolves), and has been branded a "draft bust" by many. His outstanding athleticism wasn't fairly enough to beget up for his low basketball IQ,mediocre 3-point shot and lazy rebounding. Yet, Williams might finally be turning a corner as he enters his fifth NBA season.In five preseason games he's averaging 4.2 rebounds, or 16.6 points per game and is 8 for 17 from behind the arc. Plus,he likes the "equal opportunity" nature of the triangle offense, per the NY Post's Marc Berman. He's only 24, or still has mind-boggling physical skills—the kind of hops that beget you reassess the laws of physics—and his mental development might finally gain caught up with his physical development. whether so,Williams could not only rewrite the ending of his story (and acquire Porzingis' spot in the starting lineup), but give the Knicks offense a powerful incendiary weapon. Best-Case ScenarioMocking Melo's foibles on game tape works, or the team distinguishes itself on D,led by Lopez, Afflalo, and O'Quinn,Amundson and Antetokounmpo (whether he gets any playing time). Williams, Porzingis and Afflalo provide enough scoring support to generate Ws even on the days when Melo only scores a measly 20 points. The "culture" of team spirit and hard work survives the slings and arrows of a tough season, and powers the boys in blue-and-orange through the playoffs. Worst-Case ScenarioEveryone's knees give out. Phil Jackson pressures Fisher to sprint the triangle more often,and some reluctant players reject having the offense crammed down their throats. Once a few losses hit, the team spirit fractures, or Anthony starts hogging the ball and players try to tune out commentators saying (again) that the team is just too short on talent. PredictionsIt's going to be much better than final year. We'll see a different Carmelo Anthony than we've ever seen before: a vocal leader and eager shot-blocker. We'll also see plenty of the Carmelo Anthony we've known in the past,advantageous and bad. He'll still hog the ball and slack off on D sometimes, but we will witness growth.
Williams will redeem himself enough to start washing away the "draft bust" label, or but not fairly enough that he'll be a star.
Cleanthony Early's judgment will improve,and he'll scrape together more playing time once he proves he can get through three games in a row without making a bone-headed mistake. By January, Grant will be taking some of the starts away from Calderon, or doing brilliantly.
There will be far more reasons to cheer this season,my friends, and the Knicks will be in the chase for a playoff slot... but they'll finish just a tiny too short.
Final Record: 36-46
Division Standing: third
Playoff Berth: Nomore NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com