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Why Derrick Williams Must Start For The New York Knicks

By Nathan Grubel

Oct 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; New York Knicks forward Derrick Williams (23) blocks the shot of Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Knicks won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; New York Knicks forward Derrick Williams (23) blocks the shot of Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Knicks won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Preseason basketball generally doesn’t mean much in the larger scope of things.

Players get time to recover from injuries and reps in order to get themselves back in shape, coaches see which players fit in their system and which don’t, and young players battle against one another for a few open roster spots.

Other than that, that’s usually the extent of what happens before the season gets started, nothing more than what goes on in training camp.

Things may have taken a different turn for the New York Knicks, though.

This team has looked much different than it did last season, actually pushing the pace and playing defense to get a lot of easier looks in transition.

These aren’t the same Knicks of old. Team president Phil Jackson made sure to inject some defensive help into this team, an area in which they were among the worst teams in the league last season.

One player in particular has embraced this new identity New York has shown through the preseason, and his name is Derrick Williams.

Williams was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and given monster expectations to live up to that ultimately didn’t come to fruition.

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The Timberwolves never quite figured out his true position and role on the court, and so he spent the last two years of his career with the Sacramento Kings, still having an unclear role on the bench and being misused in a lot of offensive schemes.

One could feel bad for Williams, as an argument could be made both the Timberwolves and Kings never quite appreciated the tools he brought to the court, but only wished he had what he lacked. He doesn’t have a polished back-to-the-basket game for a power forward, and his jump shot has always left something to be desired to play on the perimeter.

What he can do, however, should outweigh the negatives, and that’s what he’s proven with the Knicks so far.

Williams is averaging 17.3 points per game through the Knicks’ first four preseason games, as it’s not his repertoire that has necessarily improved but his shot selection.

For some reason, Williams used to love jacking up contested shots either on the wing or in the double team of the defense. Surprisingly Williams doesn’t seem to do much of that anymore, as he’s gotten smarter as a player in the halfcourt.

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But the halfcourt sets are not where he does the most damage. Williams is great at filling the lane or a spot at the three-point line for easy looks in transition, taking advantage of his size and athleticism in either area. He’s quietly one of the better forwards at driving the basketball and finishing in the league, and too many times before now he was just being utilized as a spot-up shooter or post-up threat.

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That’s not his game. Williams wants to run the floor and get baskets that way. When he’s open, he can hit jump shots no problem. He even put the nail in the coffin Friday night against the Boston Celtics with a dagger three-point shot.

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Defensively, Williams is a force, capable of blocking shots and playing great help defense whenever needed. His footwork and athletic abilities on defense may be some of the best the Knicks have on their current roster, meaning he should get plenty of playing time this season.

I mean, who can argue with these results?

If the Knicks can properly utilize Williams on offense and let him bring his energy on defense, then he should without a doubt deserve a starting spot in the rotation. The team has already talked about experimenting with Carmelo Anthony at the 4 spot, and Williams is interchangeable at either position so long as you don’t ask him to post-up his man every time down the floor.

This run is exactly what Williams needed to revitalize his career. It may be a small sample size, but what he’s doing isn’t something that’s impossible to sustain over an 82-game season. He’s playing with fire and passion, capitalizing on his strengths and limiting his mistakes in terms of bad shots and doing too much on defense.

Call me a believer when I say I think Williams has grown up on the court. Give him a chance New York, you won’t be disappointed.

Next: Why The Knicks Must Start Their Rookies

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