New York Knicks: 3 reasons for optimism after loss to the Thunder
By Eric Snyder
In Porzingis we trust
If Kristaps Porzingis stays healthy there is no question he will be an All-Star. Furthermore, once the rotation around him solidifies, these Knicks will surprise many teams. Against the Thunder, KP dealt with Steven Adams, Paul George and Patrick Patterson in various forms. All three are solid defenders (especially Adams and George) but Porzingis still had 31 points and 12 rebounds.
One extremely good sign for the Knicks is the 38 minutes played by Porzingis. Following a preseason that raised doubts about KP’s durability, his ability to stay on the floor last night was huge. In those 38 minutes, Porzingis only had three personal fouls while remaining active in the paint.
KP did only have one block while he was by far, the tallest player on the court. Yet, Porzingis was often guarding Carmelo Anthony on the wing or facing Steven Adams, one of the best centers in the NBA. His length and activity still affected passing lanes but one man can’t stop the OKC Thunder.
Unfortunately, Kristaps Porzingis was the only player making any type of impact against the Thunder. If Jeff Hornacek can get him help, KP will only get that much better. The second reason to be optimistic about the Knicks concerns the players on the team not named Kristaps Porzingis.