1. Kristaps Porzingis injury ends season
Injuries are something every team has to deal with throughout the season. Some teams are able to overcome them, others are not. The Knicks are one of the teams that were unable to overcome an injury.
On Feb. 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks, star power forward Kristaps Porzingis went up and threw down a dunk, something he has done routinely for years. Unfortunately, this time, his knee buckled under him and he writhed on the ground in pain. Porzingis was helped off the court and later diagnosed with a knee injury.
The injury ended up being a torn ACL. With that, Porzingis’ third season in the NBA was over, taking along with him any hopes the Knicks had at making the postseason. Porzingis’ injury is easily the biggest takeaway for the Knicks this season.
At 7’3”, lower body injuries will always be a concern for The Unicorn. However, when he is healthy, he has shown that he can carry a team.
This season was his first as the go-to guy. His first two seasons he was able to rely on Carmelo Anthony. This year, he was the first option and was excellent.
Porzingis was averaging 22.7 points per game and connecting on 39.5 percent of his 3-pointers. He also averaged 2.4 blocks per game. Despite playing only 48 games, he was still tied for eighth in the NBA in total blocks on the season. He was named an All-Star prior to the injury and was set to play on Team LeBron in Los Angeles.
Porzingis is already a difference-maker on both ends of the court despite just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. His injury not only derailed the 2017-18 season but could derail 2018-19 campaign before it even begins, depending on how his rehab goes.
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The Knicks have no reason to rush Porzingis. They are not close to being a contender, and will never reach that level unless Porzingis is healthy and producing. His health is key to the Knicks’ future, and something to keep an eye on throughout the offseason and first few months of next season as well.