After months of media and fan-fueled hysteria, Phil Jackson not only acquired a second first-round draft pick but managed to take a risk on Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis is proving to rescue the Knicks from the blunder of winning a few end-of-season games that cost them prime lottery position. Jerian Grant the other first rounder also looks like a great investment and the by-product of the trade that brought Grant to the Knicks was the trading of Tim Hardaway.
Hardaway's lack of defense and chucking mentality will not be missed.
Nor did the Knicks resign Shane Larkin whose rookie guard play and diminutive size also cost the Knicks many games. Larkin cannot be solely blamed. He was thrust into a starting role he was ill-equipped to handle due to Calderon's injury.
Had Jackson signed no one the jettisoning of Hardaway and Larkin would add 10 wins to the Knicks total of last year - say, 27 wins - nothing to write home about but a significant difference.
However, not only did Jackson strike it rich in the draft but he also made some modest, smart free agent signings in Robin Lopez, Kevin Seraphin, Arron Aflallo, Sasha Vujacic, and Derrick Williams. Kyle O'Quinn was acquired from Orlando.
Returning veterans are Calderon, Thomas, Early, Amundson, Melo, and Galloway.
By the end of preseason play Williams, O'Quinn, Early, Porzingis, and Grant all played surprising better than expected. Galloway is playing excellent ball.
Porzingis, Lopez, and Aflallo were all dinged up a bit during the pre-season. Calderon looks healthy and ready to contribute.
The preseason play was mixed bag with the team needing time to gel but at least this year the talent and chemistry is there.
Taking the free agents into account I'm going to predict a window of ten to fifteen addition wins over the 27 the team would win just by losing two lackluster players. So 37-42 wins assuming nothing catastrophic occurs health-wise to key players.
The Knicks may be a player away from a playoff seed but that player may be negotiated in January or February.
The World's Greatest Sports Forum dedicated to the New York Knicks ...and books, politics, food, music, art, movies, video, and, oh, basketball, too.
The Glory-torium is now open in the basement of this blog, check your cynicism at the door. Knock three times and give the doorman the secret words, "In Phil Rose We Trust".
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Gloritorium
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Necessities
Ye Newe Glory-torium
Here, dear readers, is the final resting place of all weary Knicks fans. Yes, here is where one comes when the Triangle refuses to have three sides, when biting one's lip from losing to win later is one loss too far,or when said fan simply hits 'rock' bottom. In short, "the ship be" eternally "sinking" here. Welcome aboard, rearrange the deck chairs as you please.
1 comment:
Glad you are posting again. Hope I'm not the only reader!
Post a Comment