Kristaps Porzingis is Feeling the Pressure of Being “The Man”
By William Lee
New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis feeling the pressure of being “the man”.
New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis is starting to feel the pressure of being the primary option as Carmelo Anthony continues to miss games with a sprained ankle.
Anthony has missed two consecutive games and consequentially New York are on a two game losing streak. In the four games that Melo has missed this season, the Knicks are winless.
More from Daily Knicks
- Former New York Knicks center gets real about 2013 playoff shortcomings
- When is the deadline for the Knicks to extend Immanuel Quickley?
- 3 Rumored Knicks trade targets not worth giving up RJ Barrett for
- Bill Simmons ‘guarantees’ Knicks will have one of three stars by next year
- How to watch New York Knicks players compete for bronze at World Cup
Without Anthony, the rookie now becomes the main defensive focus of the opposing team. Porzingis really struggled with this against city rival Brooklyn Nets, scoring a dozen points but on 5/17 shooting. The Latvian gave credit to Thaddeus Young, saying he was “up in my jersey”.
Against the Memphis Grizzlies Porzingis started off strongly with the opening quarter in a frantic up and down pace, but really struggled as the game slowed down. Porzingis finished the game with 17 points, but only scored six points after the first quarter. Much like how Young was up in his jersey, so was Zach Randolph per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
"“He was all over me, not really worrying about anything else,”“Just sticking like glue.”"
Porzingis says that the Grizzlies did a good job of taking away his favorite spots on the floor.
"“They’re taking away stuff from me so I have to respond to that and find new ways to score,”"
More from Knicks News
- Former New York Knicks center gets real about 2013 playoff shortcomings
- When is the deadline for the Knicks to extend Immanuel Quickley?
- How to watch New York Knicks players compete for bronze at World Cup
- 3 Reasons Tom Thibodeau can’t ignore Miles McBride in 2023-24
- Knicks fans get super anticlimactic ending to 2023 FIBA World Cup
If Anthony is to miss more time with the sprained ankle, head coach Derek Fisher and the team will need to design better plays to get the 7’3″ Latvian the ball.
Porzingis admits that he is really struggling with the extra defensive focus being “the man”, but says nonetheless he needs to adapt and learn from these situations.
"“It was tough for me because they were paying more attention to me but I have to score in those situations,”“It’s a learning process. I’m not going to come in the league and know how to do that. They put a lot of pressure on me. As I grow as a player, I need to be able to find those positions where I can get the ball, make sure I can attack and not be running around.”"
Luckily Anthony has taken the rookie under his wings, being a “big brother” to Porzingis. The 20 year old Latvian says he will need to learn from Anthony, saying that Melo gets to his spots on the floor despite always being the main defensive focal point of the opposing team’s defense.
"“I have to learn from Carmelo, the way he does it,”“He always gets the ball whenever we need him to get the ball and those are the things I need to learn.”"
More knicks: There is Another Kristaps Porzingis Music Video!
That learning will not happen overnight, but hopefully Porzingis can take in all the experience of being the main option and learn from his mistakes. Slow and steady wins the race, progress is all Knick fans are asking for not a miracle.