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New York Knicks: 5 Areas Kristaps Porzingis Is Already Thriving

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) drives to the paint during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Washington Wizards won111-108. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) drives to the paint during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Washington Wizards won111-108. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 26, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) defends against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) defends against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Rim Protection

When all else fails, Kristaps Porzingis is still an athletic 7’3″ big man with a ridiculous 7’7″ wingspan. He’s physically overwhelming in every sense of the word, and has all of the necessary tools to dominate the paint.

Even as a rookie, Porzingis made his mark as one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.

Porzingis finished the 2015-16 season at No. 8 in the Association in both blocks per game and blocks per 48 minutes. He also cracked the Top 20 in defensive field goal percentage at the rim with a mark of 47.7 percent.

For perspective, Anthony Davis and Derrick Favors also checked in at 47.7 percent.

On shots from less than six feet, Porzingis had a defensive field goal percentage of 50.8. That was 9.7 percentage points lower than his opponents’ average field goal percentage from that range—a decline that signals elite status in rim protection.

As for his impact on the team, Porzingis and Robin Lopez helped the New York Knicks finish with the best defensive field goal percentage at the rim in the NBA.

must read: In which areas must Kristaps Porzingis improve?

If nothing else works out for him, Porzingis will have Defensive Player of the Year potential to fall back on.

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