The New York Knicks opened at home to a lively crowd and finally gave the fans something to cheer about with a 111-104 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The New York Knicks began the 2016-17 NBA regular season with a 117-89 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the first home game of the year, New York responded with a 111-104 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Here are four observations from New York’s win.
Derrick Rose Is Back To Doing Derrick Rose Things
Derrick Rose’s stat line won’t jump out at you, but the results sure will. He was driving to the basket with ferocity and intensity that hasn’t been seen in quite some time. That reckless abandon that Rose was once known for appeared at times on Saturday night. The type of tenacity we regularly see from Russell Westbrook, we saw flashes of it from D-Rose against the Grizzlies.
There was the ankle breaker (and brief life ender) against Mike Conley, aka the highest paid player in NBA History. There were also some tough and aggressive finishes from Rose. He’s back to playing his game and not worrying about injuries. It’s still early, and he was certainly energized by being at home in the opener, but it was a fantastic sign for Knicks fans.
Joakim Noah Is The Emotional Leader The Knicks Needed
Forget the hard-nosed rebounds, the grunting, and the screaming for a second. How about the seven assists? This guy was built to play in New York for the Knicks. When Phil Jackson set out to give the Knicks an identity, and figure out the teams DNA, someone like Noah is exactly what he had in mind.
Since the days of Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing, the Knicks haven’t had many big men with passion and grit that energizes the team and the city every night. Robin Lopez was a solid contributor, and one Knicks fans will remember fondly, but he’s a limited player. Noah is a bit older and more expensive, but his heart and intangibles are exactly what the Knicks need going forward.
Kristaps Porzingis Is Still Improving, And That’s Scary
Every time you see Kristaps Porzingis play, you see something you’ve never seen before. Whether it’s an array of tip-in dunks, coast-to-coast spinning layups, or dunks between two defenders, this guy has a very impressive repertoire. It’s evident that KP worked on his handle this offseason. He has had his silly smooth, effortless jumper since he entered the league, but the additions have been gradual and delightful to watch.
For instance, when Porzingis makes his deer-like Euro steps, he’s keeping the ball up high. High like, who in the world is going to block this guys shot? He has a guard’s skill set and mentality, but he isn’t afraid to bang on the boards. His feel for the game is only improving, and that’s frightening for the rest of the league. Also, not for nothing, Porzingis will be a beast in fantasy basketball this year. I suspect he will still get his minutes monitored a little bit, but he will run into lots of steals and blocks to go with his points, rebounds, and 3-pointers.
Carmelo Anthony Is Proving He Really Wants To Be A Team Guy
This is probably the most important development for the Knicks’ future. To win in this league, you need stars. There’s no doubt about that. However, you also need stars who are selfless and motivated. Anthony was noticeably frustrated with the vision of the team in years past, but he seems to be content with sharing the wealth with his new teammates like Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee.
Being the guy who takes 30 shots and being super inefficient is hopefully a thing of the past. The important thing is Anthony has not only accepted his role as a leader, but he trusts these guys. He knows he’s playing with players who are equals. Other Knicks teams, he looked around and felt he was playing 1-on-5 (Which he absolutely did at times). Anthony’s farewell Olympic run taught us one thing: Carmelo Anthony is a leader. He’s ready to take the next step and fulfill his promise as New York’s prodigal son.
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Let’s just hope that comes to fruition in the very near future.