New York Knicks: 2016-17 Quarter-Mark Award Winners

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Nov 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) gestures after a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 104-94. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

MVP: Carmelo Anthony

If not for the past few games, the quarter-mark MVP of the New York Knicks would’ve been Kristaps Porzingis. That’s not to say that Porzingis has hit a decline, as he’s actually maintained a star-caliber level of play throughout the 2016-17 NBA regular season.

Carmelo Anthony has simply proven to be the Most Valuable Player on the Knicks in the best way possible: by stepping up in the clutch.

Anthony has already made two game-winning shots, with one preceding a game-saving defensive play. That’s three clutch game-deciding plays in a sample size of just 20 appearances—an impossible truth to overlook when considering Anthony is playing at a star-caliber level in other ways.

Porzingis may be close to becoming the best player on the Knicks—and some feel he already is—but the Knicks are living and dying by what Anthony does.

New York is currently 9-4 when Anthony scores at least 20 points and 2-5 when he fails to. For vital perspective, one of the two wins that the Knicks secured when Anthony scored less than 20 points was achieved because Melo hit the game-winning shot.

It’s also worth noting that the Knicks’ worst net rating is when Anthony comes off the court (-9.5) and its best (minimum: 200 minutes) is with him on the court (0.0).

Must Read: Kristaps Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns are revolutionizing the NBA

There are still 62 games to be played, but the Knicks have positioned themselves to make the playoffs thanks to these exceptional talents.

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