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New York Knicks: What Every Starter Must Improve Upon After 20 Games

By Maxwell Ogden

Oct 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek (L) speaks to his players on the bench during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek (L) speaks to his players on the bench during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 4, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Power Forward: Kristaps Porzingis

Experience: 2nd Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .470/.391/.786
2016-17 Season Averages: 34.3 MPG, 20.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.9 ORPG, 1.5 APG, 1.7 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 2.3 3PM
In Need Of Improvement: Rebounding

It’s hard to knock Kristaps Porzingis for anything that he’s done during the 2016-17 NBA regular season. He’s been the Knicks’ most efficient contributor on offense and one of the few reliable players on the defensive end of the floor.

For as brilliant as he’s been as a scorer and shot-blocker, Porzingis needs to produce with more consistency as a rebounder.

Porzingis addressed this issue head-on when he recorded 14 rebounds in 35 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. It was just his third game in 20 appearances with at least 10 rebounds, however, which is a discouraging trend for a player who stands at 7’3″.

Porzingis may be second on the Knicks with 7.4 rebounds per game, but he’ll need to improve his production as the season progresses.

New York is currently dead last in second chance points allowed per game, which calls for an improvement on the defensive glass. New York shouldn’t have Porzingis banging down low on a full-time basis just yet, but he should be able to get a consistent eight rebounds per game.

The Knicks have bigger bodies who can better handle the physicality than Porzingis at this stage of his career, but his size and length should help him be more consistent.

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