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New York Knicks: One Change Every Starter Must Make After All-Star Break

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) and New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) celebrate a basket by Porzingis against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) and New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) celebrate a basket by Porzingis against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 23, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Channing Frye (8) defends New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Channing Frye (8) defends New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Willy Hernangomez: Defensive Rebounding

Position: Center
Age: 22 (5/27/1994)
Experience: Rookie
2016-17 Slash Line: .539/.250/.730
2016-17 Season Averages: 15.9 MPG, 6.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 ORPG, 1.1 APG, 0.6 BPG

In fairness, Jeff Hornacek hasn’t yet made it official that Willy Hernangomez has usurped Joakim Noah in the starting lineup. As Noah’s health continues to keep him sidelined, however, Hernangomez is earning significant minutes at center.

Having established himself as the future at the position in the eyes of the public, a leap of faith is taken by including him as the starter here.

Hernangomez is currently averaging 15.1 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.4 offensive rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steal per 36 minutes. Those are spectacular numbers from a rookie who’s beginning to justify the upside comparisons to Memphis Grizzlies star Marc Gasol.

If Hernangomez is going to help the New York Knicks turn the 2016-17 season around, however, there’s an area in which he and the team must improve: defensive rebounding.

New York is allowing 14.6 second chance points per game—the second-worst mark in the NBA. It’s impossible to blame a player who’s averaging 15.9 minutes played per game for that flaw, but one could argue that Hernangomez is the best overall rebounder on the team.

If he’s going to be inserted into the starting lineup on a full-time basis, then Hernangomez will need to anchor the interior by keeping the opposition off of the offensive glass.

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