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New York Knicks: Pros, Cons Of Kristaps Porzingis Playing Center

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 6, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots over Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots over Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) box out Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) on a free throw during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) box out Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) on a free throw during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: Team Rebounding

The New York Knicks are one of the worst teams in the NBA as far as defensive rebounding is concerned. That reality must be weighed with a potential decision to start Kristaps Porzingis at center and Carmelo Anthony at power forward.

Though Porzingis and Anthony excel in a vast number of areas, there’s one manner in which they’re both relatively underwhelming: defensive rebounding.

Porzingis averaged a solid 9.3 defensive rebounds per 36 minutes in 2015-16, but is down to 7.9 in 2016-17. Anthony averaged 6.5 defensive rebounds per 36 minutes in 2015-16, but has slipped to 5.4 in 2016-17.

By starting Anthony and Porzingis at power forward and center, the Knicks would need the perimeter players to shoulder quite the workload on the boards.

New York currently ranks No. 30 in the NBA in offensive rebounds allowed per game and is tied for dead last in second chance points allowed per game. Thus, moving Anthony and Porzingis to the 4 and 5 wouldn’t necessarily change how bad New York is as a defensive rebounding team.

It would place a burden on both players to step up in that capacity, however, and neither have proven capable of doing so on a consistent basis in 2016-17.

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