Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Five Reasons To Make Kristaps Porzingis The No. 1 Scorer

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 5, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) is fouled by Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) is fouled by Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Mar 3, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) drives against Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric (9) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 105-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports0
Mar 3, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) drives against Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric (9) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 105-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports0 /

5. Designing The 2017-18 Plan

At this stage of the 2016-17 NBA regular season, the New York Knicks don’t have much to play for. New York would have to go 15-0 to finish the season with a .500 record and, as New York falters, the other teams in the Eastern Conference are thriving.

The postseason remains a legitimate possibility, but that makes for the perfect stage to test Kristaps Porzingis’ limitations.

During the 2017 NBA offseason, Phil Jackson will be tasked with building a roster that’s conducive to sustainable success. The best way for New York to do is by first determining who will be trusted with the burden of being the No. 1 scoring option.

It’s conceivable that Carmelo Anthony could again shoulder the load, but it’s close enough to Porzingis’ ascension that New York should take advantage of these opportunities to evaluate his No. 1 status.

Porzingis has scored at least 20 points in 20 of the 32 games that he’s attempted at least 15 shots in 2016-17. During the seven games he’s attempted at least 20 shots, he’s averaged 27.9 points per game on a slash line of .503/.450/.900.

Though the sample size is small, New York should explore his No. 1 capabilities and determine who should be built around in 2017-18.

Home/Knicks News