Interior Defense
The New York Knicks have been one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA since the players abandoned Mike Woodson’s winning philosophies in 2013-14. The arrival of Kristaps Porzingis has provided a sense of optimism, but the results haven’t poured in just yet.
Individually, however, Porzingis continues to make tremendous individual strides as a rim protector and overall interior defender.
Porzingis finished the 2016-17 NBA regular season at No. 5 in the NBA with 1.95 blocks per game. He trailed just Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, Myles Turner, and Hassan Whiteside, who are all in the running for an All-Defensive Team nod.
It’s also worth noting that Porzingis ranked No. 4 in the NBA in opponent field goal percentage at the rim, which is a telling sign of how intimidating a force he’s already become.
Moving forward, Porzingis must do a better job of boxing opponents out and defending the low post. He can be moved too easily on the low block, which is more a product of his developing lower body strength than it is his thin upper body.
If Porzingis stays the course and continues making incremental improvements from a physical perspective, then he should become the player New York needs him to be.