Perimeter Defense
The most intriguing development of the 2016-17 NBA regular season was the manner in which Kristaps Porzingis was utilized on defense. Some impatient New York Knicks fans criticized his inconsistency, but he expanded his game to Kevin Garnett levels.
Porzingis is far from as effective as Garnett, of course, but it’s an achievement unto itself for a 7’3″ player to be able to actively defend the perimeter.
The biggest flaw with Porzingis’ perimeter defense is his footwork. He has the size, length, and mobility to execute in a defensively versatile manner, but he was tasked with being a primary perimeter defender and the only rim protector on the entire roster.
That’s more of a structural issue than something Porzingis must individually fix, but he must improve his footwork to avoid foul trouble and a future injury.
Porzingis averaged a devastating 3.7 personal fouls per game during the 2016-17 NBA regular season. His foul trouble was a consistent issue, as his offensive rhythm was disrupted and the Knicks’ defensive progress was stunted.
If Porzingis can stay out of foul trouble, then the Knicks could finally develop into the postseason-caliber team they had the talent to be in 2016-17.