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New York Knicks: Realistic goals for Kristaps Porzingis in 2017-18

By Maxwell Ogden

AUBURN HILLS, MI - MARCH 11: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks is introduced before a game against the Detroit Pistons on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - MARCH 11: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks is introduced before a game against the Detroit Pistons on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 30: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks drives against Dante Cunningham #33 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on December 30, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 30: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks drives against Dante Cunningham #33 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on December 30, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

5. Improve Interior Consistency

At 22 years of age, Kristaps Porzingis is already one of the most well-rounded big men in the NBA. He can shoot the three-ball, protect the rim, occasionally switch on the pick and roll, go to the post, and put the ball on the floor.

Being well-rounded is a feather in Porzingis’ cap, but he must improve the consistency with which he performs along the interior if the rest of his game is going to flourish.

Porzingis is an outstanding shot-blocker, but he ranks amongst the least effective rebounders at his position. He admittedly plays alongside three top-flight rebounders in Willy Hernangomez, Joakim Noah, and Kyle O’Quinn, but Porzingis has the size advantage to dominate the boards.

He doesn’t need to pull down 10 rebounds per game, but the Knicks allowed more second chance points than any team in the NBA in 2016-17—and the 7’3″ big has the best odds of changing that.

Offensively, Porzingis can make the game easier for himself by scoring with improved efficiency in the post. He won’t be Hakeem Olajuwon overnight, but he doesn’t need to overpower opponents when he can simply back them down, create space, and shoot over them.

Porzingis’ ability to post up and crash the defensive glass would go a long way towards stabilizing New York’s efforts on both ends of the floor.

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