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New York Knicks: 5 reasons Joakim Noah can bounce back in 2017-18

By Maxwell Ogden

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 17: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 17, 2016 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 17: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 17, 2016 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – FEBRUARY 1: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the game on February 1, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – FEBRUARY 1: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the game on February 1, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. An Elite Skill

The New York Knicks have flooded the center position with players who can dominate the boards. That list of brilliant rebounders includes Spanish phenom Willy Hernangomez, the recently acquired Enes Kanter, and two-way big man Kyle O’Quinn.

Although overlooked in a vast majority of phases of the game, there’s no rational way around the fact that Joakim Noah is a genuinely elite rebounder.

Noah finished the 2016-17 season with averages of 8.8 totals rebounds and 3.5 offensive rebounds in just 22.1 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to absurd marks of 14.3 rebounds and 5.7 offensive boards per 36 minutes.

Noah led all NBA players in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, and ranked No. 8 in the NBA in total rebounds per 36 minutes.

In other words: Noah still has a legitimately elite ability that he can fall back on when other facets of his game are faltering. It won’t necessarily be enough to offset potential inconsistencies in other areas, but he can anchor the interior efforts.

With Kristaps Porzingis excelling in virtually all areas but rebounding, having a player like Noah can help the Knicks potentially address their issues on the boards.

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