Kristaps Porzingis is off to a historic start to the 2017-18 NBA regular season. How has New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek helped Porzingis thrive?
Kristaps Porzingis is off to a historic start to the 2017-18 NBA regular season. In his first season as a go-to scoring option, he’s led the New York Knicks to a 4-4 record with a level of production that was previously unseen from a player in the orange and blue.
For as brilliant and deserving of praise as Porzingis has been, not enough credit is going to head coach Jeff Hornacek for the offense that he’s building around the new franchise player.
Most 30-point games this season:
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) November 4, 2017
1. Kristaps Porzingis (6)
2. Giannis (5)
3. Anthony Davis (4)
4. DeMarcus Cousins (4)
5. Steph & LeBron (3)
Individually, Porzingis is averaging 29.3 points—No. 3 in the NBA—7.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.8 blocks, and 1.6 three-point field goals made per game. He’s doing so on an efficient slash line of .483/.351/.817.
The history arrives when one considers just how torrid a pace Porzingis has been scoring at in comparison to the Knicks who preceded him.
Kristaps Porzingis: First Knicks player with five 30-point games in team's first 6 games of a season pic.twitter.com/ToH105VH2u
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 31, 2017
Porzingis is now up to six 30-point games in eight outings, including the career-high 38 points he scored against the Denver nuggets.
Porzingis is doing his damage via his unique combination of size, length, athleticism, and skill. In order to make the game easier for the 22-year-old in his first season as the offensive focal point, Hornacek has reminded fans of his creativity.
The question is: What are head coach Jeff Hornacek and the New York Knicks doing to simplify the game for Kristaps Porzingis?