New York Knicks center Enes Kanter is beginning to realize his potential. Can the Knicks’ double-double machine maintain his torrid pace?
When the New York Knicks acquired Enes Kanter from the Oklahoma City Thunder, many questioned his fit. New York had a surplus of centers before the trade, and complicated the matter even further by acquiring Kanter.
Since the turn of the new year, however, Kanter is beginning to establish why it is that the organization viewed him as fair compensation for Carmelo Anthony.
Whether you loved or hated Anthony, his value to the organization was clear as day. When the Knicks needed a basket during a big moment of a game, they could dump the ball down to their former scoring champion and let him go to work.
Kanter may not be as versatile of a scorer as Anthony, but he’s beginning to fill that role for a team that’s still searching for its identity.
Kanter is currently averaging 14.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in just 25.7 minutes per game. He’s doing so on 60.9 percent shooting from the field—No. 4 in the NBA—and 87.0 percent shooting from the free throw line.
In other words: Not only is Kanter willing and able to score at will, but teams don’t even have the luxury of fouling him when all else fails.
Over the past three weeks, Kanter has elevated his game to an even higher level. During that nine-game window, he’s averaged 17.1 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 28.1 minutes of action per game.
His efficiency hasn’t at all suffered from his increase in playing time, as he’s shooting 63.4 percent from the field and 89.7 percent from the charity stripe.
That run includes a stretch of three consecutive 20-point games, a 20-20-5 performance, and a run of three straight outings with at least 17 points and 17 rebounds. It’s been a truly dominant display by one of the most polarizing figures in the NBA.
For those in need of further statistical evidence, the advanced metrics tend to support the belief that Kanter’s role and playing time should continue to be elevated as the season goes on.
Kanter is currently averaging 19.7 points, 14.6 rebounds, 5.0 offensive rebounds, and 2.1 assists per 36 minutes. He ranks No. 3 in the NBA in rebound percentage, with rankings of No. 3 in offensive rebound percentage and No. 8 in defensive rebound percentage.
Furthermore, Kanter is No. 11 in the NBA in points per post up possession—once again, a borderline elite ranking along the interior.
The concerning fact is that the Knicks have net ratings of -3.8 with Kanter on the court and +0.6 when he isn’t in 2017-18. Over the past nine games, however, his increased playing time has coincided with a reversal of the statistical narrative.
New York is still being outscored by 1.7 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the court, but it has a net rating of -8.6 when he isn’t—a difference of 6.9 points per 100 possessions.
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The question is: Will the New York Knicks feature Enes Kanter more in an attempt to determine how legitimate his recent surge truly is?
If Jeff Hornacek opts to do so, he may be pleasantly surprised by the results.