New York Knicks: David Fizdale, Kristaps Porzingis already talking strategy

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale is in Latvia with Kristaps Porzingis. He provided insight into what the two have discussed.

The New York Knicks are preparing for what will likely prove to be a challenging experience. Franchise player Kristaps Porzingis is less than six months removed from tearing the ACL in his left knee, and is thus expected to be sidelined until after Christmas.

Given the realistic possibility that Porzingis could miss the entire 2018-19 season, there’s an understandable sense of uncertainty approaching this rebuilding season.

New York has built a solid core, with eight former top-10 draft picks and a number of quality contributors who have overachieved. Regardless of what transpires with that group, however, the Knicks will only go as far as their best offensive and defensive player, Porzingis, takes them.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Knicks head coach David Fizdale told Latvian television station LSM that he’s communicating with Porzingis in the interim.

"“We’ve talked about his rehab. We’ve talked about how we want to play, our style of play. Talked a lot about the culture that we’re building. We wanna make sure that he comes back strong and healthy (from his ACL surgery) and we don’t want to rush it. We’ve had some really good conversations,” Fizdale said. “We talked about the kids we drafted (Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson). I’ve tried to make sure that he’s — we’ve been in communication on every decision that we’ve made.”"

Fizdale is currently in Latvia with Porzingis, but the communication between the two has been consistent since the hire at head coach was revealed.

Porzingis is New York’s go-to scoring option, which is reason enough to be focused on keeping him in the loop. He’s also the team’s last line of defense on the other end of the floor, as well as its most proven commodity when it comes to switching against the pick and roll, and defending stretch bigs.

There are few in the NBA who are a team’s best offensive and defensive player, but Porzingis unequivocally checks both of those boxes.

Thankfully, Fizdale is taking precautionary measures to ensure that the most valuable player on the Knicks is gathering the necessary information.

Porzingis won’t truly be able to develop chemistry with Fizdale, Kevin Knox, or the other new arrivals until he’s back on the court. Planting the seeds during the recovery process could simplify the transition, however, and Fizdale is ensuring that such transpires.

Whenever the time comes for Porzingis to return to the court, he’ll ideally feel as though he’s been with the team all along.

Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks are on the long road to recovery, but the light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to reveal itself.