New York Knicks: The silver lining of Kristaps Porzingis’ recovery timetable

Playing without Kristaps Porzingis won’t be ideal, but New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale has found a silver lining of his absence.

The New York Knicks are a franchise that’s both ahead of the curve and walking a dangerous path. New York is one of the few organizations that’s found a true two-way star, but it’s also a team that’s waiting on said player to return from a severe injury.

Thankfully for the future of the Knicks, recently hired head coach David Fizdale doesn’t plan to stall until Kristaps Porzingis returns to 100 percent health.

Rumor has it that Porzingis could return around Christmas, but there’s a genuine possibility that he’ll miss the entire 2018-19 season. Regardless of when he returns, what’s clear is that the 23-year-old will be coming back to a team that’s ready to compete, even if not yet contend.

According to Andrejs Siliņš of SportaCentrs.com, Fizdale believes that playing without Porzingis will help prepare the Knicks for what they’re expected to do to help him (h/t Marc Berman of The New York Post).

"“Without Kristaps, it’s a chance to prepare the other guys for the moment Kristaps returns. We want Kristaps to come back to a team that already knows how to move without the ball, how to spread the court, what is a good and bad shot. All the things that a new team needs to learn.”"

Wins may be difficult to come by, but a team that competes on the defensive end of the floor will always have a chance to secure the victory.

Without knowledge of when Porzingis will return, the active players will be tasked with proving themselves without a safety net. The All-Star big man bailed his teammates out on both ends of the floor in 2017-18, providing a presence that commanded attention.

Whether he was drawing double teams on offense or saving his teammates with his defensive versatility, the game inevitably became easier for those around him.

With the franchise player sidelined, the Knicks will be forced to lose their sense of dependence on Porzingis—which will inevitably benefit both he and the team.

Defensively, players will need to learn to compete without the comfort of knowing there’s a rim protector to bail them out. Offensively, the degree of difficulty will improve, which means players will need to learn how to make the extra pass or the challenging plays that postseason basketball will eventually demand.

Once Porzingis returns, he’ll be surrounded by players who have learned by fire and developed the ability to thrive with or without his presence.

The New York Knicks will struggle without Kristaps Porzingis, but it’s the type of experience that could genuinely benefit the team in the long-term.