meloshouldgo wrote:

Knixkik wrote:We can expect them to come down a little, particularly Kanter, but we are seeing some really good signs here. Since we have also seen what Timmy can do when he gets rolling, and Ntilikina showing his upside, it could possibly be that we have 4 really good starting players already, and are a really good SF away (and improved bench) from future contention. If we find that forward in the draft and improve the bench, sky is the limit. I still feel Willy will be a great backup center, and Dotson has a chance to be a solid 3 & D wing. McDermott could be part of it if he stays cheap. The obvious improvement area will still need to be at backup PG. If we can find a way to get an elite backup PG (someone like Cory Joseph or Patty Mills) then it will really boost the bench.

They have shown promise to be starters in the future. Only KP is playing like a starter now. Kanter is good but his defense needs to improve for him to be a consistent starter. The only team we played with a semi elite big was Detroit. Let's not rush to judgment here. Soft@home needs to show consistency otherwise he definitely won't be a long term starter. I lile that he is playing some D, but he does need to carry the scoring load more. Otherwise KP will just burn out.

I don't think any player in this league can guard Jokic-- Kanters defense this year to date has been very reasonable. Also he pulls interior players in giving kp a 1-1 in the mid range which he has destroyed. Koq last night was unreal too-- I'm not sure I would entertain changing anything there for now.

Porzingis' post touches (+4.8 per game) and paint touches (+3.5 per game) are up significantly from last season. He's averaging 1.1 points per play on post-ups, putting him in the 84th percentile in the league, per Synergy Sports. (He was in the 31st percentile last season.) Porzingis is also shooting 51 percent on midrange shots -- those turnarounds and face-ups -- and his midrange field-goal total (3.5) is the fourth-highest in the NBA. And his shooting percentage in the paint outside of the restricted area is up 16 percent from last season. "He's just tough to guard there," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek says.

Porzingis has also been strong from the perimeter. He has hit 39 percent of his 3-point attempts since Jarrett Jack took over as the Knicks' starting point guard on Friday-- the most noteworthy being a 33-footer in the first half against Denver.

BRIGGS wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:

Knixkik wrote:We can expect them to come down a little, particularly Kanter, but we are seeing some really good signs here. Since we have also seen what Timmy can do when he gets rolling, and Ntilikina showing his upside, it could possibly be that we have 4 really good starting players already, and are a really good SF away (and improved bench) from future contention. If we find that forward in the draft and improve the bench, sky is the limit. I still feel Willy will be a great backup center, and Dotson has a chance to be a solid 3 & D wing. McDermott could be part of it if he stays cheap. The obvious improvement area will still need to be at backup PG. If we can find a way to get an elite backup PG (someone like Cory Joseph or Patty Mills) then it will really boost the bench.

They have shown promise to be starters in the future. Only KP is playing like a starter now. Kanter is good but his defense needs to improve for him to be a consistent starter. The only team we played with a semi elite big was Detroit. Let's not rush to judgment here. Soft@home needs to show consistency otherwise he definitely won't be a long term starter. I lile that he is playing some D, but he does need to carry the scoring load more. Otherwise KP will just burn out.

I don't think any player in this league can guard Jokic-- Kanters defense this year to date has been very reasonable. Also he pulls interior players in giving kp a 1-1 in the mid range which he has destroyed. Koq last night was unreal too-- I'm not sure I would entertain changing anything there for now.

If Kanter just becomes a slightly below average to average defensive center, he will be a great starting center. Obviously he is one of the best, most efficient offensive bigs in the entire league. He is only 25 and seems dedicated to his body and has strong work ethic, so he should continue to improve.

nixluva wrote:GOOD STUFF 😬. The KP/Kanter tandem has been pretty damned good. They seem to be getting used to other. Should only get better.

Yeah - this is my thing with folks knocking Kanter.

Playing next to Kanter -- KP looks like GODZINGIS.

I think Kanter is so punishing that other teams must match a big on him and that leaves KP with mismatches on against normal sized PFs and against any other defensive switches.