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Gallery: Knicks Training Camp at West Point

Charlie Widdoes

West Point, NY -- As the dust settled on the opening day of Knicks Camp, Derek Fisher, content with his team’s conditioning level, set forth implementing basic offensive and defensive principles.

So, naturally, as reporters asked coach and players to recap the morning practice of Day 2, focus shifted to the big man in the middle, New York’s biggest free agent acquisition, Robin Lopez.

“Robin…he’s big-time,” said Carmelo Anthony. “We were winning all the drills today, then they take him out and we lost. That goes to tell you right there.”

“We’re going to have some principles that we stick by,” added Arron Afflalo, another summer addition and Lopez’s teammate for 23 games in Portland last season. “We’ll be committed as a group, but Robin is obviously going to be one of our huge strengths.”

Known for his defensive chops, Phil Jackson and Co. signed him to a multi-year deal with hopes that Lopez can become a leader for the Knicks on both ends of the floor.

“He’ll probably touch the ball a lot more than most bigs in other systems,” Fisher said. “Robin’s a great passer and facilitator, and we’re looking forward to being able to utilize him in those ways.

For his part, Lopez is excited about his expanded role in New York.

“There are a lot of facets of the Triangle I can take advantage of,” he said on Wednesday. “I feel like it plays to my strengths; I stay around the elbow, around the blocks. I’m comfortable swing-swinging the ball at the top of the key.”

It would be an adjustment –- Lopez spent the last few seasons doing the dirty work while Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge racked up All-Star appearances –- but it hasn’t taken long to convince coaches and teammates that he’s embracing the opportunity, displaying the focus and intensity that got him to this point.

“All tables, stanchions and what appear to be immovable objects should get out of the way when he’s pissed off,” said Fisher. “Having a guy with that type of minsdet protecting the basket for you, we hope to be a good thing.”

“That’s a good attribute,” agreed Afflalo. “He’s very committed to playing at that end of the court. He’s a great teammate and fun to play with.”

You begin to see what Afflalo means when you hear veterans tell what it’s like to face him.

“I hated him as an opponent,” said Melo, smiling. “He’s a big guy, he’s a load down there. He’s a hell of a pick-and-roll guy. He sets crazy screens; I used to think they were dirty, but now I think they’re clean.”

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Knicks Training Camp Report, Day 2: In Appreciation of Robin Lopez

West Point, NY –- After Monday’s Media Day action at MSG Training Center, the Knicks hopped on a bus and headed for camp. Included in an itinerary full of team activities at the historic site of the United States Military Academy are a handful of practice sessions, the first of which took place this morning in Christl Arena.

Head Coach Derek Fisher was pleased with the team’s first official workout, telling the assembled media afterward: “It was good.”

In particular, he seemed happy not to have to waste time with work that is supposed to be done during the summer. “Most of our guys, if not all of them, have come in pretty fit,” he said. “So we don’t have to artificially focus on additional conditioning  -- we can really just get better as a team and focus on competing, playing hard.” 

After Fisher spoke, all eyes were on the New York’s returning star and prized rookie. Carmelo Anthony reported no issues in his return to on-court action, saying that he’s already gotten past the hard part of rehabbing his knee.

No one was too surprised to hear the positive feedback, because it’s also not his actually his first on-court action; Many of Melo's teammates joined him in Puerto Rico and continued to work hard in New York over the last few weeks. 

That commitment they showed, he said, clearly carried over as the entire squad came together starting today: “It’s been good from a chemistry standpoint. Right now, guys seem like they get along, talking to each other, helping each other out.”

Kristaps Porzingis told reporters he’d never heard of West Point until he learned that the Knicks would be heading here for training camp, but that he’s excited to get to kick off his NBA career in such a hallowed location.

Like Fisher and Anthony, the No. 4 overall pick was happy with his first practice but cautioned that it’s still early.

“Practices are going to be shorter, but more intense,” he said, when asked to explain how today’s practice differed from what he’d become accustomed to as a professional in Spain.

Also different: His physique. The big man has worked hard to add weight to his tall, lanky frame –- “he’s a legit 7’3”,” said Anthony –- and Porzingis began to feel the benefit of the extra bulk today.

“I was real light during summer league," he said. “I can tell I’m a little heavier –- still light for these heavyweights -- but I’m getting there. I’m getting stronger, so that’s progress.

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Knicks Training Camp Report, Day 1: New Beginnings for Melo, Porzingis

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Gallery: Get to Know the Knicks' Training Camp Roster

Jonah Ballow

After reconstructing the Knicks roster this summer, Phil Jackson is not quite done altering the way the team operates heading into the 2015-16 season.

At the request of head coach Derek Fisher, Jackson will lend a stronger voice that only a 13-time NBA champion can deliver.  In similar fashion as players assessing their performances from the past season, Fisher and Jackson evaluated their working relationship and decided a change was necessary.

“Maybe I stepped back too far last year,” Jackson admitted.  “I wanted Derek to be his own person, have his own feel for this, and I think that was multiplied in numbers of ways.  But, Derek has kind of asked me to be a little more present this year, actually.  Not in the aspect of whatever coaching but just in being around, talking basketball, influential in observations, so I think I’ll be probably more involved than I was last year as far just being here and being watchful, suggestive, watching film together maybe with Derek at times.”

Jackson hired Fisher in June of 2014, which meant the coach-player relationship would quickly become president-coach and while both men have remained in communication since the Lakers days, this new dynamic presented a different set of challenges. 

“I do think there were times last year where out of respect for each other’s titles as we learned how to operate from player-coach to president-head coach, kind of not wanting to bother each other or overload each other with too much information and conversation,” a candid Fisher explained on Friday morning.

There’s no question Fisher is the man in charge on the floor and Jackson has made it crystal clear he has no interest in returning to the sidelines.  The second-year coach is attempting to create his own vision after jumping straight from the court as a player just two seasons ago.  Jackson was pleased that Fisher wanted to coach the Summer League team to continue to find his voice and sharpen his abilities as the signal caller.  Fisher believes the adjustment in Jackson’s role will help to provide a champion’s viewpoint, which should ultimately enhance the product on the court.

“I think over the course of this offseason, not just Phil and I but Steve as a group in terms of decision making and making sure we are communicating often about several different areas that revolve around our team.” Fisher articulated.  “We feel like we found a better rhythm and in terms of the basketball piece, I’m the head coach of the team, I lead the team, I’ll do what I need to do to get the job done but for sure, I’m looking forward to spending more time away from the team, talking basketball, talking shop, learning from one of the great basketball minds that we’ve ever seen. “

Jackson, Fisher, and the coaching staff will introduce a completely rebuilt team to the media on Monday.  Only Carmelo Anthony remains from the 2013-14 squad and as the new-look crew in New York prepares to report for training camp, Jackson is pleased to see his vision begin to take shape.

“What we are happy about is that we have a group of guys that seem to want to work together that seem to want to play together,” Jackson smiled during a press conference on Friday afternoon.  “We haven’t had to encourage guys to show up here at our training facility this summer.  They come and they’re working word and they seem to respond very well to playing together with each other.”

With a new cast on the court and a tactical change in communication, Jackson and Fisher are hoping to rekindle the championship chemistry that will lift the Knicks back to the postseason.

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Fisher Looks To Jackson More In 2015-16

The Knicks head United States Military Academy at West Point on Monday to officially begin the 2015-16 season with training camp. With at least 12 new faces joining the club for camp -- thirteen if you count 2014 Knicks 2nd round pick and Westchester alum Thanasis Antetokounmpo - here's a look at five of the most pressing questions heading into the year.

“I think that he’s healthy, he feels good about his body and where he sees himself going,” Derek Fisher said when asked about his star player on Friday. “Medically speaking, he’s a full go."

Winning in the NBA is difficult enough, and doing so without your career-25.2-point-per-game scorer is nearly impossible. Carmelo Anthony’s February surgery to repair his left knee patella tendon was too much to overcome for a roster already depleted by injuries. Without their star, New York managed just seven wins after the All-Star break, finishing 29th in the league offensive efficiency. 

While Anthony has progressed ahead of schedule since the surgery, Fisher's confidence is just another positive sign. After months of rehab from his first major injury, he's been training with his teammates this summer, in Puerto Rico and New York, preparing for a new challenge that officially begins on Monday at West Point.

"We’ll still gauge (his workload) in the preseason," says Fisher, "but we don’t have to artificially hold him back from working hard.”

2) What can we expect from these talented rookies, and how soon?

Kristaps Porzingis, 20, drew comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol as the 4th overall pick in the Draft. Listed at 7'1", 220 lbs., he mostly dominated in 50 games combined between Spain's ACB and Eurocup in 2014-15, and flashes his immense potential every time he steps on the floor.

Jerian Grant, 22, was a consensus first-team All-American and played every possible minute in Notre Dame’s four NCAA Tournament games last Spring – including 45 in an overtime win against Butler. He accounted for nearly 25 percent of his team’s possessions while leading the Fighting Irish to the Elite Eight, basically forcing Phil Jackson to trade for the 19th pick to select him.

But it’s hard to see any rookie point guard shouldering such a significant load in his first NBA season, especially with Jose Calderon (who shot over 41 percent from three while battling injuries in 2014-15) and Langston Galloway already on the roster. Porzingis will have to bulk up to join a handful of big men in competition for playing time. Antetokounmpo, 23, is out to prove that he can contribute at the next level, coming off a season in which he averaged 13.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and almost two blocks and steals in the D-League.

Because of pedigree, and professionalism -- both first rounders have quickly established themselves as dedicated workers -- the Knicks' youngsters will have a shot to earn Fisher's trust starting Monday. Based on early returns, it might not take long for the precocious neophytes to carve out spots in the rotation, led by Porzingis. 

"It's entirely up to [Fisher], but it would be great if KP (Porzingis) could get as much as 20 minutes a game early in the season, plus maybe a few more later when he's acclimated to the NBA game," said Jackson in an interview this summer. "It also has to be determined whether he'll be more comfortable at power forward or center."

Of his development so far, Jackson said on Friday that Porzingis has been "very receptive to the work that it takes to be a successful nba player in terms of weight training, etc." General Manager Steve Mills says Porzingis watches Usain Bolt videos on his phone in the cold tub after workouts for sprinting tips.

3) How does improved depth impact the Knicks?

By the end of last season, injuries and roster changes forced Fisher to use lineups that frequently lacked something – experience, size, scheme fit – to match up with different NBA lineups on a nightly basis. Rather than serving as fresh legs off the bench, players were thrust into substantial roles that left a taxing ripple effect down the roster.

On Friday, Jackson suggested that he doesn’t expect depth to be such a problem this year, especially among the big men. When asked about Anthony’s potential to play power forward, the Knicks’ President shifted the conversation to Derrick Williams, who was acquired for his ability to play 3 or 4, and took the opportunity to stress the importance of New York’s other front-court additions -- Kyle O’Quinn, Kevin Seraphin and Porzingis: 

4) So... how good can the Knicks be defensively?

“We have a chance to be a really good team defensively,” says Jackson. 

New York was 28th in the NBA in defensive efficiency last season, so rather than pay big money for offensive-minded names, its free agent targets this summer were two-way players like Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo -- veterans who know how to fill a role. 

Mills was clear about the Knicks' priorities back in July, as they introduced four new free agent signings in Las Vegas: “We talk too much about the Triangle and what we’re trying to do offensively and not enough what we’re trying to do defensively.’’ 

There’s hope for improvement if the veterans can stay healthy and young guards like Galloway and Grant can develop on the job, but the Knicks are counting on these new additions to contribute -- essentially to be themselves. Surrounded by average-to-below individual defenders, Lopez anchored Portland’s 10th-ranked defense a season ago and adds value as a rim protector New York previously lacked. Afflalo (6-foot-5) is known as a hard-nosed wing defender who can guard multiple positions. When asked what he planned to do this summer, he said, “work.” 

5) What's in store for Year 2 of the Jackson/Fisher era at MSG?

Jackson and Fisher chose not to frame this season’s goals in terms of wins and losses on Friday like they did a year ago. They believe they’ve assembled a mix of players that is capable of growing together, and choose to focus on how the work that begins in training camp will be essential to its short- and long-term aspirations.

“It’s more about the process,” said Fisher, “and focusing on building the daily habits that are required to be a really good team.” In that sense, Jackson is optimistic: “It’s a group that understands what it takes to be a good team.”

As the squad comes together on the court, Fisher and Jackson spoke about their evolving relationship, from player-coach to coach-president, entering a second season at Madison Square Garden. “Maybe I stepped back too far last year,” said Jackson. “I wanted Derek to be his own person and have his own feel for this. Derek’s asked me to be a little more present this year. Just being around, talking basketball, watching film…”

Starting next week, we'll be able to see how the pieces fit together on the floor. Some questions will be answered, others will arise -- about Triangle/pick-and-roll balance, sorting out a crowded big man rotation, and dealing with adversity when it comes. It's basketball season now, and everyone's excited to get to work. 