Season in Review

Jonah Ballow

With the 2014-15 NBA regular season in the books, here's a look back at some of Quincy Acy's highlights from his first season as a Knick.

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2014-15 Season In Review: Quincy Acy

Charlie Widdoes

Statistically Speaking: Played in 74 games (started 37), averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Year in Review: When the Knicks announced that J.R. Smith would need three to four months to recover from mid-July knee surgery, high hopes for the season took a big hit. Looking to build off his success in 2012-13, Smith instead was limited in training camp and spent the beginning of his second full season in New York playing catch up. 

After a preseason in which many key veterans nursed various ailments while Mike Woodson attempted to sort out a working rotation, Smith made his regular season debut following serving a five-game suspension. Shuffling into and out of the starting lineup, he was still working his way into form – during a nine-game losing streak that started two games after his return, he shot 34.1 percent from the field and 28.8 percent from 3.

But – surprise! – his legs got stronger and the Knicks’ second-leading scorer from the previous year (18.1 PPG) began to find his groove. The calendar turned to December, and he was looking more explosive and getting more lift on his jumper. 

Slowly but surely, the team jelled and Smith’s shooting efficiency steadily improved, as evidenced by his true shooting percentage – which takes into account the value of 2-pointers, 3-pointers and free throws – from month to month (Knicks record in parentheses):

Season Highlight: On January 11, the Knicks traveled to Philadelphia and Smith's season was at a crossraods. He was struggling with consistency, shooting just under 30 percent from the field over his previous three games, and averaging just over two assists during that time.

But against the Sixers, Smith turned in a performance that showcased the variety of ways he can impact a game. He was locked in, economical with his actions and committed to making the right play on each possession. His pass-first approach netted six assists, one shy of his season high. As he let the game come to him, Smith connected on 5-of-8 field goal attempts (including 3-of-4 from 3) en route to a game-high +20 rating on the night.

Looking Ahead: Smith's season arc confirmed two things we probably already knew: 1) he can really shoot and, 2) his team really counts on him to shoulder a significant scoring load behind Carmelo Anthony. Despite the slow start,  Smith managed to finish fifth in 3-point percentage  among all players who averaged at least six 3-point attempts per game. He's in elite company on that list, in terms of both volume -- an indication of ability to create his own offense -- and accuracy. 

His importance to his team can also not be understated; when he was at his best, so were the Knicks. Over the season's final 22 games, once he was inserted into the starting lineup for good, Smith hit his stride and, not coincidentally, the Knicks racked up a 16-6 record. His per-game numbers during that time -- 18.1 points, 43.2 percent from 3 on just under nine attempts -- were right in line with his peak performance from the year before. 

As we look ahead to next season, it's clear that a healthy training camp is paramount for the dynamic shooting guard. For the team to reach its goals, Smith needs to take pressure off Melo and his other teammates by spacing the floor and slashing to the hoop. As long as he's healthy and comfortable with his role in a new system, expect his strong finish to carry over into next year.

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2013-14 Season in Review: J.R. Smith

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2013-14 Photo Gallery: J.R. Smith

Statistically Speaking: Played in 66 games (27 starts), averaging 19.4 minutes per game. Shot 46.4 percent from 3 and had an assist rate (percentage of field goals assists while on the floor) of 25.6.

Year in Review: The Knicks were practically unbeatable with Pablo Prigioni on the floor in 2012-13, his first season in New York. As a rookie, his relentless ball pressure, mastery of the pick-and-roll and unselfishness made him an indispensible part of the 54-win equation. By the end of that year, he had forced his way into the starting lineup and, not coincidentally, the Knicks went 16-2 to close out the regular season.

In many ways, he followed up that very successful rookie season with an even better sophomore campaign at the age of 36. Once again, the Knicks were demonstrably better with him on the floor – their net rating (points per 100 possessions) was 4.0 points worse when he went to the bench. Despite modest per-game numbers, his impact was evident in its efficiency and positive impact on the team.

His ability to run the point or play off the ball made him a vital piece of a rotation in constant flux, but he elevated his game to another level by becoming a deadly 3-point threat; a tentative shooter at times during in his first season, he let if fly more often this season and connected on 46.4 percent of his attempts, the second-best mark in the NBA.

He also continued to cement his reputation as one of the peskiest defenders in the league. Known for applying pressure full-court, he was once again good for a handful of steals from sheer effort and guile -- and his teammates give him much respect for it; at a recent New York Liberty game, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Iman Shumpert watched someone steal an inbounds pass and immediately turned to each other, smiled, and said "Pablo."

Season Highlight: Prigioni turned in his most impressive performance in a December 14 win against Atlanta: 11 points (3-of-6 from 3), six assists and four steals. In true Pablo fashion, he finished the night with a +17 rating and helped limit speedy Hawks point guard Jeff Teague to just four points.

Looking Ahead: Although he just turned 37 years old, Prigioni showed no signs of slowing down in his second NBA season. He handled a heavier workload (up from 16.2 minutes per game) while upping his long-range attempts and efficiency.

Going forward, his versatility and team-first approach should continue to be a huge asset for New York. Already a strong veteran presence, he can continue to mentor young players like Toure’ Murry in the fine arts of making the extra pass and harassing ballhandlers.

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2013-14 Season in Review: Pablo Prigioni

Statistically Speaking: Averaged 11.9 points (55.7% from the field) and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Year in Review: After injuries limited him to 47 and 29 games played in the past two seasons, respectively, Amar’e Stoudemire bounced back in a big way this year for the Knicks. Amidst the disappointment of a season that didn’t live up to lofty expectations, STAT’s resurgence stood out as a bright spot.

Not only did he manage to play in 65 games, but he grew stronger as the year progressed. He maintained his offensive efficiency as his workload increased, ultimately forcing his way into the starting five for good on March 3rd in Detroit. Once there, he rewarded the coaching staff by leading New York to seven straight wins in games in which he played.

Season Highlight: With one week left in the season, the Knicks’ playoff hopes were hanging on by a thread. After a loss in Miami, they had a few days to regroup for the stretch run against four Eastern Conference playoff teams. With the season on the line, Stoudemire put together arguably his best performance of the season, lighting up the division-leading Raptors for 24 points (on 10-of-14 shooting) and 11 rebounds.

Looking Ahead: The upward trend of his campaign has to be encouraging for Stoudemire and the Knicks going forward. It took some time for STAT and the team to find the sweet spot between optimal impact and preventative rest, but once they settled on a role, his impact was truly eye-opening.

In 14 games in March, he averaged 16.9 points and 6.6 boards per contest, while averaging 28.3 minutes. He proved capable of playing power forward alongside Tyson Chandler or center in small lineups, displaying versatility that will come in handy on a roster that could be in flux this offseason.

He shot better than 50 percent from three to 16 feet and even showcased the range, making a respectable 42 percent of his looks from 16-23 feet this year. As I wrote last summer, his jumper is a deadly weapon that can help prolong his career. If he continues to work on his face-up game, including passing out of the high post, that could go a long way toward helping the Knicks' offense return to 2012-13 levels.

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2013-14 Season in Review: Amar'e Stoudemire

Statistically Speaking: Played in 81 games (one start), averaging 10.2 points per contest. Shot 36.3 percent from three and 82.8 percent from the free throw line. Finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting.

Year in Review: Tim Hardaway Jr. entered the NBA with the lofty expectations that come with a decorated college career and NBA All-Star bloodlines. After leading Michigan to a spot in the NCAA title game, he was considered a “safe” pick, the type of player who would be able to contribute immediately.

From the moment the Knicks selected with 24th overall pick, his pro readiness was evident. And as Las Vegas Summer League gave way to training camp and the regular season, his confidence showed every time he stepped on the floor. Between his picture-perfect shooting stroke, breathtaking athleticism and boundless energy, he proved to be the perfect addition to a veteran-laden team.

No moment was too big for the shooting guard whose high-flying dunks and long-range lasers landed him on highlight reels all season long. The precocious neophyte stepped into the rotation on opening night and went on to nail three or more 3-pointers 17 times during his rookie season.

While most players hit a wall in their first season post-college, Hardaway fought through fatigue to post a 116 offensive rating and season-low 111 defensive rating in April -- both among his best marks all year.

Season Highlight: Hardaway scored a career-high 29 points in a blowout win over the Cavs on January 30th at the Garden. He also tied a Knicks rookie record with six 3-pointers, but perhaps the highlight of the night was that it served as a precursor to his epic duel with Dion Waiters in the Rising Stars Challenge:

Looking Ahead: As he told our Jonah Ballow, falling into New York’s lap created a perfect situation and Hardaway’s rookie campaign served as a constant reminder of the great value the Knicks got from the 24th pick. But as he enters his first NBA offseason, he knows he has a long way to go to reach his full potential.

Next year, he’ll be counted on to help the Knicks get back to the playoffs, and in order to do that, he’ll need to make strides on both ends of the floor.

Most rookies take time to learn the intricacies of playing NBA defense, and Hardaway be the first to tell you that he was no exception; guarding the pick-and-roll and help-side positioning will be points of emphasis during this summer’s training.

Offensively, Hardaway can build off his deadly outside game by refining his ball handling and court vision. Defenders must respect his presence behind the arc, so the next step in his development will be learning how to punish closeouts with dribble penetration and playmaking. Look for him to eclipse his career highs in assists (three) and rebounds (five) in his sophomore season.

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Season in Review: Tim Hardaway Jr.

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2013-14 Photo Gallery: Tyson Chandler

Statistically Speaking: Played in 55 games, averaging 8.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per contest. Sixteen double-doubles.

Year in Review: Poised to help take the Knicks to the next level after anchoring New York’s improved defense over the previous two years, Chandler’s season took an unfortunate turn when he fell to the ground with a broken left fibula just one week into the season. The former Defensive Player of the Year had blocked nine shots combined in the first two games and even begun to showcase some new wrinkles to his offensive game, but he'd be forced to miss the next month and a half.

Chandler’s presence in the paint has made him a lynchpin of New York’s defense since he arrived and we witnessed the consequences of his absence while he sat. The Knicks went 6-14 during the time he missed and by mid December, they were already outside of the playoff picture at nine games under .500. His return couldn't come soon enough.

As the calendar flipped to 2014, the team began to show signs of improvement. Chandler was regaining his strength just in time for the season's most grueling period -- nine of his 16 double-doubles came in February and March, a span that included seven back-to-backs. 

Season Highlight: Chandler’s best performance from this past season was not a single game, but instead a 10-game stretch from late February into March, during which he averaged 12.3 points and 15 rebounds per game. The Knicks were limping through an especially challenging part of the schedule -- facing Miami, Golden State and Chicago during one brutal four-day stretch -- but thanks in part to Chandler’s determination, they were able to respond with a six-game win streak that vaulted them back into playoff contention.

Looking Ahead: Chandler presents a dilemma to any coach: his value to the team, particularly on defense, makes it hard to keep him off the court; this year, the Knicks' net rating (points per 100 possessions) was 2.9 better with him on the floor than with him on the bench. After playing 62 and 66 games in his first two seasons in New York, the leg injury and other minor maladies limited the big man to just 55 this year. 

He's carried such a heavy load since joining the Knicks -- averaging 33 minutes per game the previous two years -- that preserving his body will be a major focus going forward. When he's on the floor, he remains one of the NBA's premier big man defenders, exhibiting excellent communication skills and rim-protecting abilities.

He showcased a new wrinkle to his game, connecting on 12-of-27 jumpers from 16-23 feet, but seemed to struggle finding continuity on offense at times. In addition to his own health issues, his pick-and-roll partner, Raymond Felton, was in and out of the lineup with various ailments. If he can continue to improve the shooting stroke, he'll become an even more versatile weapon out of the high post next seaosn.