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.
1) Welcome back, Melo! How you feeling?
“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.