Breaking Down New York Knicks By Position: Point Guard
The 2014-2015 season is an important for the New York Knicks. They are under new management from the front office with Phil Jackson, to the coaching staff headed by Derek Fisher. There has also been a huge turnover on the roster, as the Knicks attempt to build their roster to be tailored to the Triangle Offense, while also not digging into the precious cap space they have manufactured for the upcoming offseasons. With that, a series of articles will be written to break down the Knicks position by position, going in depth about who the starter will be, and the role each player will have behind the starter. The first position we’ll take a look at is the point guard spot.
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Starter: Jose Calderon
Calderon was acquired in the big offseason trade with the Dallas Mavericks that saw Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton moving on to Texas. Calderon is a perfect point guard for the Triangle Offense. He has a low turnover rate, and is a deadly shooter from the outside, both qualities that are a necessity for a point guard in this system.
Calderon will be a big upgrade over the inefficient Felton, who struggled to get the Knicks offense going as consistently as it did during their 54 win 2012-2013 season. Felton also struggled on the defensive end, as opposing point guards seemingly put up season or career high scoring numbers against the Knicks night in and night out.
Calderon won’t be locking down opposing point guards either, but he will be able to make up for it on the offensive end unlike Felton was. Calderon is a savvy veteran that knows when to get his shot, and should also give a boost to Andrea Bargnani, who played some of the best basketball of his career when he was paired with Calderon on the Toronto Raptors.
Calderon is an upgrade the Knicks desperately needed, as he does everything needed for this scheme. The starting point guard spot is his, and will be his unless an injury occurs.
Apr 16, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard
Pablo Prigioni(9) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks defeat the Toronto Raptors 95-92. Mandatory Credit: Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports
Backups: Pablo Prigioni, Shane Larkin
Prigioni was the calming, veteran presence for the Knicks last season and should fill that role again on the second team. He is a capable facilitator of the offense, but sometimes too often passes up open shots to make the open pass. Like Calderon, he is an efficient shooter and has an outstanding assist-to-turnover ratio. His defense isn’t awful, but his gambling sometimes does get him out of position.
Larkin is another player the Knicks acquired from the Mavericks, and is the wild card from that trade. The 18th overall pick in the 2013 draft suffered a broken ankle prior to his rookie regular season, and was never able to crack the Mavericks rotation. With the Knicks, he could struggle to get consistent playing time as well behind Calderon and Prigioni.
Matchups and opponents will most likely dictate the backup point guard position for the Knicks. Prigioni provides the steady hand, and you know what he will give you. Larkin is the younger, more athletic player that could find his way onto the court against the quicker guards. Depending on what the Knicks need on a given night will determine the playing time for Prigioni and Larkin.
Thus far in the preseason Larkin seems to be ahead of Prigioni, but things will begin to be clear as the Knicks head to the stretch run of their preseason and prepare for the regular season. The only definitive at the position right now looks to be Calderon as the starter, but even so this is a position that has been upgraded. Point guard was an area of concern for the Knicks last season, but this season it looks to be much more shored up and steady.
Oct 14, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard
Shane Larkin(0) dribbles the ball past Philadelphia 76ers guard
Casper Ware(17) during the fourth quarter of a pre-season game at the Carrier Dome. The Knicks won 84-77. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports