Knicks Pick Up Win In Preseason Opener Over Bauru

The New York Knicks were able to pick up a victory in their first preseason game of 2015, defeating Paschoalotto Bauru Wednesday night, 100-81. With it being the first game of the season, there is obviously some kinks to be worked out as this was the first time many of the Knicks are playing together; for some it was the first time they were appearing at Madison Square Garden. While there were some kinks and things to be worked on, there were also some positives to take away.

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First off, it was nice to see Carmelo Anthony come out firing. Anthony underwent surgery in February after the All-Star break, but came out on fire tonight. Anthony made his first three shots of the game as the Knicks got him into a rhythm right from the get go. He finished the game with 17 points on 8-of-10 from the field. Most of his work came on set plays and jump shots though, so there is still some work to do before proclaiming Anthony is back, as he wasn’t attacking the rim. But, it was encouraging to see him have his stroke back.

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Off the bench, Kyle O’Quinn shined as well. O’Quinn is battling with Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick Williams and Kevin Seraphin for minutes a spot in the starting rotation and minutes backing up the big men. He had a solid showing in his first appearance with the Knicks, scoring 14 points with eight rebounds, four assists and one block.

Porzingis had bright spots as well, even if his stats don’t show it. He played with energy and hustle, something you love to see from a young player. He has some work to do in the strength department though, as he struggled inside with some players and these guys are nowhere near the size of NBA regulars.

Cleanthony Early showed that he wants to be a part of the rotation as well. Knowing there is a limited amount of chances for him to earn a spot, Early suprised the Knicks by playing in the game tonight even though he had his wisdom teeth removed earlier in the day. He played 14 minutes and probably earned from kudos from the coaching staff and his teammates for suiting up.

Kevin Seraphin also scored 14 points off the bench as he was active offensively, knocking down 7-of-11 from the field with five rebounds as the third Knick to be in double-figures in the game. Not surprisingly, the guys who played the most minutes tonight were Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant.

The two guards are locked in a training camp battle for a potential starting spot or to be the first guard off the bench. Galloway led the way with 32 minutes played, while Grant wasn’t too far behind with 28. Grant showcased his ability to get into the paint and create not only for himself, but his teammates as well. Galloway stuffed the stat sheet like the Knicks know he is capable of, scoring nine points with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. With Arron Afflalo out, there were extra minutes to be had tonight and the two youngsters soaked them all up, showcasing their skills.

But, the Knicks also had some sloppy things that need to be cleaned up. For one, the perimeter defense left a lot to be desired. Sure Bauru shot more three-pointers than the Knicks might have to defend in a week, attempting 43 from deep, but the Knicks didn’t defend it that well. They made 11 on the night,so the defensive percentage looks good; but there was a lot more open looks than you would like to see.

Also, there is a lot of experimenting that will be done, and it was only the first game, but the backcourt of Jose Calderon and Sasha Vujacic leaves a lot to be desired on both ends of the court. Afflalo being out probably was the reason for the change, but it would be nice to see what Grant or Galloway can do with the first unit. It could also have been a way for Derek Fisher to start putting people into roles though, because of Grant or Galloway won’t be in the starting lineup they should get comfortable coming off the bench and playing with the second unit.

While there are obviously things to work on, it was an encouraging first night for the Knicks, who came away with the victory.

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