New York Knicks Make A Leap In NBA Power Rankings
The New York Knicks moved up in Marc Stein’s NBA Power Rankings this week on the back of a 3-1 record.
The New York Knicks are closing in on the .500 mark with their record. They currently sit at 6-7 on the season on the back of a 3-1 week. The Knicks were tested with four games this week against teams that many people projected to be right around them, or better than them, this season.
The Knicks defeated the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and Atlanta Hawks this past week. A loss to the Washington Wizards on the second night of a back-to-back was unsightly, especially since the Wizards were also on the second night of a back-to-back. While that was a bad loss, the Knicks did have a good week otherwise.
It resulted in the Knicks moving up in Marc Stein’s NBA Power Rankings over at ESPN. The Knicks still have some problems on the defensive end of the court, which were on full display at times in the past week. But the offense is coming along as well and Kristaps Porzingis is showcasing his development on a nightly basis.
Porzingis poured in 24 against the Dirk Nowitzki-less Mavericks and followed that up with a 35 spot on the Pistons. At 7-feet-3 inches tall Porzingis is capable of doing things people a foot shorter, let alone his size, are capable of doing. He can shoot the ball from deep or take players off the dribble, making him a weapon for Jeff Hornacek on a nightly basis.
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He is a weapon that the Knicks should turn to more often. They should continue his development, but also because it is what is best for the Knicks in the win column. As Marc Stein points out in his blurb, there is a surprising stat about Derrick Rose and his correlation of scoring points to the Knicks winning games.
"Phil Jackson offends LeBron James and the two NBA power-brokers who’ve co-captained Team LeBron for years. Kristaps Porzingis riddles Detroit for 35 points to ever-so-briefly give the Zen Master some relief from the mounting criticism of his reign to date. Then the Knicks, after a team meeting in Phil’s presence, beat the Hawks to improve to 6-1 when Derrick Rose scores 15 points or fewer … compared to 0-6 when D-Rose exceeds 15 points. A wild, wild week, even by MSG standards."
Rose, whom the Knicks seemingly acquired hoping that he would return to his former MVP ways and become a scoring sidekick for Carmelo Anthony, actually hurts the team when he scores. His ability to get to the rim is nice, but he has been quite inefficient in scoring his points; he has 203 points on 188 shot attempts.
His ability to get to the rim is important for the Knicks, as is getting his teammates involved. The Knicks are surely going to win games that Rose scores a lot in; they are still adjusting to his playing style and he is adjusting to them.
That will be tested this upcoming week. The Knicks will be facing two of the better point guards in the NBA this week as they welcome Damian Lillard to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. They then have a home-and-home series with Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and Saturday night.
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It will be a tall task for Rose and the Knicks, but one they have proven this week that they are up for.