New York Knicks 6 Takeaways From The Preseason

Arron Afflalo Injury

Oct 17, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks guard Arron Afflalo (4) shoots the ball over Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lamb (3) during the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Knicks 97-93. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Afflalo has a spot in the starting lineup locked up. He will be the starting shooting guard next to Calderon. The question is, when will he be able to assume that spot and take the court?

Afflalo dealt with a left hamstring injury throughout most of training camp and the preseason, missing over two weeks as the Knicks brought him along slowly. He didn’t play in the first three preseason games, making his appearance in the fourth last week against the Boston Celtics. He would appear in the last three of the preseason, on a strict minutes limit, but was unable to make it through the last game.

Afflalo was forced from the preseason finale Thursday with tightness in the left hamstring again. That is not positive for anyone, as the Knicks are relying on Afflalo for a veteran presence and to be a sidekick of sorts for Anthony on the offensive side of the ball. That looks to be some doubt right now, as the Knicks will undoubtedly bring him along slowly again, even if he is healthy for the season opener Wednesday.

When Afflalo missed time in the preseason, Sasha Vujacic stepped into the starting lineup. That could happen again, as Fisher said that he wanted to keep Jerian Grant on the bench unit instead of yo-yoing him between both units. If Afflalo misses time again, it would look like Vujacic would again step into the starting lineup.

If Afflalo is able to play though, it will be in limited minutes. In that case, Grant and Langston Galloway would probably soak up the minutes. Vujacic will probably only play if he is needed to start, not to take away minutes from Grant or Galloway.

While Afflalo is a question mark heading into the season, there was a player that had bigger concerns coming into the preseason. That leads us into our next slide…

Next: Melo Looks Ready