The New York Knicks are set to begin the 2015-16 season tonight when they travel to the BMO Harris Bradley Center to take on the upstart Milwaukee Bucks. One player who doesn’t look like he will be making that trip is shooting guard Arron Afflalo.
Afflalo, whom the Knicks signed this offseason to a two-year, $16 million contract, is expected to be the starting shooting guard once he is healthy. But, he is not at the moment. He battled a left hamstring injury during the beginning of training camp, missing the first three preseason games. He was able to return for the last three one a minutes limit, but was unable to make it through the last one, as the left hamstring injury flared up again.
Because of that, Afflalo is listed as doubtful for the season opener against the Bucks. He could be out as long as two weeks, which would have him out until about November 8th. It is a smart move to hold him out until he is 100 percent healthy, as soft tissue injuries such as this one can linger if not treated properly. Of course the Knicks would like to have their expected starting lineup out there right away, as they do not want to get off to as rough a start as they did last season when they were missing a veteran to start the season; Jose Calderon missed the first 13 games of the season because of a calf injury and was never really able to get into a rhythm in the season.
But unlike last season, the Knicks have some options that can step into the starting lineup. If the preseason is any indication, Sasha Vujacic can find himself in the starting lineup next to Calderon in the backcourt. That is something we have discussed here in the past, and is something the Knicks should try and avoid. A starting lineup of Calderon and Vujacic in the backcourt with Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and Robin Lopez in the front court is troublesome.
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For starters, it is lacking much speed and athleticism. Porzingis and Lopez move well for their positions, but overall this would be a slow moving lineup. They would struggle to keep up with faster paced teams, and would struggle even more slowing teams down defensively. Calderon and Vujacic would struggle to stop anyone, while Anthony could get stuck defending the best offensive player on the other team’s most night; that would be a disaster waiting to happen.
Vujacic seems like someone Derek Fisher is comfortable using though, and could find himself in there once again. The reasoning makes sense, as Fisher doesn’t want to disturb the rest of his rotation from their expected roles. If he changes his mind, we could see a lot of Knicks’ fans wishes come true with rookie Jerian Grant starting.
But Grant would bring an added dynamic to the starting lineup they are sorely lacking. While his offensive game is still pretty raw, he is a good fit next to Calderon. He can initiate the offense, enabling Calderon to become a spot up shooter, probably his best strength. He can also attack the basket and create off the dribble for himself or teammates, something the Knicks have lacked in recent seasons. He could get them easy baskets in transition, or some free points at the foul line.
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Where he would really help is on the defensive end. He would upgrade that unit immensely, giving them someone to lockdown the perimeter with Lopez anchoring the paint. He would save Calderon from having to chase around quicker guards, something the Knicks will be trying to cover up for every time he is on the court.
But, Fisher has been hesitant to put Grant in the starting lineup, especially if it was for Afflalo because he does not want to yo-yo the rookie around too much. If he wants to keep him on the bench, why not consider his running mate with the second unit, Langston Galloway?
Apr 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) celebrates after a three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Galloway was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise dark and ugly 2014-15 season for the Knicks. He earned a spot on the team, going undrafted but showing enough in the Las Vegas Summer League to earn an invite to training camp. He turned that into a spot on the Westchester Knicks, the Knicks’ NBA D-League affiliate. Once injuries started to hit the team, Galloway was called up and eventually earned a starting spot, as he was in the starting five for half of the Knicks game last season.
No one saw that coming, but Galloway earned it. He continued showing all of the abilities that got him to that point, playing defense, knocking down timely shots and stuffing the stat sheet. Despite being only 6-feet-2 inches, Galloway is a pest defensively, ranking among the best in the NBA last season despite being an known. He was also doing well in his transition to being more of a point guard, averaging 3.3 assists per game to go with 4.2 rebounds and 11.8 points.
Like Grant, Galloway fits well next to Calderon as he can cover up his biggest flaw, which is playing defense. While Galloway does not have the size of Grant, standing 6-feet-2 inches and not 6-feet-5 inches, Galloway’s arms are as long, if not longer, than Grant’s. It is what helps him in slowing down bigger opponents to make up for his lack in stature.
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Taking all of this into account, Galloway seems to be the logical choice to step into the starting lineup. Fans will clamor for Grant, but it makes sense to keep him on the bench for now as he acclimates himself to the NBA game. Fisher has said he is willing to start two rookies if it comes down to it, but now is not that time. Galloway has experience, so he would not be as phased changing roles for a little while.
While Vujacic is someone Fisher is comfortable using, he cannot start next to Calderon. It would basically put the Knicks in a hole every night from the start before the tipoff.
Galloway fits the bill and should replace Afflalo in the starting lineup until he is ready to play. Do you agree with us? Let us know by voting on the poll and letting us know in the comments!