Kristaps Porzingis’ Effort To Add Strength Paying Off
Kristaps Porzingis worked hard in the offseason to add strength and it is something that has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
When Kristaps Porzingis was selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2016 NBA Draft, one thing was clear; he would need to add some strength and size to his skinny frame. Porzingis was able to hold his own during his rookie year, averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.
Those are strong numbers for a rookie and resulted in Porzingis finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting. But, he knows that if he is to reach his potential, adding strength would be imperative. Adding weight will not necessarily making him a better basketball player, but the added strength will.
Porzingis came into camp this season weighing 240 pounds after finishing last season at 233. Porzingis said that he focused on strengthening his lower body and core in the offseason, in part, to help him hold his position in the post and better defend the interior.
It is something that will help him be more successful on the court. The effort has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff, as head coach Jeff Hornacek said he is already seeing some of the benefits paying off in the early going of camp.
"“ We saw a couple of times today that when he drove to the basket. I think last year he was getting a little bump and kind of falling away and throwing up something wild,” the coach said Thursday. “And this year, he’s taking the bumps and he’s falling to the basket. So that’s a sign of strength.”"
The added strength will greatly improve Porzingis’ chances of succeeding in the paint. At 7-feet-3 inches tall, Porzingis has the height advantage against virtually everyone he faces off against. He can take advantage of that inside for easy baskets, just shooting over his opponent.
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But, the Knicks do not want to shoehorn Porzingis into one role. He is extremely versatile, and they will use that to their advantage. Despite standing as tall as he does, Porzingis has the ability to play on the perimeter. He can knock down jump shots, or handle the ball well enough to get to the basket.
It is something the Knicks plan on exploiting, as they have some plans in place for Porzingis. He will have to use his basketball IQ to decide what is best on a given possession, but it is clear the Knicks are encouraging him to be aggressive anywhere on the court.
"“We’re having him run down the middle of the court if he’s the first big [to reach the paint in transition]. And then if he doesn’t get it, he’s got to figure out where to go. He has the ability and he has the permission to either stay in the post or float out to the 3-point line,” Hornacek said."
The Knicks are looking to help Porzingis gain confidence in his game. Giving him the green line should help relieve some of the pressure on a player to always make the right decision. If he makes a mistake it is okay; he will have a chance to redeem himself quickly afterwards.
The up-tempo style that Hornacek is bringing with him should boost the numbers of the Knicks across the board. While Phil Jackson has said there will still be some elements of the triangle being used, Hornacek is allowed to tweak things here and there.
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Those tweaks should help everyone, especially Porzingis. Expect the Knicks to put him in more pick-and-roll situations. A player with his size and skill set can dominate either rolling to the basket or pop out to the three-point line. Watching Porzingis flourish in this system will be a sight to see for Knicks fans.