1. Offensive Firepower
Despite Carmelo Anthony’s struggles in the first couple of games to start the 2015-16 season, the Knicks have found success on the offensive side of the floor. New York ranks No. 3 in the league in offensive rating (107) behind Golden State and Oklahoma City. As I noted in the preseason, Derek Fisher’s crew is pushing the pace, especially behind a second unit that features young guards and athletic big men. According to NBA.com/stats, the Knicks own the third highest mark in the Pace category.
2. The Second Unit
New York throttled Milwaukee in the season opener in large part due to the prolific performance from the second unit. Derrick Williams led the squad with 24 points and the Knicks bench compiled 73 combined points to help the road team spoil the Bucks home debut. The eye-opening outburst from the bench crew showed us that this group could score and push the offense into a different gear. Jerian Grant and Langston Galloway have jelled in the backcourt, Williams is an athletic wing, Lance Thomas provides stability, and Kyle O’Quinn can put up double-double numbers on any given night. This group is averaging 54 points per game thus far.
3. Melo’s Impact
Anthony admitted to some rhythm issues in the first two outings of the season prior to Saturday’s contest. Well, on Halloween night, Anthony’s offense was in full concert in a vintage 37-point performance. Anthony drilled 11-of-18 shots from the floor, 4-of-5 behind the arc, and 11-12 at the stripe. The All-Star added seven boards, four steals, and a block to an impressive stat line. He also made two key plays down the stretch in Washington. At the 1:35 mark of the fourth quarter and both teams locked at 106, Anthony sunk jumper as the shot clock experied with Jared Dudley draped all over him. With just over a minute left in the game, Anthony set a crucial screen to free Galloway for a huge 3-pointer, which pushed the Knicks lead to five points. Anthony will begin to discover spots he can find success on the floor next to a completely new roster. When he regains basketball conditioning, we should see Anthony’s full arsenal on a nightly basis.
4. The Rooks
Kristaps Porzingis has posted 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his first week of NBA action. Not bad. The scary part is we are just seeing a small glimpse of his massive potential. The 7-3 Latvian brought the MSG crowd to their feet with a steal, spin, and fast break dunk last Thursday. He is an underrated defender and rebounder. The rookie should gain comfort over the next couple of weeks and this will lead to a rise in efficiency. Grant has also been impressive over the first three games. The Notre Dame product is displaying patience as a rookie signal caller while racking up four assists and two steals per game. These two rookies’ playmaking skills are a great sign for the near and distance future for the orange and blue.
5. Galloway’s Role
Last year, Galloway received the call-up to play his first regular season game with the Knicks in Washington D.C. In the third game of 2015-16 season, Galloway played 27 minutes off the bench, hit two big shots from downtown, scored 14 points, and grabbed seven boards. Galloway is a key piece to the New York backcourt and it was visible in Saturday’s contest while the combo guard played significant minutes down the stretch. His ability to defend, sink timely shots, and play within the team structure is proving to be invaluable.