What to expect from the New York Knicks this Season

Kristaps Porzingis (left) has an amazing mentor in Melo

The New York Knicks started off their 2015-16 campaign quite convincingly with a road win over the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this week. The next night, they played host to the Atlanta Hawks, the team that finished first in the eastern conference last season.

So far, there have been quite a few positive things to take away, and a few points that need to be looked into and addressed sooner, rather than later by second-year head coach Derek Fisher and co.

With 80 games left in the regular season, and with a 1-1 record as of now, what can we expect from this revamped and recharged roster set in place by basketball legend Phil Jackson…?

To begin with, let’s start talking about the Knicks’ franchise player – Carmelo Anthony. “CARMELOOOO ANTHONYYYY!!”. That’s what we hear when Melo scores a basket at Madison Square Garden. And boy, is that tune catchy!

“CARMELOOOO ANTHONYYYY!!”. Sorry, I had to do it again. It just feels so good when Melo drains a three and runs back down the court and we hear his name in that peculiar and fascinating tune.

Back to the point. Carmelo Anthony, 31, is coming off a knee surgery that restricted him to only 41 games last season.

When asked about how the process of recovery was, this is what Anthony had to say – “from February through June, there were a lot of days where I thought I wouldn’t come back a hundred percent. I started second guessing myself. Will I be able to do this or will I be able to do that? But, then it came to a point where I just had to push myself and really start testing it out there”.

In the preseason and the first two games of the regular season, one thing that is apparent in Anthony’s game is his consistent effort on defense. Recently, he asked the coaching staff to call out while watching film if he was not doing something right, so everyone else would know, and as a cumulative effect the team would improve as a whole.

Anthony has looked very sharp this season on the less glamorous end of the floor, constantly stripping the ball from others, contesting shots and in general just being more active.

This leads me onto the new role Anthony has undertaken this season – becoming a leader. The Knicks are filled with a lot of young players and rookies who wouldn’t mind a bit of guidance and support from an established player in the League such as the likes of Carmelo Anthony.

So as far as being a better teammate is concerned, Anthony is definitely taking his new role seriously, which will help a lot of players on the roster, not just in terms of playing on the floor, but also getting through the grind of the 82 game season.

I’ve talked about Anthony’s new role so far. Let us now talk about what Anthony brings to the table in terms of skill. There’s no doubt Carmelo Anthony is a top ten player in the NBA.

His jab steps, crossovers, size and the way he attacks the rack has become Anthony’s bread and butter. Melo will continue to thrive with all these components whilst undertaking the majority of the Knicks’ scoring load as well.

This should probably, along with some good defense played by all others as well allow them to have a much more respectable record than last year’s 17 win total.

Coming to the Knicks’ guards – Langston Galloway, Jerian Grant, Jose Calderon, Arron Afflalo and Sasha Vujacic are the guards the Knicks have put their faith in to run and significantly contribute in the triangle offense.

Galloway has proved himself last season and is a safe option who should start alongside Afflalo (once Afflalo returns from his hamstring injury, that is).

However, Galloway is more like a combo guard and so is Afflalo. So, therefore the Knicks instead of Galloway could start Jerian Grant, the rookie who has unbelievable passing instincts and plays like a veteran who has been in the league for years.

Vujacic should be the first man off the bench, as he played alongside Derek Fisher a couple of years back, and is familiar with the triangle offense.

Calderon could be the second man off the bench who occasionally drills the three and gets his teammates involved.

All in all, the options the Knicks’ have at their guard spot are filled with talent and potential, who should play solid defense night in and night out, along with taking some of the scoring pressure off Carmelo Anthony’s shoulders.

Langston Galloway, combo guard

The Knicks have done great in the off-season as well in trying to improving their forward position. Kyle O’Quinn, the New York native, brings that grittiness and toughness the Knicks have been lacking for so many years.

He is a good passer and a decent shooter as well, and one who consistently is active on defense. Kyle O’Quinn is a solid player coming off the bench and he poses a threat to his opponents with his shot, playmaking and defense.

The Knicks also signed Derrick Williams, the former number two draft pick in 2011 who some people have labeled as a “bust”.

However, from the glimpses Williams has shown in the preseason, his title is certainly about to change, and he can become a solid role player off the bench (if not a starter anytime soon), providing that spark alongside the rest of the second unit.

“We want to be the best second unit in the NBA”, said Williams. The way he is going, coupled with the Knicks’ bench, certainly looks promising and appears on the rise.

Porzingis, the number four pick in this years draft and the Knicks’ most prized possession has started both the games they have played so far. He looked a bit tentative at times, but has shown promise with his shot and defense.

He certainly needs to bulk up a bit, but what the Knicks are trying to do is sort of put him on the spot and let him figure things out – that’s a smart way of learning for him, considering he should be the face of the franchise in the not-too distant future.

It’s still going to be quite some time before Porzingis becomes a solid contributor to the team, but when that time comes, he certainly will be fun to watch.

Kristaps Porzingis was selected fourth in the 2015 Draft

Lance Thomas, Lou Amundson and Cleanthony Early are all good players at the forward position who are also capable of coming in right away and contributing along with the rest of the second unit.

Also let's not forget Carmelo Anthony who I’ve already talked about. Coming to the next most exciting thing – the centers. Kevin Seraphin and Robin Lopez are the two towers the Knicks will play down low.

Seraphin, with his accurate hook shot and defense will be great (once he returns), and, Robin Lopez is a great asset who plays solid defense and can run the pick and roll almost to perfection.

Both these players will be crucial to the Knicks’ success this season, as defense is what matters most for them, offense comes second.

Robin Lopez playing down under

With the soaring chemistry and the players enjoying themselves on the floor, the team is bound to click and then the Knicks will be a great team to watch and should be a sleeper for a low playoff seed, probably around the seventh or eighth spot at most.

Final prediction: 36-46.