With the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in full effect in Toronto, we take a look back at the first half of the regular season for the New York Knicks.
By Robby Sabo
It was the middle of November and fans of the New York Knicks were giddy. The thought that Phil Jackson actually hit a home run with the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft wasn’t just a realistic shot, it was coming to fruition right before their very eyes.
This guy Kristaps Porzingis, from Lativia of all places, could actually ball. Suddenly all that booing from the Barclays Center on that draft day seemed like a silly thing to do.
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Carmelo Anthony made the situation even rosier as he started to play the best overall team-ball of his life. Without the real existence of a point guard, Melo was leading the way through not just scoring the rock, but finding open teammates as well. He had truly morphed into the leader young Porzingis and this Knicks squad needed.
New York was lingering around the .500 mark and flirting with a playoff spot.
Then, suddenly, the wheels came off.
Melo hurt his ankle on an unfortunate play involving an official, KP slowed down dramatically and looked fatigued in almost every game he participated fully in, and Jackson was forced to fire second-year head coach Derek Fisher.
Losing 10 of their 11 games the Knicks have now fallen to 23-32, a full five games out of a playoff spot in the East.
Today we reflect on the pre-All-Star break Knicks and dish out appropriate player report cards.
NEXT: Phil Jackson Must Change After Derek Fisher Failure
A Grades
Lance Thomas, A
The glue guy; the player who makes the New York Knicks whole (if you can ever call them that). That’s exactly what Lance Thomas does for the squad.
Not even in the rotation heading into the season, Thomas quickly established himself as one of the best player on the squad.
He contributes in so many ways. Whether it’s defensively on a tough swingman, or being accountable on help-defense, Thomas is needed on the court for the Knicks to be at least a little solid along the perimeter.
While 8.5 points and 2.1 rebounds doesn’t sound like much, Thomas is invaluable to this season’s squad.
Carmelo Anthony, A-
The 2015-16 NBA season could easily be called Carmelo Anthony’s best yet, and it has nothing to do with him putting the ball in the basket.
Averaging only 21.4 point per game on .426 from the floor, the 31-year old Melo has altered his game in a way that is creating more opportunity for teammates and success for the franchise.
His 4.2 assists per game leads the team and is the most of his career. His injuries are the only reason he’s not at an A.
Kristaps Porzingis, A-
It was amazing to think Kristaps Porzingis was supposed to be a two or three year project when Phil brought him aboard. Quickly, though, we realized the Knicks selected a gem.
KP became the poster-boy in the NBA for the put-back dunk, doing it time and time again. Not only can he score the ball (13.9 PPG), he does everything well. His slim body hasn’t even hurt his toughness under the basket (7.7 RPG).
The best part about Porzingis is this: He’s a coaches dream. He says and does all the right things and has a basketball sense that can be only matched by few.
The sky is the limit for this kid who can be a cornerstone of an NBA organization for a decade-plus.
B Grades
Langston Galloway, B+
If Lance Thomas is the most pleasant surprise off the bench, then Langston Galloway is surprise No. 2.
Galloway is following up on a very promising rookie campaign by starting to assume the point guard role down the stretch of games. Even though he’s not a true point guard, his athleticism and shot-making ability proves huge in the Knicks often-stagnant backcourt.
Derrick Williams, B-
Derrick Williams has done exactly what the Knicks needed him to do this season. He’s led the way in scoring for the second unit.
Scoring 8.9 per game and contributing on the boards, Williams leads the way in transition points for the squad who is dead last in the league in that area.
Robin Lopez, B-
At first glance it seemed as though Robin Lopez was never going to live up to the hefty price-tag placed on him this past summer. However, it’s been proven otherwise as of late.
Along with the great shot-blocking ability of Porzingis, Lopez adds toughness and grit to a team lacking in both categories.
Arron Afflalo, B-
The only negative coming from Arron Afflalo’s season was the two weeks he missed to start the season. The rest of the campaign has been exactly what we expected.
The positives come when realizing he has the ability to create and make his own shot. The negatives come when realizing he’s just not that solid defensively. His lack of lateral quickness is big time detriment to the defensive unit as a whole.
C Grades
Phil Jackson, C+
Wait, what? So you’re telling us the best you can do is Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez with all of that money? As Knicks fans, you expected more.
Still, though, you have to admit the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis saved this guy. And to think he made a change at the head coaching position so quickly allows us to realize he’s not just a figurehead in the president role.
Lou Amundson, C
Honestly, it’s tough to grade out Lou Amundson. He’s a nice No. 11 or No. 12 guy on a roster. He can add a little toughness and versatility to the front-line.
Jerian Grant, C-
Rookie Jerian Grant’s grade is tricky. Knicks fans were extremely excited to see what the Notre Dame product could bring to the table in his rookie season.
They soon realized Grant had a long way to go.
His handles are very below average and his sense of the game at the professional level is just not there yet. Still, his youth and athleticism provides a much better alternative than some current options on the squad.
Sasha Vujacic, C-
On some nights Sasha Vujacic plays the role as cheerleader, and other nights he’s in the rotation as a key reserve.
Whatever the role is, this guy will be there will full enthusiasm.
D Grades
Kyle O’Quinn, D+
Signed as a free agent from the Orlando Magic, most thought Kyle O’Quinn would be the bonafide backup center to Robin Lopez. It hasn’t quite turned out that way.
Despite his lengthy four-year deal, O’Quinn has a ton of work to do if he wants to remain in the rotation. He’ll always be a solid locker room guy.
Kevin Seraphin, D
Kevin Seraphin is the main reason O’Quinn has often been relegated to the bench. His highs are high, while his lows are phenomenally low.
What he’s done well is score. What he’s done poor is pretty much everything else.
Jose Calderon, D-
It’s not Jose Calderon’s fault he’s grading out as a D-. It’s the Knicks fault. Somebody must tell this guy, or at least put him in the position of realizing he’s not starting point guard material in the NBA anymore.
At 34-years of age, Calderon has no chance in preventing opposing point guards from tearing him up on a nightly basis. With him on the floor the other team’s point guard penetrates and completely destroys the defense.
Save for a couple-week stretch in which he shot well, Calderon is a net-negative who must be replaced. Playing 27.6 minutes and only averaging 4.1 assists to 1.2 turnovers per game, Calderon is killing the Knicks.
It’s no secret why the Knicks are dead last in transition points per game with well under 10.
F Grades
Derek Fisher, F
We give Derek Fisher a grade not to pile on, but because he deserves one. He deserves the grade of a big fat F. Furthermore, he would’ve received this grade as the active head man for the Knickerbockers.
Fisher just couldn’t fully transition from player to coach. While he did provide some positives, his lack of strategic X’s and O’s was completely underwhelming.
We still have no idea what he was doing with the rotation up until a month ago.
Cleanthony Early, F
On Dec. 30 Cleanthony Early was robbed and shot in the leg. Prior to the incident he was an inactive for most of the season.
The pipe-dream that Early could surprise many around the Association this year is now just that, a pipe-dream.
I don't see what more Phil could have done with that money when you consider that none of the top free agents last year wanted to come here. If his only overpay was Robin Lopez, considering that he still added quality veterans who have contributed this season and made them better than last year, he did a good job in free agency. He has to do more this offseason, but I'd give him a B for this year, maybe B- considering how bad Fisher was.