Unfortunately, young Kristaps Porzingis is actually regressing as an NBA player and his team, the New York Knicks, are completely at fault.

He loves the man. The kids might say, “KP and Melo, sitting in a tree …” Everything Porzingis says about Anthony passes the big-little brother test.

Anthony represents that older sibling who provides advice about the NBA lifestyle. He’s that big body to lean on when things get tough. His scoring ability also helps KP on the offensive end of the floor.

Although, what if Porzingis wasn’t so in love with the 32-year-old scoring machine? Would you expect the kid to come right out and say so?

Of course, not. Porzingis is too smart to be duped into such lows.

While we’re not suggesting Porzingis doesn’t love and appreciate Melo, we’re also not in the business of believing in the quote hype. KP will do and say the right things.

It’s up to the organization to do the right things for Porzingis, and right now, the New York Knicks are failing their young stud. It’s scary to see his regression playing out before our very eyes as his streaky nature of play is terrifying folks.

Instead of a team constructed with four teammates who understand that Porzingis is the flourishing star of the court, the Knicks are comprised of one selfish superstar after another, only looking out for No. 1.

Throughout this slideshow, we will touch on each aspect in which Phil Jackon’s organization is failing Kristaps Porzingis, starting with point guard position.

The point guard problem

Acquiring Derrick Rose this past offseason wasn’t a terrible thought. In fact, Phil Jackson pulled off a heist when considering Justin Holiday is now in a Knickerbockers uniform.

Moreover, his stat line of 17.5 points and 4.5 assists only furthers the above statement.

There’s just one little problem: D-Rose is out for himself. 

The very same reason acquiring D-Rose was a good idea, is why he’s hurting the development of Kristaps Porzingis.

Playing out the last year of a current contract, Rose is looking for that next payday. Therefore, everything he does is geared towards getting that money, not helping Porzingis flourish into the franchise player he needs to be.

Instead of more pick and rolls, we get superman drives to the bucket with three defenders draped on the Knicks one-man. Instead of more pick and pops, we get forced 15-footers from D-Rose.

Porzingis’s point guard needs to be a guy who plays defense, first and foremost, and a guy who sees the court better than any of his teammates.

Rose only hinders Porzingis’s development.

Melo’s still No. 1

Make no mistake about it: Carmelo Anthony is, by far, the Knicks top offensive threat. He’s the only guy who can take the rock and create a semi-decent shot for himself on a consistent basis.

Therefore, he does create space for Kristaps Porzingis.

The problem is, KP doesn’t experience enough time with the offense running through him. 

Just take a look at the rotation. What does Jeff Hornacek look to do? About halfway through the first quarter, he gets Porzingis out of the game. This is in an attempt to set up the rest of the contest so both KP and Melo can experience time on the court in which they are separated, in which the offense is dedicated, first and foremost, to them, specifically.

If you say, “Melo helps KP,” you’re right. But you’re only right in the sense that he helps him short term. Longterm, Porzingis needs to experience the full game as the No. 1 guy. He needs to go through the pains and trials of being the man while the front office finds teammates who fit his style of play.

On top of that, employing both Melo and D-Rose on the same team completely destroys the defensive integrity of the Knicks. It forces Porzingis to help out in far too many situations than he should and forces him away from his role as rim defender.

Porzingis will never turn on Melo, and for good reason. And, yes, Melo’s offensive abilities take pressure off the kid’s young shoulders.

If the Knicks think taking the pressure off of his shoulders is a good thing, they just don’t know how to run a franchise. Taking pressure off his shoulders is fine, but not to the degree Melo’s NBA stature calls for.

He’s eating into too many touches that the young Latvian needs in order to blossom.

Where’s the defense?

Offense, offense, offense … this all we get from Jeff Hornacek. From as early as training camp on, offense was all the New York Knicks worked on.

It’s now Feb. 11 and we now understand how important defense is in the game of basketball. Or, at least (we hope), the Knicks finally understand it.

New York ranks 25th in the land in points per game relented with a cool 109.4. 

This is what Phil Jackson has given us and, quite frankly, what the Knicks deserve for not even looking in the direction of the most talented coaching candidate on the market in years, in Tom Thibodeau. Instead, Jax went with the offensive-minded Hornacek while keeping Kurt Rambis on as the role of spy.

A personnel mixing like this will never help a young 7-foot-3 stud flourish, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Whether it’s Derrick Rose or Brandon Jennings at the point allowing dribble penetration or Carmelo Anthony’s sluggish body allowing quicker small forwards to blaze past him, KP’s role on defense is chaotic.

Make no mistake about it: Porzingis is not a good NBA defensive player. He’s an excellent weakside help man, but struggles in one-on-one situations.

The people around him just make it far worse.

Final thoughts

Kristaps Porzingis has missed seven games this season, all coming over the last month and a half. His body has held up entirely better than his rookie season. This much we do know.

He’s currently averaging 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks a game. His points are up, rebounds are down, and blocks remain the same when compared to a season ago. Additionally, he’s shooting at a better clip (.451 to .421).

So, why do we say he’s regressing? 

Well, in reality, he’s not. He’s just not progressing the way he ought to be with his skill set and at his talent level. And over the last month or so has fallen into a streaky type category in the league — something that’s never a great label.

If the Knicks were smart, they’d look at their current situation and understand that mediocrity is purgatory in the NBA. Battling for the sixth, seventh or eighth seed is a death sentence that never warrants sustained success.

What needs to happen is a plan that allows for teammates around KP to understand that their role is to not only develop a winning culture, but to develop the cornerstone piece of the franchise.

Right now, guys like D-Rose and Carmelo Anthony don’t understand that and, quite honestly, are at the stage in their career in which it couldn’t be asked of them.

KP needs guys around him who’ll help him get to stud NBA status, not just “help matters.”

All of this falls on the Knicks, no matter what KP thinks of Melo.