What We Learned from Week 1 of NY Knicks Camp

Even as familiar faces grace the hardwood to start the New York Knicks' training camp, the time before the season starts is absolutely essential for a team whose target is to enter 2014 with a new identity.

First came the overhaul in the front office, followed by the introduction of Derek Fisher as head coach.

Next in line were roster upgrades, and now, it's time for everything to come together as New York looks to redeem itself after missing the playoffs in 2014.

Before the road to redemption can begin, however, it's crucial that New York capitalizes off its preseason time to iron out any kinks before hitting the big stage once the regular season rolls around.

Carmelo's Insight on Roster Upgrades

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Since the beginning of the Melo era, the Knicks have been no stranger to criticism. Perhaps one of the most common attacks involves their apparent lack of depth, epitomized by their over-reliance on Anthony as an offensive centerpiece.

However, after it was proved that a one-man roster could only bring so much success, New York—under the direction of new president Phil Jackson—rolled out a series of roster upgrades headlined by a trade with the Dallas Mavericks that sent New York a veteran point guard in Jose Calderon and a defensive centerpiece in Samuel Dalembert to replace the outgoing Tyson Chandler.

As reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Anthony—more so than anyone—is excited to move forward with significantly more balance in the roster:

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However, because Anthony took 688 more shots and played 561 more minutes than any of his teammates, he addressed his concerns with Jackson that he needed help. Jackson responded by acquiring point guard Jose Calderon and center Samuel Dalembert in a trade and signing forward Jason Smith. The improvement of second-year guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is crucial and if Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani and Iman Shumpert can stay healthy, Anthony will have the necessary reinforcements on both ends of the court.

'It will be less pressure on me,' Anthony added. 'I can see that now in training camp. I feel that. I can see what we’re able to do with the little bit of time we’ve been together this week. I see other guys’ roles and how they’re implemented into the system and what they’re capable of doing. I think it’ll be easier.

'It’s still going to be a dogfight, but I think it’ll be a little bit easier where everybody is not keying in and focusing on me every single time down the court. Now you put the pressure on everybody else, have to guard their man and there’s movement. It’s a good thing.

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Of course, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Calderon is an upgrade over the team's previous point guard corps, and he'll continue to get better as he becomes more accustomed to his role in the triangle offense. However, Dalembert, though statistically as efficient as Tyson Chandler in many categories, lacks the upside of Chandler.

Even so, the offseason moves show a commitment to pleasing the recently re-signed Melo and a forward direction for a team that took numerous steps back in 2013-14.

Vintage Amar'e Stoudemire on the Horizon?

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When Amar'e Stoudemire first joined the Knicks, he was one of the most gifted offensive big men in the league. 

However, since his initial campaign in New York—in which he averaged more than 25 points—Stoudemire has gradually fallen apart, thanks in no small part to nagging injuries that have plagued the latter years of his career.

Recently, his offensive dominance has been limited to infrequent flashes, while his contract, upwards of $23 million, continues to eat up cap space for a final year.

Despite his recent struggles, the former Phoenix Suns standout entered camp with a positive outlook and eyeing a comeback season as his contract expires, according to Peter Botte of the New York Daily News:

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I feel great. My body feels great. I worked extremely hard this offseason to be in top shape and be there full-time. But my body feels great. I feel confident. Hopefully it pans out well. It has been a long time since I have been this excited to start the year off. It is a great system, we have a great coaching staff, we have been very enthused in practice, guys are motivated, determined, so we feel great about the season...

Last year was a difficult year. I think this year is a different story. I feel so much better now than I did last year. I’m healthy. I feel strong. So it’s definitely a different situation. Obviously (I want) to reach back to my dominant self. I feel like I’m there now. I feel like my body is feeling so much stronger, so I feel dominant. We’ll see what the coaching (decision) is.

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With Anthony falling back into his natural small forward position, the door is open for Stoudemire to leave his mark at the 4. The new triangle offense is predicted to rely heavily on his contributions, but first, he'll have to prove his health is in check once the regular season begins.

Notes About the Shooting Guard Position

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J.R. Smith is a polarizing player, and depending on the day, you either love or hate him.

Just two years ago, he was the league's top bench spark, possessing an unrivaled scoring ability off the bench that helped New York find success in the Eastern Conference.

2013-14 was a different story for both Smith and the Knicks, as the former proved to be inconsistent and, at times, a negative within the offense, while the latter missed out on the playoffs after struggling throughout the season.

However, with a regime change in Knicks management, Smith is looking to bounce back as the team solidifies its new identity.

According to Botte, Smith—who got the starting nod in the team's preseason opener—enjoyed a quality training camp that allowed for both physical and mental improvements on his part:

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'I’m definitely in a better space mentally. I feel better. I’m feeling more healthy. I’m feeling better about the season coming up. So I feel in better spirits,' said Smith, who scored seven points in 19 minutes. 'I feel great about (the new system). There’s a lot that I thought I knew that I really didn’t...You learn it’s not about that one person who’s scoring."

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Though injuries to Tim Hardaway Jr. and Iman Shumpert had a lot to do with Smith's starter status, Botte added that Fisher had been impressed with the work ethic of the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year.

As for Hardaway, the Knicks' pleasant surprise of 2013-14 will look to continue to exceed expectations in his sophomore campaign. Off to the right start, he led the team with 18 points in 21 minutes during their preseason contest against the Boston Celtics.

Between the two, New York needs to find a scoring complement to Anthony in the starting lineup—a two-pronged attack would certainly put the squad in the right position to succeed.

This Unit Will Struggle Defensively

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Don't get me wrong. Things aren't all bright and cheery in New York. Though it appears as though the rose-colored glasses that come with a fresh start to the season have yet to wear off, Wednesday's preseason opener against Boston showed that the Knicks have plenty of kinks to work out before they're ready to begin their campaign for redemption.

Losing 106-86 against a Rajon Rondo-less Celtics team, New York's glaring weakness on the defensive end was thrust onto center stage.

Last year's team struggled to stop opponents, but with Chandler gone and Calderon in line for big minutes, the situation is only going to get worse.

Boston attacked early and often, and no five-man unit from New York's end could do much to stop it.

Throw in the team's 28 turnovers, and the Knicks are a far cry from where they need to be when the season starts.

Of course, it's just a preseason game, but as of now, it's the best measure of the new-look Knicks.

And it didn't look good.

Iman Shumpert Targets an Early Return

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If anything, the first week of Knicks camp can be summed up in one word: optimism.

From Melo, it's a favorable outlook on his supporting cast. For others, like Stoudemire and Smith, it's positivity in regard to the potential for a bounce-back season.

For fourth-year guard, Iman Shumpert, it's optimism that he'll trot out onto the court with the rest of the roster during the Knicks opening game of the regular season, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post h/t Pro Basketball Talk).

"I believe I‘m playing," Shumpert said. "I would hope so. I don’t want to sit out all these practices and not play. That’s why I’m sitting everything out so I can get some game action."

Shumpert, like many others on the team, is no stranger to injury. Despite his goal to make an early return, Fisher isn't too sure. For guys who struggle to stay on the court, it pays to be extra cautious when it comes to monitoring minutes after a minor injury like the one suffered by Shumpert early in training camp.

Fisher, despite his guard's positivity, admitted that he is in no rush to bring his defensive standout back.

Either way, optimism from Shumpert's end is good news for the Knicks, who will rely on him as a defensive backbone and offensive playmaker.