Expect the Unexpected Throughout New York Knicks' 2014-15 Season
The head coach has never coached, half the roster played for another team last season, the starting lineup is a mystery and, yet, the cursed orange jerseys are making a reappearance. With so much newness and uncertainty, it's hard to know what to expect from the New York Knicks when they meet the Chicago Bulls on the hardwood Wednesday night.
So, simply expect to spend the next six to eight months wiping off your glasses, cleaning out your ears and asking the basketball media to please run that by you again, because there will be surprises. Here are a few things to prepare for.
Amar'e Stoudemire will be the Knicks' starting
center
Or power forward. Or Sixth Man of the Year. Or injured. Or traded. Or editor-in-chief of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It's anyone's guess, really.
In the preseason, Stoudemire mostly played off the bench, at both the 4 and 5 spots. At times he looked like his old STAT self, powerful and unstoppable at the rim. He started at center in lieu of Samuel Dalembert in the Oct. 20 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks; and while STAT scored 14 points, the Knicks let the Bucks drop 120 on them. Anyone part of such a shoddy defensive effort may have a hard time getting into the starting lineup.
After practice Monday, STAT sounded ready to be a flexible team player, per Marc Berman of the New York Post:
"Whatever the situation is, I’m learning three different positions — power forward, center and the perimeter player. So it’s very versatile on my end, a versatile weapon we have, ready to utilize my skill wherever, starting or sixth man.
"
STAT might end up at either position in the frontcourt, but the 4 spot is definitely more cluttered (and chances are, not all of the players will still be on the roster after the trade deadline).
Center-forward Andrea Bargnani is injured again, but he may only miss the first three games, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. Three other forwards are suiting up in blue and orange for the first time: sweet-shooting undrafted rookie Travis Wear; strong, gritty Quincy Acy, who started at power forward more than anyone else in preseason; and Jason Smith, who showed off an array of jumpers and a talent for beautiful passes. Plus, although Carmelo Anthony has been starting at the 3 spot throughout the preseason, he may also play minutes at the 4.
So Amar'e—who can be a bigger threat at the rim than the other forwards and can stretch the floor better than the traditional centers on the roster, Samuel Dalembert and Cole Aldrich—could work his way into the starting center position before the season ends.
Carmelo Anthony may drop out of the running for the league scoring title and be totally okay with that
'Melo averaged 27.4 points per game last year in a punishing 38.7 minutes of play, and he was the league's second-best scorer, behind only Kevin Durant. Yet his team failed to make the playoffs...and he decided to re-sign with that very same team anyway.
In preseason, 'Melo averaged 18.6 points in 25.3 minutes. Those numbers will go up, but the triangle offense—the strategy that helped the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers win championships under Phil Jackson—is intended to create better scoring opportunities for all Knicks players, not just their star.
As long as the team racks up more wins, it won't matter if 'Melo's individual points-per-game stat takes a little hit. That's a lesson one of his other teammates is also trying to learn.
J.R. Smith might become an excellent passer
Smith struggled in the preseason, averaging 7.6 points per game in 22 minutes, shooting 33.9 percent from the field and 23.5 percent behind the arc.
Yet, he also showed that he is committed to the "pass first, shoot second" mentality of the new offense. Committed, but not comfortable with it, yet. J.R. has pulled a few Prigionis—passing when he has a clear shot—and that hesitation is disrupting his stroke. As Marc Berman of the New York Post reported, Smith said:
"It’s just not [being] really sure where my shots come at. I don’t want to take it early, but I’m getting good looks early. Just got to keep running the offense and trust the offense. Hopefully it will come.
"
Smith acknowledged that creating scoring opportunities for his teammates, not just for himself, is new territory for him. Per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, Smith said:
"Trying to think about the rest of the team over myself or my scoring is something that I never really had to do before. I've always been in a situation to score, [now I'm] in position to take my time and let the game come and let my teammates succeed more than myself, I think that's the ultimate win.
I want [a championship ring] so bad, I'll do whatever it takes. If it takes me sacrificing my scoring, that's what it takes.
"
Even if the Knicks decide not to religiously adhere to the triangle offense for every possession or every game, ball movement will remain a priority. Smith knows that. And he knows that if he can't step up, head coach Derek Fisher has other great options at the 2 spot: young, hungry Tim Hardaway Jr., and fun, scrappy Iman Shumpert, who looks ready to have his best season ever. Smith's efforts to catch on quick will propel him to be a better passer, find his shot and maybe earn a spot in the starting lineup.
Shane Larkin might be starting point guard
Jose Calderon is likely to start at the point Wednesday night, per Marc Berman of the New York Post, but Fisher has said that he may tweak the starting lineups from game to game to best address the strengths of each opponent, per Berman.
Fisher might decide that Calderon is not quick enough to keep up with speedy opponents like the Bulls' Derrick Rose or the Washington Wizards' John Wall. In those cases, the blazing fast, 5'11" Larkin might be the better option. In the preseason, Fish gave big minutes (21 per game) to the 22-year-old, second-year point guard who came to New York through the offseason trade with the Dallas Mavericks.
However, Larkin is still rough around the edges—a bit sloppy and overzealous with his defending. That might prevent Fish from starting Larkin Wednesday but by the end of the season, Larkin might be ready for the challenge. (Meanwhile, quick swingman Iman Shumpert was playing the point at practice on Monday, per Berman.)
What other surprises are in store?
Taylor Swift might be hired as an assistant coach. The Knicks might go 7-0 in orange jerseys, instead of 0-7. Andrea Bargnani might be league MVP. MSG Networks might label every Knicks broadcast "A Spike Lee Joint." Who knows?
They might even beat the Bulls Wednesday night.
All stats are from NBA.com/stats. Follow Sara Peters on Twitter @3FromThe7.
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