Kristaps Porzingis 'Super Mad' About Shooting Foul No-Calls from Referees

New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis expressed frustration Friday with the manner in which he has been officiated lately.

According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Porzingis said officials have been missing shooting fouls against him:

"It makes me super mad that those little touches on the elbow and arm, I know they're small, but it affects my shot so much. I'm confused. I'm thinking about should I change my game because I shoot those shots so many times over guys. It just makes me mad that I'm not able to get those calls. I have to play through that. Maybe I'll get them as we go forward."

Porzingis is averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game this season, but he has scored below his average in five of his past six games.

Porzingis also said he has made referees aware of his concerns but that it hasn't changed the way they have called games: "They know what's going on. They know those are the type of things they have to look at. Maybe it's too hard to see. Maybe I'm too high up, I'm too long, I don't know."

With the exception of a 14-free throw game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day, Porzingis has attempted six or fewer free throws in six of his past seven outings.

Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek suggested a solution, saying: "I think some of the times if he'd just catch and turn, like he was doing in the third quarter [Thursday], he just caught it, made a quick spin and shot it. That's hard to challenge. But when there's hesitation or a pump fake, that's when guys get in the body and make it harder."

Despite his recent struggles, Porzingis is seemingly well on his way to his first career All-Star nod, and the Knicks are performing beyond expectations as well.

New York was a popular pick to be among the Eastern Conference's worst teams, but instead it is a surprising 17-18, which is good for ninth place in the conference and just 1.5 games behind the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Porzingis will look to regain his rhythm Saturday when the Knicks travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans.