Timofey Mozgov: The New York Knicks' Difference Maker?
Last night’s 124-106 Knicks victory over the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden Sunday night provided a glimpse of what is possible with potential-packed Russian youngster Timofey Mozgov.
Mozgov was able to overcome an inauspicious start—three straight misses from close range—to finish with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Mozgov is the first Knicks rookie center to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game since Patrick Ewing.
Thrust into the game due to Ronny Turiaf’s early foul troubles, Mozgov ended up logging 40 minutes for the Knicks. By the end of the game, the New York faithful were chanting his name. While one big night against a Pistons team that seemed apathetic at times is no reason to begin making plans to hang his jersey from the Garden rafters, the performance was enough to whet the appetites of Knicks fans.
More important than his individual performance is the way a productive Mozgov changes the Knicks lineup overall. While some have suggested that the game simply upped Mozgov’s trade value in negotiations between the Knicks and Nuggets involving Carmelo Anthony, Mozgov’s value may be greater as part of the Knicks roster moving forward.
With Mozgov on the floor, Amar’e Stoudemire was able to move to power forward, a much more natural position for him. Stoudemire was able to focus his efforts more on scoring and was not forced to defend centers that often put him at a great disadvantage in terms of size. Stoudemire finished the game 33 points. Although Stoudemire failed to grab a rebound in the first half, the Knicks still only trailed by two points thanks in large part to Mozgov’s work on the boards.
If Mozgov’s improved play continues, it makes the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony more plausible because it makes trading two of the Landry Fields-Wilson Chandler-Danilo Gallinari trio much easier. It would allow the Knicks to give up two of those three without creating a major void in the starting lineup, and would actually create better matchups against the top teams in the East.
The Celtics' size would be counteracted by a Knicks lineup that included the Timofey Mozgov we watched last night, and it would give the Knicks a decided advantage physically over the Miami Heat down low. In a matchup with Orlando, the Magic would have to choose who to use Dwight Howard against defensively, allowing the other New York post threat to work against Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson.
Again, it was one night against a Pistons team that dropped to 17-31 with the loss. Still, the promise shown by Mozgov last night has led Mike D’Antoni to say he will use Mozgov again against the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night, which should create some interesting matchups against the likes of Tyson Chandler, Dirk Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood.
Stay tuned, Knicks fans, the biggest boost to the Knicks roster may have come from the end of the bench.
