Knicks kick off their season against the Celtics on Wednesday and have a lot of questions to answer.
1. Starting Line Up
Coach Fisher has been quoted saying that the only lock in player for the starting spot is Carmelo Anthony. Aside from him, there are no other guarantees. It will be interesting to see what line up Fisher goes with right off the bat, and how he mixes them up through out the game. In the practice scrimmages, Melo has been on a team with veteran Travis Wear, Jason Smith, Samuel Delambert at center and rookie Langston Galloway at point guard. Although this line up does not seem to have the most the most experience, Fisher must see something in the way this unit works together. This is possible. Yet a more likely starting lineup has Jose Calderon at the point, Iman Shumpert at shooting guard, JR Smith at small forward, Anthony at power forward and Delambert at center. Tim Hardaway Jr. could also fight his way in as a starting guard.
2. Derek Fisher’s leadership
This is Fisher’s first real chance to show that he can be a legitimate coach for the Knicks this season. Fisher and the Knicks summer league team had success in Vegas, but now the competition is amped up to the next level. It will be interesting to watch for how much he yells from the sideline, how he disciplines players, how much he uses the white board to draw a play versus letting the guys find their own shot, and even where he sits on the bench. This is not only Fisher’s first appearance as the Knick’s coach, but as an NBA coach. Fans also have to remember to be patient. Jason Kidd did not look so hot in the first half of last year’s season as the coach for Brooklyn, but the Nets went to the playoffs, and the Knicks did not under Coach Mike Woodson.
3. The Triangle
Finally! It is time to see the triangle offense in action. There was so much talk when Phil Jackson because the President of the Knicks about how the team would transition to a triangle offense. This was confirmed when Jackson persuaded Fisher to become head coach. Melo has been talking to the media about how learning the triangle has also included a bit of “un-learning” process of other offensive schemes the Knicks have used in the past. The Knicks last season became stagnant at times, and the ball tended to get stuck in Melo’s hands on multiple occasions. The triangle is supposed to fix that. Tomorrow will be the first chance to see if it will.
4. The defense without Tyson Chandler
Although Tyson Chandler did not end his Knicks career on the highest note, giving a lot less effort than expected from the reigning defensive player of the year, he still had a huge presence in the center for New York that will be hard to replace. Samuel Delambert will probably be at that center position. But in order for the Knicks to be successful on defense, every player will have to be all in, especially now without Tyson. A lot of the players talked about how a great portion of their time in West Point was spent practicing defense. Well now is the time to show it. The Knicks have rarely been known as a defensive machine, but because of the lack of star power, the defense will be important in forcing turnovers for easy buckets. Also, Melo’s strong suit has never really been defense. If he is the “most underrated superstar” that he says he is, being a great defensive player this year will be the #1 way to show it.
5. Team Identity
Who are the Knicks this year? No one really knows. Unlike their other friends in the East, for example the Cavaliers, who present the triple threat of Lebron, Kyrie and Love, or the Wizards with the guard duo of Wall and Beal, the Knicks have yet to secure what their identity will be this season. Besides the obvious which is, the best player on the team is Carmelo Anthony, little is known about who will become his right hand(s). JR Smith was that in 2012, when he was named the sixth man of the year, but last year he was a shell of himself. Tim Hardaway Jr. was a stud in the second half of his rookie season. Could he make a big enough leap to be THAT player? Shumpert was very vocal on social media this summer about being in the gym and working hard. Will all that work come to fruition and can he be not just a defensive but offensive threat? Will someone else on the Knicks stocked roster emerge as a surprise star?
To me, the identity for the Knicks team right now, before watching a dribble of preseason is potential. Potential to thrive under a new coach with new offensive scheme and defensive focus. Potential for players who have been with the team to prove that they deserve to wear the blue and orange and show Carmelo Anthony why he made the right decision to re-sign with the Knicks. Potential for players like Delambert, Calderon and Shane Larkin to have a fresh start on a new team. Potential for Cleathony Early to make teams feel sorry that they did not select him earlier. Potential for the team compete in the new and competitive Eastern Conference. And potential to take the Knicks back to playoffs after letting down the New York fans and falling short last year. The question is if this potential can morph itself into reality.