The modifications allowed Anthony to make it through training camp and the preseason without any setbacks and now, “My body feels great”. “We were disorganized”, Carter-Williams said. Meanwhile, a starting frontline of Robin Lopez, Porzingis and Anthony may be long but they’re also slow.
Advertisement
“It comes a point in time when you have to believe in something”, said Carmelo Anthony, who’s a focal point in the Knicks’ team.
Knicks team president Phil Jackson had money to burn in free agency but couldn’t turn any of the big names available into takers.
The Knicks opened their 2015-16 regular season last night (Wednesday) on the road versus the Milwaukee Bucks, and will have their home debut tonight versus the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden, with a roster many thought would be a lot more appealing than it is. “I think he’s a key part of what we’re going to do here as a team and an organization”. This includes areas of improvement on players and the team as a whole as he tries to grow into the position that he so badly wanted two years ago.
Against the Knicks, the combination of too many new pieces and too many missing pieces was too much for the Bucks to overcome.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Knicks: Porzingis, the fourth overall pick, became the first rookie to start on opening night for the Knicks since Landry Fields and Timofey Mozgov in 2010-11. The Knicks shot 35 free throws, and attacked the rim with reckless abandon. The Bucks led for most of the first quarter, but their 31 percent shooting caught up with them eventually allowing New York to take the front.
“There’s not a lot of 7-3 guys who can do that”, Porzingis said quietly and humbly yet proudly. “I’m just trying to find my game”, Porzingis says.
Milwaukee was one of the biggest surprises in the league last season, when the Bucks jumped from 15 to 41 victories and pushed the Bulls to six games in a first-round playoff series.
When you take into consideration the time dancers put in with rehearsals, promotional appearances, games and team functions – it’s a low rate.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN, Anthony has said that he wants the coaching staff to hold him accountable for any mistakes he makes on the court, especially on defense. The Knicks’ bench out-scored Milwaukee’s 73-32. And Grant finished with 10 points and five assists. A few weeks later, a New York Times columnist made a similar case, noting the hedge fund management background of Bucks owners Marc Lasry and Wes Edens.
“I have to play and the rhythm will come back”, Anthony said.
Strong play from the bench and a solid night from Porzingis probably left many Knicks fans hopeful for what is to come.
Advertisement
Fast-forward to Wednesday night, and it’s a safe bet that many of those same fans are flocking online to buy the 7-foot-3 Latvian’s jersey. He has eight championship rings, the latest of which he received on Tuesday as an executive board member of the Golden State Warriors.
