Four key early-season stats for the New York Knicks
Basketball is alive in New York! Thanks to a three-game winning streak, the New York Knickerbockers are 11–9, good for the seventh-seed in the Eastern Conference, and just a game behind the number three seed in the glut of the Eastern Conference so far this season.
Led by the triumvirate of Carmelo Anthony (yes, his name still gets listed first), Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick Rose, the Knicks are sporting an above-average offense, and while the defense hasn’t been as strong, they are already more than a third of the way to their win total from last season.
So what has stood out? Let’s take a look at a few of the key stats that stand out as we sneak past the first quarter mark to the 2016–17 season.
60.9 percent: Willy Hernangomez’s field goal percentage
The 22-year-old out of Spain has been more than a pleasant surprise for the Knicks this season, averaging 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds for the season. Hernangomez has been playing even better of late, with those totals inflating to 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past eight games. Only two rookies (both in Philadelphia, a team that gives minutes to rookies like Trump gives cabinet positions to friends in his inner circle) are pulling down more rebounds per game than Hernangomez, and no rookie is making a higher percentage of their shots. In fact, that 60.9 percent of shots made for Hernangomez would rank fourth in the entire NBA if he qualified for the field goal percentage title right now. Once again, those numbers are only improving, as the 6’ 11” center is making a ridiculous 69.7 percent of his field goals in his last eight games. Knicks fans have been able to see Hernangomez improve in just 17 games this season, and the future is bright for this young Knicks big man. It’s very easy to picture him and Porzingis forming a formidable frontline for seasons to come.
39.9 percent: Opponent field goal percentage for Sasha Vujacic
Easily the most shocking development of the Knicks season so far has been Vujacic — the 32-year-old who even Knicks fans kind of hate — playing some of the best basketball of his career. Always known as a pest, the numbers are backing up Vujacic’s pestering so far this season. Opponents are struggling mightily when guarded by the 6’ 7” shooting guard from Slovenia, connecting on just 39.9 percent of their attempted field goals, one of the lowest opponent field goal percentages in the league this season. There is no Knick who has a better defensive net rating than Vujacic (96.2), in fact, no other Knick is even below 100 points per possession allowed, according to NBA.com’s tracking statistics. Vujacic has the best net rating on the team this season, and while it is still mighty early, the non-statistical story on Vujacic seems to be improving as well, as Vujacic has seemingly formed a strong off-court vibe with fellow Euro, Kristaps Porzingis, and has been laughing on the bench with Carmelo multiple times this season. Trust me, I understand how strange a sentence this is, but: Sasha Vujacic might be a key factor for whether the Knicks can return to the playoffs this season or not.
3.3: Net rating for MSG darling, Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Kuuuuuuuz! Knicks fans are already letting their 27-year-old rookie out of Lithuania hear it (in a good way) every time he makes a three in front of the MSG faithful. The Kuz has earned their respect, as only one qualified player (Sasha Vujacic, once again) has a better net rating on the Knicks this season than Kuzminskas, who has had a decidedly positive impact on the Knickerbockers when on the court this season. Kuz is averaging just 4.5 points per game, but his shooting spreads the floor well for a team that is a bit lacking in shooters, and his defense has proven more reliable than many other Knicks this season — his 101.2 defensive net rating is second on the team — something that will not be lost on head coach, Jeff Hornacek. All four of Kuzminskas’ highest single-game minutes totals have come in the past seven games, a stretch during which the Knicks (perhaps not coincidentally) have gone 5–2. Not for nothing, but the two losses came in two of the three games in which Kuzminskas didn’t play at least 10:00 minutes…
+38: Lineup total for the best three-man lineup for the Knicks this season
Although Vujacic has the best net rating on the team this season, it is a different shooting guard who has a place in the top three-man lineup for the Knicks this season: Justin Holiday. Along with Melo and PorzinGOD, Holiday makes up the most productive three-man group by plus-minus this season for New York. The trio is +38 in 116 minutes, just topping the +34 from the trio of: Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick Rose, and, guess who, Justin Holiday. (The absurd trio of: Carmelo, Vujacic, and Brandon Jennings is +32 in just 21 minutes, would love to see more of that trio, I guess?) Holiday is one of the best glue guys in the NBA by all accounts, and has been solid already for the Knicks this season. He’s an incredibly fun player to watch, and it’s good to know that he’s having a positive impact out there.
Sure, it’s early in the season, but the Knicks have made what looked like it was going to be a rough season quite a bit more palatable through the first quarter of the season thanks to guys like Holiday, Kuuuuuuuuzminskas, and Hernangomez (and I guess we have to say Vujacic, as well). Hopefully that trend continues.
