Schmeelk: Knicks Need To Give Melo, Afflalo More Time In Post
By John Schmeelk
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The Knicks' offense is different than it was last season, in almost all ways better. But some recent vestiges of the triangle remain, such as the tendency to originate a lot of offense from the post.
These touches can come from the low post down on the block or on the high post from the elbow. Though mostly mid-range looks come from those spots on the floor, with the right players, a lot of high-percentage shots are possible.
What's confounding about Derek Fisher is who he puts in those positions to make decisions with the basketball.
Traditionally, big men operate out of the post, so at least on the surface it would make sense for guys like Brook Lopez and Kevin Seraphin to be there. Lopez leads the Knicks in post touches with nearly 5 per game, while Seraphin (in limited minutes) is third with 2.2 per game, according to NBA.com. Neither player shoots a high percentage -- Seraphin at 45.5 percent and Lopez at 43.7 percent -- but at least Lopez has the sense to pass often after he gets the ball.
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Seraphin, meanwhile, has a ridiculously high 25.5 usage percentage, third highest on the team behind Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Williams. Want to be even more depressed? In all those post touches, Seraphin hasn't attempted a free throw yet this season. It remains a complete mystery why Fisher insists on Seraphin being a go-to player in the post, given his lack of efficient offense.
Kristaps Porzingis checks in with three touches in the post per game, logical considering his good mid-range game and considerable length to shoot over defenders. What makes very little sense is where the Knicks two best post players sit on the list: Anthony and Arron Afflalo.
Despite playing more minutes than anyone, Anthony averages only 1.8 post touches per game. Kyle O'Quinn, Williams and Lance Thomas average nearly as many touches in a fraction of the minutes. Even Lou Amundson sits at 1.2 despite playing sparingly.
Afflalo averages only one touch in the post every two games. The only players with a lower average than Afflalo are the Knicks' point guards and shooting guards.
When the Knicks play the Heat, Miami made a concerted effort to feed Dwyane Wade in the post, and there is no reason New York can't do the same with its two smaller post players. Afflalo's post ability was evident late against the Rockets, when he posted up smaller players and made some turnaround jump shots. He is the only other Knick player other than Anthony that can create his own shot and exploit a mismatch, something too seldom taken advantage of.
Anthony, on the other hand, is often put in a position by Fisher where he has to create shots off the dribble against multiple defenders far away from the basket. He leads the team in elbow touches (nearly 5 per game according to NBA.com), but frequently has to start many of his moves from behind the 3-point line. Anthony has fallen in love with his jumper late in games, and refrains from going to the hoop, keeping his percentages in those situations low. Starting in the post would help buck that trend.
Just because Lopez, Seraphin, O'Quinn and Amundson are tall doesn't mean they should be the team's primary post players. That honor should belong to Anthony, Afflalo, Porzingis, and even Williams, especially considering his penchant for drawing fouls.
The obsession with the post isolation for Seraphin has to stop. He might have good foot work down there, a hook shot, and look good making some moves, but he doesn't make enough shots or get to the line. For someone who gets as many opportunities as he does, it is nearly impossible that someone hasn't accidentally fouled him by now. He's also only at best average on defense and on the glass, making his continuing prominence even more confounding.
In the offseason, Phil Jackson and Fisher both talked about penetration a lot. They were right. Good offense begins with the ball going towards the rim. The Knicks don't have enough quick dribble-drive players, so they need to create penetration other ways. One method is the post. The question is: who would you rather have creating offense down there, Anthony, AAfflalo and Porzingis, or Seraphin, Lopez, O'Quinn and Amundson?
The answer is obvious to everyone except the head coach of the Knicks.
Follow John on Twitter at @Schmeelk
