Schmeelk: Knicks' Offense Figures To Be Run 'N Gun First, Triangle Second
By John Schmeelk
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Now that the Knicks' roster is coming into focus, it's Jeff Hornacek's job to fit his new pieces into a workable team.
We still don't know what type of offense he is going to run, but it looks like Hornacek's first option will be to push and get a good quick shot early in the shot clock. If that doesn't work, the offense will revert to the triangle in the half court.
Derrick Rose should help with the Knicks' pace, something Hornacek will like. Under Fred Hoiberg last season, the Chicago Bulls were near the middle of the league in terms of pace. They played faster with Rose on the floor than when he was off. Brandon Jennings should be able to do the same off the bench, but the pace is controlled by more than just the point guard.
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Rose can run the ball down, but if his teammates don't run ahead of him and find open spots it won't matter a whole lot. Courtney Lee is athletic enough to run up and down, and the Knicks' two potential big men, Joakim Noah and Kristaps Porzingis, can run as well.
This is an area where Carmelo Anthony will have to improve. While he was part of fast-paced offenses in Denver, he has struggled to play transition basketball on both offense and defense in New York. While he will occasionally get ahead of the field for a dunk or layup, he hasn't displayed nearly enough speed up and down the court to create early offense or slow opponents' fast breaks.
If the Knicks want to be a good running team this season, Anthony has to embrace it. He should be able to get easy looks in early offense, whether on open pull-up 3-pointers, or even early shot clock post-ups. Attacking early makes it tougher for opponents to set up help-defense, which would make Anthony's life a lot easier.
The Knicks will still run the triangle in the half court, but based on what Hornacek has said it would seem to be a safe bet they will run a lot more pick and roll out of it than they did last season.
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If they don't, Rose will be out of place and could struggle. The triangle does not call for a lead point guard to dribble the ball as much as Rose is accustomed. Often times in the triangle, the point guard is asked to pass the ball to the wing and head to the corner. There is other action within the offense that can put the point guard back with the ball in screen and rolls on the side and up top, which will likely be how Hornacek uses Rose more often than not.
When Rose does not have the ball, expect to see Noah with it a ton near the elbow and pinch post. He is one of the best big man passers in the game, and the Knicks understood that when they made him their top target in free agency.
In order to take advantage of Noah's passing skills, however, the Knicks are going to have to do a much better job of cutting off the ball. The last two seasons their off-ball cuts in the triangle (perhaps the most important part of the offense) were too often uninspired and lazy. That eliminates the easy baskets the triangle is supposed to create, and leads to more isolation plays.
Anthony should get plenty of iso action on the wing and post. It will be interesting to see how well the Knicks can space the lane when Anthony has the ball in his hands. With Rose's subpar 3-point shot, and Noah's inability to score outside the paint, teams may be able to sag into the lane and force Anthony to become more of a jump shooter or force him to pass with outright double teams.
Noah has been a bad shooter, even near the basket, the past two seasons and other than dunks there isn't much you can count on from him from a scoring perspective. As for Rose, since he isn't battling an injury this offseason, there's the possibility that he can improve his jump shot over the summer, and get his 3-point numbers between 35 and 40 percent. That would be good enough. Both those players need to be more efficient on offense than their final numbers from last season indicate.
Lee will play primarily off the ball as a cutter and spot-up shooter, a role he should thrive in. His skills are perfect for that job and that's why the Knicks were wise to target him.
As for Porzingis, the Latvian big man will be Hornacek's greatest challenge and also his greatest weapon. Porzingis' game is so varied he can be used in a bunch of different ways depending on the opponent and the teammates he has on the floor with him. With other players demanding the ball, it will be important to keep him involved.
When he is playing with Anthony and Rose, Porzingis will be more of a spot-up shooter and a screener. He should be a great weapon setting screens for Rose, though Noah's presence on the floor (and the defenders helping off him) will make those plays tougher to run efficiently. He can pick and pop from 3, mid-range, or roll to the basket.
He'll also be used as a spot-up shooter to spread the floor for forays by Rose and Anthony to the basket.
When Porzingis isn't on the floor with all the Knicks' starters, Hornacek will likely give him some opportunities to create his own shot. If guarded by a small player, he'll take them into the post. If he is playing center, he can use his mobility to get to the basket or create open jumpers. Porzingis' continued development on offense will be something to watch and could be the difference between the Knicks having a good offense or a great offense.
As for the bench, Jennings will do what Rose does with the starters, though not as well. Getting a good backup point guard had to be a priority with Rose's injury history and potential minute restrictions and Phil Jackson did just that. The rest of the bench is filled with role players and helpers, perfect for what the Knicks need.
Lance Thomas is a good defender and spot-up shooter who could play a big role in some small-ball lineups with him or Melo at the four. Willy Hernangomez appears to be the backup center. He is supposed to be a decent post player and rebounder, but his rim protection skills remain a mystery. The Knicks' new import, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, is a cutter and finisher who plays off his teammates, a good fit in the triangle. Kyle O'Quinn struggled mightily last season, with the game sometimes seeming too fast for him.
With the bench full of role players, the Knicks would be wise to have either Anthony or Rose on the floor at all times to keep the offense efficient. Porzingis can be shuffled in an out to make sure there's enough offense on the floor at any given moment.
The offense should be much improved this season and fun to watch. The Knicks have multiple players that can create their own shots, and a bunch of others that can play well off the ball. If Hornacek can figure out a way to blend his transition offense with the triangle and incorporate the players Jackson has given him, the Knicks could have a top 10 offense. That might mean a playoff series win as well.
For all things Knicks, please follow John on Twitter at @Schmeelk
