With the Knicks off to an improbable 9-7 start this Thanksgiving week following their rout of the Clippers, it’s time to offer up thanks to president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry for their vision.
The Knicks have assured themselves a winning record on Thanksgiving Day, regardless of what happens in Wednesday’s Raptors rematch at the Garden. After Phil Jackson was ousted after June’s draft, Mills knew one thing: The Zen Master was right that Carmelo Anthony needed to go for the franchise to move on.
Mills then made a very sound hire in Perry, who got the organization to be patient in the Anthony Sweepstakes and not settle for a bad deal. Perry then effectively smoothed over things with Kristaps Porzingis once he arrived from Europe.
Perry, late in the offseason, also convinced Mills to sign point guard Jarrett Jack in case Ramon Sessions didn’t work out. Jack has been their leader/quarterback/organizer since taking over as starting point guard for the season’s fourth game. Perry originally tried to sign Jack with the Kings in early July.
We’ve written here before the Hardaway signing is hardly cause for concern any longer. And considering Mills and Perry were only allowed to deal with three teams — Houston, Cleveland and Oklahoma City — they deserve major kudos for the Anthony deal. (Sources say Anthony would have allowed the Knicks to deal him to Portland if the Knicks struck out with the other three.)
It’s a good thing it ended with the Thunder. Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott have been essential pieces in the Knicks’ shocking start and have added to a sweet team chemistry. (And don’t forget that early Bulls second-round pick, which now is gravy.)
The Thunder likely will find their way, but it’s worth noting Anthony’s presence hasn’t made their chemistry any better during their 7-9 start.
Other takeaways:
Knicks fans adore Porzingis for his unicorn ways on the court. But his self-deprecation off the court has always charmed the media. That is a trait Anthony never possessed. Monday, after a long-winded, clichéd answer regarding his matchup with Blake Griffin, Porzingis stopped in mid-sentence and blurted:
“I don’t have any interesting answers tonight. I’m sorry.’’
Everyone laughed.
Porzingis’ defense was better than his offense Monday in outplaying Griffin even as his shooting slump continued. Porzingis shot 7-of-20 overall and 2-of-7 from the 3-point line. That makes him 25-of-73 (34.2 percent) in his last four outings.
“I’m not making the same amount of shots as I did the first 10 games – I got to find my rhythm,’’ Porzingis said. “Eventually they’ll fall. I will keep shooting.’’
Porzingis said his cranky elbow is not the reason.
Jeff Hornacek, who may start getting his due any day, staged one of his most effective timeouts of his Knicks stint in the second quarter with the team down 34-26. The players looked angry as they came to the bench – with Hardaway and Kanter having words after a botched pick-and-roll defensive assignment. Hornacek looked heated himself. Afterward, Hornacek said the theme of the timeout was getting them to move the ball more – side to side. The Knicks exploded on a 14-0 run that ballooned to 23-4 with the defense also rising up.
