NFT: Knicks Chat:Kristaps Porzingis is a colossus

Tall (7'4"} skinny kid who was athletic enough to put the ball on the floor, had a soft touch with his shot changed things with his defense and blocked shots.

Other than it being a different era with regards to the three point shot who does he remind you of?

Maybe it was just me because I watched Sampson a lot when he was in college and as a pro but I see much more similarities between he and KP than a lot of other comparisons. Hopefully KP will avoid the injuries that took there toll on Sampson


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Tommy Beer ‏@TommyBeer

Kristaps Porzingis joins Patrick Ewing as just the second Knick in franchise history w/ at least 24 points, 14 Rebs & 7 blocks in one game.

And it took only 14 professional games...

remind me of Sampson, and I remember Ralph and saw him live, a bunch, when UVA won the NIT at the Garden.

Drago is a unique talent with an eclectic skillset so there isn't a doppleganger of him out there.

Strange how NBA Draft evaluations are so often wrong. The perception was this was a 'soft or weak Top 5' class. Now it turns out there could be two franchise chips in play. Towns and 'Zinger are having impact on the floor out of the gate and both should only get better at their age.

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Drago is a unique talent with an eclectic skillset so there isn't a doppleganger of him out there.

This is really what it comes down to. Hopefully it will be he that players are to be compared to in coming decades.

35 years ago, big men just didn't do that. Ralph had a great stroke. If he had worked at developing a long range game, he probably could have done it. He could do almost anything.....except stay healthy.

he's playing the 5. I've seen a lot more C's compile good numbers as rookies than I have 4's, who play all around half-court, and don't have the offense running through them.

Bill Cartwight had a terrific rookie season because they ran the offense through him. The Knicks are not running the O through KP, and he's still be spectacular, which is really unusual.

Btw, you'd still have to take KAT first overall just because of a more certain floor.

I'd take him #1. But you can make the argument for Porzingis. And this is it: There is a decent chance that his jumper is undefendable. People bitch about fundamentals today (stupidly IMO). What's really going on to me is that players are bigger, faster, and better than ever. The defenses are So fucking good. A good defense can shut down just about anyone. Except some guys who have elite elements to their game -- elite post, shooting, or slashing skills.

KP is potentially one of those elite shooters. The guy launches 3's from like 11-12 feet up. Look at some of the pull ups he did last night. Those are not tough guards -- they're unguardable. And his defense is looking like it could be special.

That's where he may have an advantage on KAT. Also, and I love KAT, but he's a bit of a weirdo. Fun guy, but also has imaginary friends. KP has that steeliness that so many studs have.

or inside defender. He played at 7'4" 230 or so and could never bulk up.

KP will get to a solid 250-260, easy. And he will be able to score in so many ways from the post that Sampson could not. And defend inside against full-sized centers.

The thing with upside vs. Towns is that it is really impossible to tell. I think a pretty good case can be made that KP's ceiling is higher. He is an incredible learner with an incredible attitude, and is displaying maturity at 20 that none of us could have imagined. He will have many ways to score that Towns can't match. That stroke is already there, too, he just needed to get his legs. And KP will be a go-to player at the end of games that a pure center cannot be. Will this offset Towns' very high skills as a pure center? I have no idea, but the possibility is certainly there.

An extremely athletic 7'3" player who will ultimately have superior knowledge of the game and a world-class stroke will have no one to compare to in modern BB history. Comparisons are useless.
The last time there was a player like KP was...never.

but wouldnt there be a difference between the need for bulk then vs. now? Many fewer bulky centers to guard.

But every out the minutes (per 32) I bet the stats are much closer.

Let's ask Moses Malone. There were lots of bulky center back then. They just weren't typically that athletic. But they pushed Sampson around when he went inside.

One other thing with KP's potential impact:

Consider how much better the Knicks will be at the end of games if KP is the one who needs to be double teamed, leaving Melo one-on-one with ample space between them, so switching won't work.

There was always talk that Melo, even at his best, needed another star to take the pressure off him. They may already have him, maybe not for now, but soon.

Out

guys like AlJeff and Okafor are rare now. 20 years ago they would have been one among many.

Speaking of Al Jeff is he a FA next year?

I don't think it's crazy to say that at this point.

In comment 12638667 Natek212 said:

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I don't think it's crazy to say that at this point.

They are both cornerstones, and no reason they can't both be outstanding.

Knicks, when I lived across the street from Earl the Pearl on West 88th between Amsterdam and Columbus. For various reasons... I admit Akeem Olajuwon caught my interest for a while, but I couldn't stand Jordan.

KP has me interesting in BB again, and he's 20?

There has never been anyone like what his upside could be... Larry Bird plus maybe?

Please note I said "could be..."

too.

in pre-season and I was called crazy. I believe it even more now, I think Garnett with more range and less quickness is the correct comp.
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this is the original one
1st Garnett - Zinger comp - ( New Window )

They are built so dissimilar hard for me to associate the two

Steve in KY, I like the Sampson comparison, even if the game has changed. I think Sampson was more fluid, more athletic, but KP has instincts and may have much the better shot

In terms of Phil's Sean Bradley comment, I think it's too early to dismiss that from the discussion. We haven't yet seen teams decide to take KP seriously and get seriously physical with him. It's a long season.

Del, but what are KAT's minutes played per game?

Phil wasn't withing 10 thousand light years of being serious when he made it. Phil was just being Phil.

but Nets kicking Boston's ass. Good to see, if it holds up. Boston is in the cluster of teams the Knicks need to do better than.

Robin Lopez (7.0) scoring more ppg than Tyson Chandler (6.1).

not an offensive one. Then add to that his age it isn't really that shocking.

What is his career average for scoring? Has to be less than 10 per game I would think and at this stage of his career it is expected he might be considerably less than his career average.

Last five years, though, around 10.2.

super tall skinny guys like Bradley can struggle with some of the more powerful guys they face who have a serious leverage advantage on them.

It's a possible issue that KP will have to deal with, although he seems to be showing outstanding hustle and toughness with his rebounding.

and Lopez is about six year younger, has a career of 8.2 and has average about 10.78 the past three.

Glad to see it though and your post points to more evidence the Knicks were better off moving Chandler.

much from him. He's a good player. He'll have games where he's on and games where he's off, but for the most part I view him as a positive player. Plus, I love it when he beats the heck out of the other team's mascot. It's stuff like that that make it seem like it's a loose locker room. If we can get these rotations worked out, I think we might have something here.

it would be a serious weapon if he could develop a "sky hook"

He's longer than almost every F ever, and the proper comps might be for someone like Magic Johnson, who was a freakish size for a PG, or something like that. Of the 7'3" guys in NBA history, none were doing what KP is doing, and like Magic he might turn out to be just a one time freak rather than a progenitor.

In comment 12639309 blueblood said:

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it would be a serious weapon if he could develop a "sky hook"

I agree. I post about a week or two ago that he needs to watch tapes of Kareem and try and perfect a Sky Hook. With his height it would be all but impossible to defend.

For that matter he should pay Kareem to work with him this offseason.

His second hook last night was a sky hook, and that other night he was doing Hakeem's dream shake? The guy just watches tape and mimics moves.

given his more traditional shooting ability.

But sure, I have no problem with a hook. Or the Dirk 1-leg step back.

In comment 12639320 Phil in LA said:

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His second hook last night was a sky hook, and that other night he was doing Hakeem's dream shake? The guy just watches tape and mimics moves.

You don't think he could learn anything at all from talking and working with Kareem?

Reminds me of some great advise I received from someone when I was younger. "If you only learn one thing from reading a book it was worth the price of buying it"

In comment 12639326 Deej said:

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given his more traditional shooting ability. But sure, I have no problem with a hook. Or the Dirk 1-leg step back.

That signature Dirk 1-legger would be absolutely unstoppable for him if Porzingis could master it.

around. No fruit was born. Also Kareem was a 5 only, and KP's a 4 mostly. Why are we bringing in extra guys who didn't even play his position?

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree whether arguably the best offensive center in leagues history who happens to be of similar height to KP could teach him anything or not.

we're discussing if there's any utility in paying another coach, when they've already tried that with Kareem and it didn't work. I'm sure there are things KP could learn from Kareem, who's lived llonger, but what's the need to do that since KP is already picking up the skyhook without any help from Kareem? Hakeem has been training guys up and getting some results, but he too, was more of a back to the basket 5 than a 4 which is what KP is. Willis Reed has been hanging around and he was a 4 who became a 5...

of KP working with Kareem for a couple of weeks during the off season. If he doesn't gain anything it's not a big deal, if he learns anything that helps him grow as a player it is more than worth it.

I find it a little odd you seem to have such an aversion to even the idea of it. What could possibly be the downside to it?

Could Lance Thomas be on his way to developing into our 3&D player? These guys often come "out of no where" and develop a little later.

Similar size/athletic profile to Carroll (a big 3&D). Carroll didnt really start to be a 3 point shooter in earnest until his mid/late 20s. Thomas is 27 and just added a 3 point shot. Obviously played really great man up D on a top tier SG last night.

Too optimistic? Or could he be at a launching point of his career? Even a lesser Carroll would be really valuable. Im sure fans in MEM, UTAH, DEN, and HOU were scratching thier heads that Carroll turned into a max player.

In comment 12638468 B in ALB said:

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He's Gumby dammit!

not a 5. Kareem was a back to the basket offensive guy, KP is face up. He's already learning post stuff from the staff they have. He's using hook shots (an by the way, Phil Jackson had one), the Hakeem dream shake and is working on the Dirk stuff. And he's not really just like any one of them. I see no point to putting him with Kareem just because they're both tall.

In comment 12638386 steve in ky said:

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I'm not saying he wasn't being honest but his choosing to say it publically so soon after the draft is fairly unorthodox and since we know he isn't stupid I can't help but think he believed there was a benefit in doing so.

I think this is exactly what he did and Porzingulous said as much. Makes a lot of sense as a motivational tool, or because he knew better and wanted to get everyone even more worried so when he played well, people would be in even more shock.

Porzingis laughed off the comment.

�That�s what Phil does to get guys to work hard,� the 7-foot-3 rookie told reporters Wednesday. �That fired me up. I�m not Shawn Bradley.�

Lance Thomas as a defender against Harden. Phil Fisher isn't crazy. The guy has a role.
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