GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The debate over whether Carmelo Anthony needs to "pass the torch" to Kristaps Porzingis and take a back seat to the young big man on offense continues. But Porzingis himself isn’t paying it any attention.
“I don’t really react to it,” Porzingis said Tuesday. “That’s not something I’m worried about. I read social media and Twitter and all that. But a lot of that is just in and out. And I don’t really pay attention to it. It doesn’t really matter. All that really matters is [to] win games. And as long as we’re winning it’s not going to be a debate about whose team is it or whatever. So that’s the main focus.”
Porzingis has said that Anthony helps his production on the court. And the numbers thus far this season back that up.
The Knicks (8-9) have been carried by Anthony at times this season and by Porzingis in other stretches. So the "debate" here seems superfluous. But you’ll undoubtedly continue to hear it after games in which Anthony struggles, as he did in Monday’s loss to Oklahoma City (he went 4-for-19 from the floor).
Rose’s extension: There’s nothing new to report on the Knicks potentially offering Derrick Rose an extension. A report Tuesday pointed out the possibility of the Knicks extending Rose, but didn’t include any details that furthered the story.
The fact remains that New York can offer Rose a three-year extension, with 7.5 percent increases, beginning on Dec. 22. That would give Rose a three-year extension worth approximately $75 million. The Knicks have until June 30 to make the offer. (They can also offer Rose a two-year extension with 4.5 percent annual raises prior to December 22.
There is no reason for them to make a decision in the near future; they have the opportunity to wait and see how Rose progresses this season. It's also worth noting that Rose can potentially make more money as a free agent. He can sign a max contract with a starting salary of more than $29 million this summer -- for a total of five years and approximately $175 million. Though it's unclear at this point if other teams see Rose as a max player.
Thus far, Rose has played well, getting to the basket at will. But his shooting outside of the paint has been inconsistent. Rose is shooting 56 percent within the restricted area but 35 percent from midrange (22-for-62), according to NBA.com. He's also hit 26 percent (7-for-27) of his 3-point attempts.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, who as a player was one of the top shooters in the NBA, had an interesting observation about Rose’s shooting.
“It’s a strange thing because I almost think sometimes when he’s tired, he’ll shoot it better because he’ll shoot it on the way up [as he's ascending into the shot]. In practice, he shoots it on the way up and gets the arc,” Hornacek said. “He knows he wants to get it up higher. But sometimes I think that adrenaline gets going in the games, he’s got all that energy, and he jumps high and that’s when his shot tends to be flat.
“It’s kind of a bizarre thing," Hornacek added. "When you have the energy, you think it would be better. But he’s working on it. You see him out here in the gym and he [works on his shot]. So that’s a habit that he’s had probably in the past that he’s trying to get through.”
Teammates believe Noah will produce: Joakim Noah has struggled in his first 17 games as a Knick. He's said time and again that he needs to play better. Noah's teammate and friend Courtney Lee remains confident the veteran center will help the Knicks in the long run. So does Thunder coach Billy Donovan, who coached Noah in college at the University of Florida.
Porzingis is also among those who believe better days are ahead for Noah, who signed a $72 million contract to come to New York over the summer. Porzingis also credits Noah for helping him with proper technique in defending the pick-and-roll.
“He has helped me tremendously, especially defensively. He's always talking to me. He has a lot of experience and it’s hard for me to see him struggle," Porzingis said. "I know he wants to play better, he’s 100 percent committed. He’s the type of guy who always wants to win. No matter his numbers, no matter what, he always wants to win. So it's hard to see him not playing at the level he can play. But with the type of guy he is, the type of focus he has, he will find himself soon and we’ll be a much better team with him playing at his level.”
