Knicks Open Camp

Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony and Phil Jackson are all gone.  So, no ball hogs and no ideological pressure to execute an offense that the ball hogs were unwilling to execute.  The ball is finally in Coach Jeff Hornacek's court. And now, he will rise or fall over what he can do as a coach, because last year he seemed like just some guy. Of course when the Knicks hired him, Horny was about to join the Golden State Warriors as a key assistant, so maybe there is some there there as a coach.  We haven't seen it, but in Arizona,  Hornacek was credited with running a D'Antoni-lite ball movement, quick shot, O with a heavy dose of transition. He talks a good D, but we didn't see it last year. Though, basketball defense is best when everyone plays it, and the Knicks had a couple of guys who wouldn't.

Right now, the Knicks do have a bunch of guys who can shoot and score, so that part could really improve, even though they just traded an historically significant scorer.  It'll be interesting to see what kind of run Frank Ntilikina can get in his rookie year.  He is a guy who can sting it as well as being an eager defender with freakishly long arms.  And this is a chance to start teaching the rest of them some defensive principles.  I think they'll have to play zone like a box and one with the current roster.

Now about that roster.  They currently have too many 4/5's, and too many 2's and 3's, not to mention one too many old PG's.  So moves are coming.  We'll have to see what they bring.