The shortened preseason in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is over. Teams frantically tried to prepare for the season. But it was ugly. Even free throws were difficult. I watched both preseason games for the New York Knicks. Overall, they do not look ready to play a real game. However, there were some good signs. Here are some good and bad preseason observations for the Knicks.
Good: Carmelo Anthony looks ready. Bad: Amar'e Stoudemire does not.
Anthony shot the ball well. He led the Knicks in scoring with 38 points on 15 of 32 shooting (47%). He found his spots on the floor and looked very comfortable. Melo also passed the ball very well. He will definitely help run the point this season. On the other hand, Stoudemire struggled. He settled for jumpers and even spotted up for threes (which I absolutely hate). Stat has to drive and finish near the rim. He just looked uncomfortable in the offense. The team may belong to Stoudemire, but Anthony is the number one scoring option for the Knicks.
Good: Rookie guard Iman Shumpert is the real deal. Bad: He is not a starter.
Shumpert did it all for the Knicks in the preseason. The confident rookie scored, made assists, rebounded and stole the ball. But his best contribution cannot be seen on the stat sheet. Shumpert played defense. He frequently guarded New Jersey Nets all-star point guard Deron Williams. Shumpert used his quickness to shadow and frustrate Williams. Shumpert picked his pocket in each preseason game. Defense does not slump, so Shumpert will always be effective on the court.
Good: Baron Davis will be a great point guard for the Knicks. Bad: Davis is out.
The Knicks need Davis at point guard now. Toney Douglas is not the answer. Douglas had just eight assists in the two games, along with five turnovers. Backup point guard Mike Bibby will help, but he sat out the second half of the last preseason game with back spasms. Douglas, Bibby, Shumpert and even Melo will be point guards by committee until Davis is healthy.
Good: Tyson Chandler has already boosted rebounding and defense. Bad: Defense is a team effort.
In the last preseason game, Chandler showed his value with 12 rebounds and eight points. Half of those rebounds were on the offensive side. Chandler anchored the interior defense. The Knicks have not had a presence like him in the middle since Patrick Ewing. But Chandler cautioned that team defense takes hard work. It does not happen overnight.
Good: Renaldo Balkman was a spark off the bench. Bad: It is a thin bench.
Last season, Balkman was the forgotten man. But in the preseason, he displayed the energy and hustle that he was known for in his first tour with the Knicks. Balkman had 20 points and four rebounds in the first game. He pulled down eight rebounds in the second. Balkman deserves to be in the rotation when the Knicks open the season. Shumpert will contribute too. Unfortunately, there is not much else on the bench. Rookie Josh Harrelson has been a mild surprise, though.
There was plenty to like and dislike about the Knicks this preseason. Are they ready? No. But what team is? Everyone is scrambling to get ready. The Knicks have plenty of talent. That should buy some time until the team truly comes together.
More from Edwin Torres:
Five Things I Need to See from the New York Knicks This Season: Fan View
Ten Burning Questions About the New York Knicks This Season: Fan Preview
NBA Season Starts with Three Fantastic Games on Christmas Day: Fan Preview
Edwin Torres was born in New York City. He has been a Knicks fan since the early 1980s. He has visited Madison Square Garden on many occasions to watch the Knicks and his favorite player, Patrick Ewing. For more articles, follow him on Twitter @FlipPoker.
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