New York Knicks: Positive Takeaways From Season Opener

The New York Knicks have begun the quest for an end to the postseason drought with a 117-88 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. What good transpired?

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) looks to pass in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 117-88. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The 2016-17 NBA regular season is officially underway. The New York Knicks helped tip off the new basketball year by traveling to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on the night LeBron James and the defending champions collected their rings.

Facing overwhelming expectations of their own, Jeff Hornacek and the Knicks began the season by losing to Cleveland by a score of 117-88.

New York wasn’t expected to win against the defending NBA champions. James and the Cavaliers enter the 2016-17 season with the pressure of being the one team that appears to be standing between the Golden State Warriors and a second title in three years.

New York (write about if it made it more difficult or easier for the Cavs to do so) by (stealing/dropping) the season opener.

For the sake of optimism, the focus here is to highlight what the Knicks did well. New York certainly wasn’t perfect, but there are a number positive takeaways from the first game of the 2016-17 regular season.

Here are five reasons to be optimistic following the Knicks’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) moves the ball in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 117-88. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Carmelo Anthony’s Hot Start

The New York Knicks will need Carmelo Anthony to get back to being his high-scoring self in 2016-17. Though his production trailed off during the second half, Anthony began the season opener at an absolutely torrid pace.

Anthony finished with 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field, but he made five of his first seven shots in an explosive first quarter.

Beyond the numbers is the manner in which Anthony was putting points on the board. He was absolutely relentless in his first quarter attack, taking his opponents off the bounce and pulling up from midrange with virtual ease.

No matter the degree of difficulty, Anthony looked like the star that he is—one who’s well on his way to 25,000 career points.

Anthony needs to be more willing to take it inside, but this was a solid start to the season. He’s unstoppable in the post, as he’s too strong for small forwards and too agile for power forwards to contain.

Nevertheless, the first half of the Cavaliers game was an encouraging enough display to believe that Anthony could have a bounce-back season in 2016-17.

Oct 8, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) reacts after scoring a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

4. The European Movement

The New York Knicks have embraced the European movement in professional basketball. Kristaps Porzingis jumpstarted the process in 2015-16, but he’s not the only international standout on the Knicks’ roster.

During the season opener, the Knicks’ international players stepped up with a solid and impressive showing in defeat.

Porzingis finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, four offensive boards, a steal, and three 3-point field goals made in 33 minutes. Mindaugas Kuzminskas scored seven points in nine minutes and Willy Hernangomez had four points and an offensive rebound in nine minutes of play.

It may not have been a groundbreaking performance, but it was certainly intriguing enough to believe in the upside of all three players.

Porzingis has established himself as a star on the rise, but Hernangomez and Kuzminskas aren’t yet known. That could soon change, as both players have the offensive versatility to make a consistent and productive impact.

It wasn’t the best performance of their respective careers, but Porzingis, Kuzminskas, and Hernangomez are three players to watch.

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) is fouled as he goes to the basket in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 117-88. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Derrick Rose Is Still Explosive

The New York Knicks played five of their six preseason games without starting point guard Derrick Rose. Rose left the team to travel to Los Angeles and defend himself against gang rape allegations in a civil court case.

If nothing else can be celebrated, then Knicks fans should be happy to know that the starting point guard gained game experience with his new teammates

Rose didn’t just take the floor with the Knicks during the season opener; he moved like the fan favorite he used to be. He wasn’t dunking like the MVP that people have come to love and idolize, but his speed and agility are close to unparalleled.

Numbers aside, Rose proved capable of consistently attacking the rack and leading a one-man offensive show in transition.

The 28-year-old finished the battle with the Cavaliers with marks of 17 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block. It was an encouraging scoring display, albeit with the troubling reality that he failed to get his teammates involved.

It’ll take some time before Rose to find his rhythm after missing five of six preseason games, but physically, he already looks sensational.

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) moves the ball in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 117-88. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2. First Half Performance

After playing two excellent quarters against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks fell apart in the second half. It was a disappointing turn of events, but there’s reason to be optimistic about the manner in which the game transpired.

The second half deserves to be picked apart and criticized, but the Knicks stepped up with an encouraging two quarters to begin the game.

The Knicks entered halftime with just a three-point deficit at 48-45. New York was down by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, but fought back with a strong showing on both ends of the floor to get the game back to the point of competitiveness.

With every player seeming to take their turn at chipping away at the deficit, the Knicks went on a 21-9 run to end the first half.

Clearly, collapsing in the second half created more than enough reasons to believe that the season could be long and unrewarding. The promising start shouldn’t be ignored, however, especially for a team that has three new starters, a new head coach, and a new sixth man.

The Knicks still have work to do, but the Knicks had a full half of intriguing play. That’s an encouraging start to the season.

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) fight for position with with New York Knicks center Joakim Noah (13) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Starting Five Is Finally Together

The regular season opener was the first time the New York Knicks’ starting five played a full NBA game together. Derrick Rose missed five of the six preseason games and Joakim Noah missed the first three, thus preventing New York from developing team chemistry.

While it may be disappointing to know the Knicks lost in a lopsided manner, it’s far more encouraging to know that they’re finally together.

The contrast was clear between New York and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks have no game experience together and the Cavaliers have played two full seasons, made two NBA Finals appearances, and won a championship with the same core.

The disparity is less in pure talent than it is in the massive gap between New York’s experience together and Cleveland’s.

This isn’t to say that the Knicks will defeat the Cavaliers once they improve team chemistry. The games will be far more competitive, however, as the Knicks are still weeks, if not months, away from finally clicking on all cylinders.

That must be kept in mind as the Knicks are criticized for their shortcomings.

The second half collapse may or may not be forgivable, but the Knicks’ season shouldn’t be defined by one game, let alone the season opener.