Kristaps Porzingis was once beloved by Knicks fans who saw him as their best hope of escaping years of dysfunction, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. But years later, after a devastating injury and a messy breakup, Porzingis is a member of the Celtics and stands in their team’s way of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
When he was drafted with the fourth pick in 2015, Porzingis was hailed as a “unicorn” because of his unique combination of size and outside shooting touch. He was an immediate fan favorite in New York, but his efforts to turn the Knicks into contenders were sunk by general mismanagement and what Bondy calls “petty infighting” involving the front office and coaching staff.
Bondy states that former team executives Phil Jackson and Steve Mills never viewed Porzingis as a future star and unsuccessfully tried to trade him after his second season. He suffered a torn ACL midway through the following season and then missed all of 2018/19. Before he was fully healed, he was traded to Dallas, and Knicks management cast him as a villain on the way out.
“The whole process was just a mess,” Porzingis said. “I didn’t like the way it ended. That wasn’t how I wanted it to end, if it did end. I tried to stay myself the whole time. Not do anything. Not say anything. If I did say anything, it would’ve been right after I was traded. Now it’s too late.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Players are acknowledging that Boston will present a tougher challenge than they faced in the first round, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. New York went 0-4 against the Celtics this season, dropping the first three games by 63 total points before losing in overtime in April. “Obviously, (we have to) play better than we did (against them) throughout the regular season,” Jalen Brunson said. “Be better, ready to do it from the jump, knowing it’s going to be a game of runs, knowing that they’re capable of doing a lot of great things. I feel like we played better in that (fourth) game. We adjusted from the first three times we played them, obviously still not getting it done, but definitely played better and competed better than the first three games. So that’s something we can look at and build off of.”
- The Knicks never lost faith in Mikal Bridges no matter how bad things got this season, and he rewarded them in the close-out game against Detroit, notes Barbara Barker of Newsday. Bridges scored 25 points in Game 6 and tied the contest on a putback slam in the final minute. After Saturday’s practice, coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters that Bridges has done an admirable job in dealing with a heavy amount of pressure after the Knicks sent five first-round picks to Brooklyn to acquire him. “I think for anybody who gets traded or in free agency or whatever it might be there’s an adjustment period that you have to go through and it takes some time,” Thibodeau said. “I think he’s very confident in his abilities.”
- Steve Popper of Newsday lists five keys for the Knicks in the series, including the need for Bridges and OG Anunoby to control Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and a more consistent performance from Karl-Anthony Towns.
When was KP loved by the knicks? Boo’d on draft night to the unicorn making an all star appearance to shipped out of town. Just remember they didn’t want you and we went out of our way to get you.
Knick fans made KP ….. learn his story lol.
Lol what? I’m pretty sure NY and Dallas didn’t want this guy. He ends up on a terrible wizards team and we’re still making him. With a bit of luck KP might win a 2nd championship. @ which point is he remembered as a knick or Celtic? 2 yrs you’ve been saying NY are a bad match up for Boston, now is your teams chance to cash those cheques coming from your mouth.
@Nrg – Don’t speak out of your butt. You have no idea about KP6’s NBA journey before he got to BOS. KP6, prior to his injury, had a 2.5 year life here as NYC’s most popular basketball player. That’s a status unlike any that’s available anywhere else in the world. All the issues he had in NY were with the then FO’s, and one imbecile who pretended to be a HC. Never with Knick nation, even after the propaganda spewed by the FO against him after his departure.
Think he’ll take some chips over a 2.5 yr run like no other in NY, a status even like no other, lol. Does this status walk with Larry O’Brien? Argh, I’m not American, I keep upto date with ball in Europe thank you. Pretty sure I new who Kristaps was before getting to Boston man.
Boston in six, maybe five
5
Came here to say that Boston should take it in 5 or 6 as Hubcap mentioned above but the thing that sticks out to me is the Knicks paid 5 first round picks for Bridges 😳😳😳
Like it’s a very Knicks thing to do trading 3 firsts maybe but JFC who did they think they were getting Lebron in his prime? RG III? (DC joke there)
We’ve all seen Bridges play in his prime and he was really good but damn, who would even remotely think he’s worth five first round picks other than someone in charge of the Knick talent scouting? How does this team continuously shoot itself in the foot over and over and over and over and over? And their fans are so goddamn delusional that they’ve found their savior constantly. This is one of the most pathetic teams in all sports even if they’re competitive right now. Because they have no shot of actually winning a title maybe ever. Love ya Spike but you’re as delusional as the rest of them.
It was a bad trade but not nearly as bad as you’re making it to be. Their pick this season? Mid 20’s. The Bucks pick this season? Early 20’s. The Knicks pick in ’27? Mid 20’s. The way off future picks? Who knows? Bogie and Shake? Who cares?
I don’t think this a championship squad unless it’s through injury luck but they’re going to be very good for a little while. Only one team each season wins it all but the Knicks haven’t been this good in 30 years, I think the fans and ownership will be content with being very good for a while.
KP playing in that system. Gives him good looks. So he can use his shooting as a big weapon. Also with his size he can help defend. Not being counted on to be a top guy. Lets him get free to do the things he does. I said it from day one. Boston was a perfect place for him. OK so what can we do. First don’t let him get his shot off. You have to make it difficult. You take away that outside shot. Then he becomes easy to defend. Knicks team defense is what will make this a series. Unfortunately our bench is not as deep as Bostons. This is the series where Knicks needed TJ. Now its pray McBride, Payne, Shamet, Achiuwa, Mitch can give us points. Knicks will need Mitch and Achiuwa for defense this series.
Its The only way I see a series. Boston healthy is a strong favorite. Knicks show up. Then I can see it going 7. Showing up means Bridges, Tiwns every gm. The bench and Mitch D. Thibs going ten deep. Considering how the last game went down. When Celtics faced a full Knicks team for first time. I give Knicks a chance. Its one game at time for Knicks.