Knicks’ Kurt Rambis: ‘Wrestling’ in post wears down Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks controls the ball in the first half against Mason Plumlee #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Credit: Jim McIsaac
When push comes to shove, Kristaps Porzingis is getting tired.
That’s what interim coach Kurt Rambis said Tuesday night before the Knicks rookie had 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a 104-85 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Garden.
Porzingis, who played 24:48, shot 4-for-10 as the Knicks (25-37) lost their fourth in five games and for the 15th time in the last 18. With the playoffs looking more and more unlikely, one reason to pay attention to the Knicks is to see how Porzingis finishes his debut season.
Rambis said the 20-year-old is having trouble with “the wrestling aspect of the game” as he battles down low with players who are stronger. The 7-3 Porzingis is listed at 240 pounds.
“It’s also hard for him,” Rambis said. “The wrestling aspect of basketball at his age is very difficult for him right now. It’s very fatiguing. That’s the hardest part of all. So that’s an aspect of the game that he’s going to continue to get better at and grow with.”
Rambis said he’s still looking for ways for Porzingis and center Robin Lopez to co-exist better on the court. Rambis wants Porzingis to be more aggressive in establishing down-low position on the offensive end.
“He just, sometimes I think he allows Robin to take that first big position down,” Rambis said, “and he’s the guy that should go grab it and he can handle it. But I understand that he can be very tired in those situations.”
Lopez scored eight points and had two rebounds in 19:19 Tuesday. He and Porzingis are assured of being Knicks next season — even if Rambis isn’t assured of sticking around past April — but that doesn’t mean Rambis isn’t looking for ways to get the two big men to learn how to play off each other.
“They’re not always playing together the way that I’d like to see them play together,” Rambis said. “Those positions are kind of interchangeable. I would like to see KP run the floor more so that he’s the first big down, so that he’s looking for those scoring opportunities. Sometimes he does. He’s 7-3. And we’re throwing lobs to him and stuff.”
Even though he admits to battling fatigue, Porzingis’ production and minutes have stayed steady. In October and November, he averaged 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in 27.9 minutes. In December, he averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 26.4 minutes. In January, Porzingis averaged 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 29.5 minutes. And in February, he averaged 14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 28.7 minutes.
His shooting percentages also have remained constant: .425, .418, .431 and .432. It’s something for the Knicks to build upon.
“I think my energy’s there,” Porzingis said. “Just missing shots. Missing shots. And that’s not helping the team at all. I think we’ve all got to step up because [Carmelo Anthony] is doing everything. He’s rebounding, he’s scoring, he’s doing it all for us. So the rest of us, we’ve really got to step up and play better basketball.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
