ON THE RIGHT ROAD AGAIN
Kristaps sits out with balky back
HOUSTON – Kristaps Porzingis said a tight back prompted him to sit out Saturday’s 117102 loss to the Rockets, but he’s hopeful it remains just a one-game absence.
The 22-year-old said his back stiffened after Friday’s loss in Atlanta, before it gradually worsened following a flight and a night in a hotel bed. “It just got tighter,” he said. Porzingis is being more careful with his body after a slew of injuries derailed his last season. Saturday night’s DNP was already the second this season due to small injuries, with both occurring on the road in the second game of a back-to-back. He dealt with back pain last season and called his current issue similar.
“I want to play as many games as I can but when it’s something like this it’s better for me to be healthy than push through this game and maybe not have a great game – have
a bad game even – and then nobody is going to appreciate that,” Porzingis said. “I’d rather be healthy. …It’s just important to keep my core strong and work on my back and keep it strong and that way I have no problems.”
The other frontcourt starter — Enes Kanter — was also sidelined in Houston because of back spasms, although his are much more severe than Porzingis’.
NOAH WAY
Even with the lack of big men, the Knicks declined to fly in Joakim Noah as insurance.
The veteran center, still owed over $50 million on his contract, fell ill, according to the Knicks, before the team traveled to Atlanta on Thursday for its first game of the trip. Fortyeight hours later, the Knicks determined the Rockets weren’t a good opponent for Noah anyway.
“We talked about it but with (Noah) being sick it just probably wasn’t right,” Hornacek said. “It’s tough to play centers against the Rockets anyway the way they play.”
DREAM SCENARIO
Hakeem Olajuwon, perhaps the best post-up player of alltime, believes Porzingis could develop a similarly dominant game down-low.
“He’s very skilled. Very smart. The height, he has the advantage in the post,” Olajuwon said. “A guy of that skill with the postgame – he’s already amazing but I think the game would be that much more easier for him.”
Olajuwon doesn’t do personal training anymore since he’s employed by the Rockets. Porzingis has worked hard on his postgame since entering the NBA, but there’s still room for improvement. The 22-year-old has even shown off a “Dream Shake” move, which Olajuwon made famous.
“He’s so skilled he can do whatever he wants,” Olajuwon said.