Scrooged out of Christmas
“I can do some form shooting. I can shoot off the wrong leg or layups. Just no full-speed stuff. Just stationary stuff. I can do a little bit here and there.”
The 25-year-old was impressive in his 21 games before the injury, averaging career highs in points (17.8), minutes (34.1), rebounds (4.2) and assists (3.3). The Knicks, who are 16-14 overall, have gone 5-4 without Hardaway in the lineup.
However, the team’s schedule, which has been loaded with home games in October, November and December, is about to change dramatically. Following Thursday’s game, the Knicks play eight of their next 11 on the road, including games at Detroit, San Antonio, New Orleans, Washington and Minnesota.
The Knicks are 2-9 on the road. Only Dallas (212) and Charlotte (2-11) have worse road records.
Further complicating matters is the status of Kristaps Porzingis, who has missed the last two games with a sore left knee. Overall, the Knicks are 1-5 without Porzingis, who is listed as day-today. If Porzingis does play Thursday there is no guarantee he will be available Friday in Detroit. The Knicks have had five sets of back-to-backs and Porzingis has missed the second game of the back-to-back three times.
In his first two seasons in New York, Porzingis missed 26 games and his durability has become an issue.
NBA coaches and scouts question whether Porzingis, despite his obvious talents, can be durable enough to play in 75-plus games a season.
“With his body and the fact that he plays on the perimeter it makes you wonder,” says one league scout. “He’s a franchise player … when he’s available to play.”