The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at New York Knicks: Keys to breaking the road curse

By Jared Woodcox

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 11: Kristaps Porzingis (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 11: Kristaps Porzingis (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Key #2 – Slow Kristaps Porzingis

I’ve already mentioned him ample times throughout this piece and quite deservedly so, because Kristaps Porzingis is simply killing it for the Knicks. He’s putting up just under 30 points per game while shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from deep and adding 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per contest. KP has been all over the place on both ends of the court and has been absolutely unstoppable for opposing teams.

His ability to be a prolific finisher in the paint while also serving as an effective stretch big with his three-point percentage that’s upward of 40 percent have made him one of the more prolific bigs in the league and a sure-fire Most Improved Player Award candidate. That ability to stretch the floor will make him an even tougher cover than usual for Derrick Favors and the rest of the Jazz big men.

Taking care of another stretch big in Karl-Anthony Towns on Monday night was a significant problem for the Jazz as he was allowed to go 4-of-6 from behind the arc as Utah failed to respect his solid long-range bomb. If they make that same mistake with Porzingis, who’s shooting over six percent better from three than Towns, the Jazz will be in huge trouble.

The good news for Utah is that as Porzingis has gone, so have the Knicks largely gone. The difference in his stats in wins and losses is very much astounding as he is putting up about 11 fewer points (23.0 compared to 34.1) on significantly poorer shooting (56.0 FG% and 47.4 3PT% in wins vs. 39.8 FG% and 31.8 3PT% in losses) while putting up an incredible 3.1 blocks in wins as compared to 0.8 in losses.

In other words, when Porzingis is rendered less effective on both ends of the floor, his team suffers dramatically. This comes as little surprise considering how dominant he’s been this year, but it’s an important fact to know nonetheless. The Jazz will have to contain Porzingis if they hope to win, essentially cutting the head off of the New York Knicks snake.

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