LAS VEGAS – Kristaps Porzingis has been consistent about his preference to play power forward over center, stating it plays to his strengths in that he can shoot over smaller opponents and doesn’t have to deal with banging against large bodies on defense.
David Fizdale arrived with a different philosophy. It’s not necessarily contrasting Porzingis’ preference, just more open to expansion. And apparently the Latvian has approved.
Fizdale plans to fly to Latvia within a week following Summer League and meet Porzingis for the first time. It’s a family trip (Fizdale is bringing his wife and wants to spend time with the Porzingis family) but also an opportunity to teach. The coach already conceived of the film he’d like to pore over with Porzingis.
It’s no secret Fizdale wants to spread the floor, freeing the paint for drives and kick-outs. He was part of the coaching staff in Miami that transformed Chris Bosh from a power forward in the post to a center on the perimeter. In Memphis, he encouraged Marc Gasol to launch more 3-pointers in one season than his previous eight combined.
Porzingis, if not for the concerns about his durability, would be the perfect mold for that style.
From his opening press conference, Fizdale made clear his priority was building a relationship with Porzingis and, in the process, dispelling the notion that he doesn’t mesh with European players. According to sources, Fizdale talked about those concerns – and about his fallout with Gasol while with the Grizzlies – during a conversation in May with Porzingis’ brother, Janis.
Fizdale since helped recruit another European player to the Knicks – Mario Hezonja of Croatia. The idea that Porzingis will miss most of next season, if not all of it because of the ACL surgery, hasn’t sapped Fizdale’s enthusiasm about his best player.
“I can’t lock him into nothing. I just see a lot of places I can use him to be dynamic for us,” he said.