Knicks Morning News (2017.10.18)

Porzingis happy to see Melo get ‘new challenge’

Knicks’ president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry visited Steelers training camp in August to learn about their operations, sources told the New York Post.

Kristaps Porzingis admits it will be “weird” playing against Carmelo Anthony on opening night, and not with him.

The drama-filled Knicks offseason is finally over and the actual games that count have arrived.

Knicks rookie PG Frank Ntilikina participating in the team’s scrimmage at practice on Tuesday.

STOCK RISING: With a $71 million contract, a lot will be expected of Tim Hardaway Jr. But he probably won’t face the same scrutiny as Kristaps Porzingis. Hardaway Jr. is athletic, talented offensively and a good fit for what Jeff Hornacek wants to run — an up-tempo offense. His game evolved and he matured in his two years in Atlanta. It should help him now because he has to have a good attitude amid some difficult times and show he’s improved defensively.

Meet the 2017-18 New York Knicks.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Kristaps Porzingis said it will be weird facing Carmelo Anthony on opening night, and difficult matching up against him. But Porzingis doesn’t plan to watch any extra film to get him ready.

Carmelo Anthony will be on the court when the Knicks open the regular season Thursday in Oklahoma City, but he’ll be wearing the home white. Life without Melo will be about the same as life with him the last several years minus a lot of the drama.

With the NBA season opening on Tuesday night, TNT’s “Inside the NBA” studio crew of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson weighed in on various NBA topics on a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon.

The best players

In theory, the great thing about having two NBA teams in New York is that it should double the chances of seeing some decent basketball.

The Eastern Conference doesn’t have as compelling stories as the Western Conference or as many strong teams or stars, and probably doesn’t house the next NBA champion.

The understudy faces his mentor.

When the Knicks staged training camp in late September, there were a handful of sessions open to families of players and staff. It was a new concept for the Knicks — gleaned from one of sports’ model franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to sources, Knicks president Steve Mills and new general manager Scott Perry attended…

Shaquille O’Neal says Phil Jackson meant well, but his cardinal sin during his three-year, three-month stint as Knicks president was trusting that millennial NBA players would adapt to the selfless aspects of the triangle. In a conference call promoting TNT’s coverage, O’Neal supported Jackson’s attempt at resurrecting the Knicks while Charles Barkley said he got…

The student will square off against the master in Oklahoma City on Thursday night in the Knicks’ deliciously compelling season opener. With Carmelo Anthony lining up at power forward in the Thunder’s small-ball lineup, Porzingis said he will defend his former teammate at the outset. At 7-foot-3, Porzingis has the height advantage, but the 6-8…

Hayward, a prized free agent acquisition, came down awkwardly at the end of a play early in Boston’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Celtics went on to lose.

Amid concerns that James might repeat his 2010 departure from the Cavaliers and play elsewhere next season, a pair of fans have created apparel asking him to stay.

The San Antonio Stars are being bought by MGM Resorts International and moving to Las Vegas.

Boston and Cleveland continued to stockpile stars, but the Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors are all waiting for a chance to break through.

The Warriors are in a class by themselves, but the Rockets and the Thunder spent the off-season making rosters moves to try to keep up.