Rookies making an impact for Knicks

Jeff Hornacek was tasked with a challenging job when he took over the New York Knicks' coaching chores, left to meld an almost completely new group, including three new starters. But at least the starters were veterans, giving some assurance that the players could make it work.

But Hornacek has done something else in the early portion of the schedule that is worth noting. Under the glare of the Madison Square Garden spotlight, Hornacek has been willing to put the team’s fortunes in the hands of a pair of European rookies. In crunch time he has had no hesitation to feature a second round pick like Willy Hernangomez or an undrafted free agent like Mindaugas Kuzminskas.

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Maybe some of the decision came by virtue of necessity, with Joakim Noah struggling with injuries in the preseason and illness in the last week and Lance Thomas sidelined for much of the season. But there were other options, easier ones to rationalize. But Hornacek saw talent and didn’t hesitate.

Hernangomez sat out a puzzling stretch early in the season when he was inactive or did not get on the floor for three straight games. But in the past seven games he has averaged 16.3 minutes, 5.9 points on 65.5% shooting and 5.3 rebounds. But beyond the numbers are the things you see — the hints of Marc Gasol in the 22-year-old Spaniard.

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“Yeah, we’ve always felt confident probably from training camp with the things Willy does,” Hornacek said. “He rolls hard to the basket. He’s got good hands. He’s got good touch. He doesn’t get panicked. He’s not fearful of any guy in this league.

“He had a nice roll to the basket for a dunk, had another one where Carmelo (Anthony) made two great passes. He just took his time. He pivoted once, pivoted back, used his left hand. He can use his left hand or a right hand. That’s calmness of a five- or six-year veteran. Willy can play.”

The thing is that, like Kristaps Porzingis, who played with Hernangomez in Spain two years ago, these players came in without NBA experience, but a world of experience overseas. Without Thomas, Kuzminskas has allowed the Knicks to go in crucial situations with Porzingis at center and Anthony at power forward.

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“Well, if we want to move Melo to the four we can go real small and have Justin (Holiday) at the three. Kuz has better size against some of the threes in the league. I was happy — at the beginning of the year, Kuz, we knew he could shoot the ball. Defensively he was still trying to figure it out a little bit. And I like what he’s done recently with the defense. That keeps you out on the court. Contributions don’t always come on the offensive end. He helps space the floor for Carmelo and KP. They can’t leave him. They saw him hit some big shots the other night so people aren’t going to run off of him.”

And Hornacek isn’t, either. He's willing to take his chances on a pair of unproven rookies.

Email: popper@northjersey.com