The New York Knicks open the season on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center and for that game Arron Afflalo could be out with an injury. Carmelo Anthony is healthy and ready to play, while Kristaps Porzingis, Robin Lopez and Jose Calderon could be the other starters for Derek Fisher.
The Knicks are coming into the season with expectations of improvement after the tough run last year and Phil Jackson said he thinks the team can make the playoffs. The team added Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams in free agency and that has helped bring more talent to the roster next to Anthony. The Knicks have Anthony fully healed from knee surgery last season and he is looking to play a full schedule in 2015-16.
The starting lineup for head coach Derek Fisher may look a bit different for the opener than it will later in the season, as Arron Afflalo could be out with an injury. Langston Galloway could get the start in his place and the other starters likely will be Robin Lopez, Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon and Kristaps Porzingis. Fisher said that Porzingis will start the opener after playing well in the preseason. According to CBS Sports, Galloway could see extended minutes with Afflalo dealing with an injury and Sasha Vujacic also could see time at shooting guard until he can return.
Galloway may play some point guard this year as well, but the team has Calderon and Jerian Grant and with Afflalo injured, shooting guard will be more pressing for now. ESPN reports that Afflalo has been dealing with a hamstring and while he is listed as day to day, his status for the opener is uncertain. Afflalo missed practice on Sunday and he could "miss multiple games" to start the season. Afflalo sat out earlier in the preseason with the injury and now it has cropped up again.
Hamstring injuries can linger, so the Knicks may not want to push Afflalo too soon. The team needs Afflalo healthy and in the meantime, Vujacic, Galloway and even Jerian Grant could play some shooting guard. The team opens on Wednesday and then has another game on Thursday, so it's unlikely Afflalo will play in those games.
The Knicks have their first game of the season against the Milwaukee Bucks on the road and they have their home opener on Thursday. The team plays back to back games and they will host the Hawks on Thursday, October 29 before going out on the road again.
The Knicks have the Washington Wizards on the road and they will host the Spurs before going out to Cleveland and playing LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The Knicks host the Bucks and Lakers on November 6 and November 8 and they will hit the road against the Raptors and Hornets after that before James and the Cavs visit MSG.
