New York Knicks

Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson like Porzingis, predict Knicks in playoff hunt

Published Oct. 26, 2015 1:39 p.m. ET

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Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson are two of ESPN's best NBA color commentators, always honest, always—as the kids say these days—keeping it real.

The two joined a conference call organized to promote the upcoming NBA season, which begins Tuesday evening. And Knicks fans might be excited to learn that the dynamic duo isn't just high on Kristaps Porzingis, but it's also giving some dap to the whole team.

Here's what Van Gundy, a former Knicks head coach, had to say, courtesy of Al Iannazzone of Newsday:

"The little I have seen Porzingis, I have liked him," said Van Gundy, a former Knicks coach. "I liked his whole attitude after getting drafted. I liked his assertiveness in the minutes I've seen him play, and I think if Anthony is healthy and really good, and Porzingis develops, I think they could be in the hunt in the last month for the eighth spot."

And Jackson:

"Porzingis is a guy that can play," Jackson said. "You can tease with his talent, his size, his ability to shoot, his athleticism. You can see what they liked coming into the draft, and I think he's going to be a very good basketball player for a long time to come. I would lean toward him starting because Carmelo Anthony's presence on the floor will simply make him better because of his ability to score. They're going to double-team Melo and create opportunities for him.

"This is a team that I don't think is a long shot to make the playoffs. I see them with the added talent and depth, when you look all throughout the roster, they have improved and they certainly are more than capable of getting into the playoffs and fighting for one of those spots toward the end of the season."

Those are some pretty solid reviews for a team coming off 17 wins. It's tough to find any positive being said about this year's Knicks. I guess we found them.

(h/t Newsday)