Robin Lopez Misses Portland But Thrives With New York Knicks

Following Portland's 104-85 victory over the Knicks last night, Marc Berman of The New York Post outlines the offensive development of center Robin Lopez in his first season in New York.

Considered the fifth option in Portland, Lopez has come on like a gangbuster since late December as a potent offensive force in the triangle in his first season in New York. After the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis, the Lopez signing stands as the second-best move embattled Knicks president Phil Jackson has made in his two-year tenure.

Lopez says he is happy with his new team, but admits that life with the Knicks would be better if his team was winning.

"I'm getting opportunities, guys are looking for me,'' Lopez said Monday at the Knicks practice facility. "But I'd be much more content even if that production was half of that and we were winning some ballgames. I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win.''

Lopez is averaging 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds this season and leads the Knicks in field goal percentage at 54.9 percent. Before Tuesday's outing, he had averages of 15.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks while shooting 69.4% in his previous five games.

"I had a different job in Portland,'' Lopez said. "With LaMarcus [Aldridge], Wes [Matthews], Nick [Batum], Damian [Lillard], we were pretty set offensively. I knew what I could do off offensive rebounds and drop-offs. That wasn't the focus of my game there. I'm consistently doing different things offensively here than I have in the past.''

According to Berman, Lopez misses Portland and still dons his tattered Seattle Mariners hat following each game, but Lopez is excited about what is yet to come in New York.

"I'm very excited for the future,'' Lopez said. "Based on the quality and kind of guys we have right here, yeah, I think if that's consistent with whom we get this summer I'm very excited.''

Read all of Berman's piece, here.