Winners and Losers from Week 1 of NY Knicks' Preseason

The New York Knicks may have lost to the Boston Celtics by 20 points Wednesday, but a learning curve is to be expected. 

Although, New York turned the ball over 28 times and dished out only 20 assists, there were some positives taken away from their preseason opener. The offensive potential was there, and with patience the offense ought to become more consistent and lovely to watch. 

Head coach Derek Fisher's triangle will take time to perfect, but enough tools are present to repair the damaged franchise. Tim Hardaway Jr. and J.R. Smith will excel within Fisher's offense, taking some of the pressure off of Carmelo Anthony's shoulders. 

Some players need to rise up ad build on their mediocre performances, however. 

Let's take a look at the winners and losers from Week 1.

Moving forward, Hardaway must limit his turnovers. Aside from the five he picked up against Boston, he played well. 

Hardaway was effective with the ball in his hands, knocking down open shots and playing through contact. He went 10-for-11 from the free throw line—something the Knicks would love to see from him consistently as the season wears on. 

The second-year shooting guard contributed only two assists, but he looked comfortable playing in the low post, hitting the open man and passing out of double teams.

Hardaway shot the ball well, going 2-for-3 from the three-point line. 

Shane Larkin will be a good role player for the Knicks, but he has a way to go before reaching his potential.

At the moment, Larkin is an excellent spark plug off the bench who can push the ball in transition and get into the paint efficiently. His playmaking leaves a little to be desired, but as he grows familiar with the triangle and his teammates, he should make more of a contribution.

He's a loser for his three turnovers and his inability to get to the foul line. The Knicks need their guards to be strong with the ball, and they need to get the charity stripe and pick up easy points. 

Larkin has the tools to be a pest and draw contact, and he needs to utilize all of his abilities. He will excel in the triangle and should get to the basket with ease off of handoffs and ball screens. 

Samuel Dalembert played solid defense against the Celtics, picking up three blocks and four rebounds. 

Although the big man turned the ball over twice, he made the most of his offensive opportunities. He finished the evening 3-of-4 from the field, and he played physical defense while on the court. 

Dalembert picked up three fouls, which is a sign of his physicality and hustle. The Knicks may be a little depleted in the middle, but Dalembert needs to continue playing with toughness and being physical with his opponents. He's one of the few players on New York's roster who should use each of his fouls instead of giving up easy baskets.

Fisher's defensive policy is to force the ball to the sideline and out of the middle of the paint, and this will play into Dalembert's favor, seeing as he's a solid weak-side shot-blocker. 

Quincy Acy is a really solid role player, but he needs to improve his jump shot to keep defenses honest. 

He went 1-of-6 from the field but did knock down all three of his foul shots. Although Acy is more of a slasher and finisher around the basket, a solid mid-range jumper will assist the Knicks' floor spacing. 

Acy also needs to be stronger with the ball and cut back on his turnovers. The three he picked up against Boston could be attributed to the new system and developing chemistry with his teammates. But at the end of the day, turnovers need to be limited for the Knicks to succeed consistently. 

Jose Calderon made a positive impact against the Celtics. He shot the ball well, picked up four assists and only turned it over once. 

New York needs Calderon to consistently knock down his open shots and keep his turnovers limited. The assists should increase with each game, and if he can continue keeping the floor well spaced with his jumper, the Knicks will have little problem putting up points. 

Calderon's defense will remain a question mark, but if he can stay in front of his man and force his opponent to the sideline, his average athleticism shouldn't be exposed.