Winners, Losers from Week 2 of New York Knicks' NBA Preseason

Perfecting the triangle offense is an art, and the New York Knicks are progressing at a reasonable rate. 

It will take a few months for the team to jell, but one must be satisfied with the development thus far. J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert have been sharp, while others like Amar'e Stoudemire and Shane Larkin are coming along at a slower pace. 

Preseason games may not count, but they give a window into the soul of a franchise that is hungry to correct a decade of incompetence. 

Let's take a look at how preseason Week 2 has been for the organization.

So far, Jason Smith looks like a criminally underrated player.

He contributes hard-nosed defense and crashes the glass well. Plus, his mid-range jumper is wet. 

The big man isn't a star by any means, but he's the kind of glue guy you need to take on the league's best teams. Thus far, he appears to be a tremendous fit for the triangle offense. 

His ability to knock down shots from the foul line extended with regularity will do wonders to spread the floor for his teammates. He also doesn't need the ball to be involved on both ends of the floor, which is always a plus. 

Smith's shot blocking and rim protection could use improvement, but the big man isn't a slouch while defending in the low post. 

While Amar'e Stoudemire appears to be healthy and ready to contribute this season, he needs some more time adapting to the triangle offense. 

Having relied on his athleticism throughout his career and frequently being in systems that relied solely on pick-and-rolls, Stoudemire hasn't had the need or luxury to play in an offense as complex as the triangle. 

Some may question his basketball IQ, but it's a moot point. STAT will impact this team positively in due time. As he grows more accustomed to the intricacies of the triangle and reading and reacting to the defense, he will be more effective offensively.

Thus far, Stoudemire has been shaky on offense, going 2-of-9 from the field against the Toronto Raptors and 4-of-10 against the Philadelphia 76ers. He hasn't taken the best shots either, forcing a few opportunities instead of looking to score within the flow of the triangle.

Once he addresses those issues and develops a familiarity with the system, he will have a solid year for the Knicks. 

Iman Shumpert played well in Week 2. 

He was aggressive off the dribble and looked more confident than he did throughout the entire 2013-14 season. Shump will be a restricted free agent after this year, so he's expected to take the next step to earn a lavish long-term contract. 

He's been efficient defensively, and on the offensive end, he's done an excellent job of fitting into the triangle and setting up his teammates. He dished six assists against the Toronto Raptors and four against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Crisp ball movement and unselfish play are vital for the fluidity of the triangle offense. If Shumpert can continue playing with confidence and making the right basketball plays, he should average career highs in points and assists per game. 

Shump will need to build on his performances thus far and show Knicks fans that the many goose eggs he put up in 2013-14 were simply aberrations. 

Shane Larkin plays with a level of electricity similar to Nate Robinson, but the young point guard needs to grow more as a player. 

He hasn't struggled in the triangle offense, but he hasn't made much of an impact either. With time, the youngster's ailments should be addressed and remedied by experience. 

Larkin has been a little turnover-prone, which is the direct result of his rawness. At the moment, he's just a high-energy guy who can push the ball and run a fast break, but in order for him to take the next step, he needs to lock in and be a playmaker. 

Although the second-year point guard is effective off ball screens and handoffs, he needs to be stronger with the ball. Limiting his turnovers will help him development and become more than just a spark plug off the bench. 

If J.R. Smith stays focused and level-headed, he should have a career year for the New York Knicks. 

Smith, talent-wise, is a perfect fit for the triangle.

His range and ability to score off of the dribble play perfectly into the system that head coach Derek Fisher intends to run. However, with Smith, you sometimes just don't know what you're going to get—sort of like a box of chocolate. 

Smith is a tremendous scorer when he's locked in, but as a volume shooter who loses focus entirely too often, he negates a lot of the positive things he does well.

Thus far, Smith has been effective from an all-around standpoint. He's bought into the system and has shown a willingness to dish the ball and set up his teammates. If he continues playing unselfishly and avoids the unnecessary chucking that's plagued him in the past, he will surprise many people with his consistency.