Timofey Mozgov’s pronounced rebounding struggles in the world championships were well-documented, but outside of that area the tournament was a plus, writes Chris Mannix.

The 24-year-old, 7-foot-1 center impressed USA and Lakers forward Lamar Odom when the two went head to head in the quarterfinals (Mozgov went 4-for-4 in the first quarter), but the Russian struggled with fouls late in the game. Mozgov, whom the Knicks signed to a three-year, $9.7 million contract in July, is loaded with potential. He’s an excellent pick-and-roll player with soft hands and a nice touch around the rim, and though he’s raw and needs to become a better rebounder, his 13-point average in the tournament suggests he could quickly develop into a steal for New York.

While scoring seems to be his strong suit, his big frame inherently has defensive value, particularly on a team lacking size upfront. While his rebounding troubles prevent him from becoming the prototypical big man the Knicks would like, he should see steady playing time off the bat, with Ronny Turiaf not attuned to starter minutes.

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