- The New York Knicks have the roster to create various starting lineups
- Immanuel Quickley should start for the franchise when they need offense
- The Knicks can create an intriguing small-ball lineup
The New York Knicks are a team that mostly stayed put over the course of the offseason, not making many trades to bolster their roster. Still, their roster has a good amount of versatility with the players that they currently have, which means they can create a variety of lineups for any situation.
This article will cover three potential starting lineups that coach Tom Thibodeau could field next season. Starting lineups can change from game to game depending on the situation, and it is unlikely that Thibodeau will stick with just one lineup for the entire 82 games of the regular season.Â
Lineup No. 1
PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Quentin Grimes
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Mitchell Robinson
This is the starting lineup that the New York Knicks fielded frequently throughout the 2022-23 season, and it has a solid mix of players that work well together. Jalen Brunson is obviously the floor general, and his starting spot is guaranteed. Most people would agree that he is either the first or second-best player on the team. Julius Randle’s starting position is also assured, coming off an All-NBA season.
The rest of this lineup features players who are solid defenders. Quentin Grimes is probably the best pure 3 and D player on the New York Knicks roster, averaging 11.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 2.1 APG while averaging 38.6% from the 3PT range. He has a good size for the position, standing at 6’5 with a 6’8 wingspan. Grimes is critical for the team’s spacing, and his shooting ability forces opposing teams to respect him on the perimeter. RJ Barrett is traditionally viewed as the No. 3 option on the team and is a solid two-way player. However, Barrett does struggle with his efficiency at times on offense, and that is an area in which he will have to improve.
Mitchell Robinson is the team’s defensive anchor, with him being highly renowned for his shot-blocking ability. Last season, he averaged 7.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, and 1.8 BPG while shooting 67.1% from the field. There is no doubt that he is a solid complementary player, and he is perfect as a center who rebounds, defends, and provides a lob threat.
Overall, this lineup is one that has a good balance of ballhandling, shooting, and defense. As Tom Thibodeau is a defensive-oriented coach, it is easy to see why this was his preferred starting lineup last season. However, there are definitely other good lineup options that can give the team more of an offensive slant.
Lineup No. 2
PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Immanuel Quickley
SF: RJ Barrett
PF: Julius Randle
C: Mitchell Robinson
This lineup is notable for inserting Immanuel Quickley into the starting lineup. Quickley was notably the team’s sixth man during the 2022-23 regular season, averaging 14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.4 APG while shooting 37.0% from the 3PT range. One of the team’s notable issues during the playoffs was the lack of consistent shot creation outside of Jalen Brunson, and perhaps adding Quickley could help the team with their offensive woes.Â
Though Quentin Grimes is a solid player, Immanuel Quickley is as good at shooting the basketball, while also being able to create his own shot against higher-level defenders. He would be overqualified as a No. 4 option in the starting lineup, and Quickley would really give the team an offensive slant as a starter.Â
Of course, there is a concern in this scenario that the team’s defense will suffer by replacing Immanuel Quickley in the starting lineup. Jalen Brunson is 6’1″, while Quickley is 6’4″: the backcourt would definitely be on the smaller side, and their relatively poor perimeter defense would put a lot of pressure on the other defenders in the starting lineup.
Lineup No. 3
PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Immanuel Quickley
SF: Quentin Grimes
PF: Josh Hart
C: Julius Randle
This lineup would be unique because it starts Julius Randle at the center position over Mitchell Robinson, and benches RJ Barrett in favor of Josh Hart. Immanuel Quickley starts as well. These lineup moves would allow the New York Knicks to have a tenable small-ball lineup that also has a good amount of shooting.
One of the key things that small-ball lineups have to be able to do is rebound well, while also being able to shoot well and push the pace. Josh Hart would be included in this lineup due to his rebounding ability. Though he is an undersized forward at 6’4″, he plays bigger than his size. He averaged 7.8 RPG throughout his time with the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers this past season, and Hart can definitely be a starter in a small-ball lineup. Though Hart is a low-volume shooter, he does convert 3PT shots at a decent rate, averaging 37.2% from the 3PT range.
Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes both start in this scenario for their shooting ability. Though RJ Barrett is considered better than both of those players, he only shot 31.0% from the 3PT range. Benching him in favor of two shooters could improve the team’s overall offensive capabilities. Julius Randle could end up benefitting the most from this change, as Quickley, Grimes, and Jalen Brunson, all being perimeter threats, would open up a lot of driving lanes and one-on-one opportunities for the star.
This would definitely be a risky move to field a small-ball lineup as a starting lineup, and it would be the direct opposite of Tom Thibodeau’s usual approach. Still, this could be a great starting lineup, depending on the situation, and the offensive ceiling with this group of players is enormous.
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