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New York Knicks: Five lineups to experiment with in 2017-18

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 3: The New York Knicks stand for the National Anthem before the preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 3, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 3: The New York Knicks stand for the National Anthem before the preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 3, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – MARCH 12: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks at Barclays Center on March 12, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets defeated the Knicks 120-112. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – MARCH 12: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks at Barclays Center on March 12, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets defeated the Knicks 120-112. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

4. All-Out Defense

Point Guard: Ron Baker
Shooting Guard: Courtney Lee
Small Forward: Lance Thomas
Power Forward: Kyle O’Quinn
Center: Joakim Noah

The New York Knicks need a lineup that can come into games and right the ship on the defensive end of the floor. It would be ideal if all lineups held their own on defense, but even the most balanced of units can endure the occasional cold stretch.

Thankfully for head coach Jeff Hornacek, the Knicks have a number of players who can form a lineup that goes all-out on defense.

In the backcourt, Baker and Lee provide an ideal balance with their proven desire to get into their assignments’ jersey on defense. Both are positionally versatile on defense, and each played outside of the 2016-17 team’s refusal to defend.

Michael Beasley could replace Lance Thomas at small forward, but head coach Jeff Hornacek seems to cover the latter’s established commitment to defense.

Along the interior, the Knicks trust Kyle O’Quinn and Joakim Noah to do what they do best: Protect the rim and crash the boards. O’Quinn finished 2016-17 with averages of 12.9 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes, and Noah is a former Defensive Player of the Year.

Noah has regressed over time due to his age and injuries, but he and O’Quinn project to be the ideal interior anchors for a balanced defensive unit.

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