New York Knicks: Five lineups to explore after the All-Star Break

2. A Big Version Of Small Ball

PG: Emmanuel Mudiay
SG: Frank Ntilikina
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF: Michael Beasley
C: Luke Kornet

The New York Knicks have gone big while the rest of the NBA has gone small, and that isn’t a bad idea. Teams continue to struggle to defend competent big men. If the Knicks are capable of defending the stretch bigs around the NBA, the matchup becomes a nightmare.

With this lineup, however, the Knicks embrace the small-ball movement by stretching the floor and prioritizing perimeter play.

With two 6’5″ point guards on the floor, the Knicks could run a dynamic offensive attack. Both Mudiay and Ntilikina can create for their teammates, with Ntilikina specializing in the pick and roll and Mudiay thriving as a penetrating playmaker.

Both will be equipped with quality scoring options who all fit the small-ball bill: Tim Hardaway Jr., Michael Beasley, and Luke Kornet.

The intriguing part of this rotation is the fact that it would enable the Knicks to adhere to the small-ball era while remaining oversized. Beasley and Kornet could help anchor the offense, while Mudiay, Ntilikina, and Hardaway are all 6’5″ or taller while playing perimeter-oriented games.

This may not be the traditional idea of a small-ball rotation, but it’s a testament to how versatile the Knicks can afford to be with the rotations.