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

By Maxwell Ogden

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 25: Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks reassures Frank Ntilinkina #11 after his foul against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on January 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 25: Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks reassures Frank Ntilinkina #11 after his foul against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on January 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks in action against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2018 in New York City. The Bulls defeated the Knicks 122-119 in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Head coach Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks in action against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2018 in New York City. The Bulls defeated the Knicks 122-119 in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1. The Rise of the Phoenix

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

When Jeff Hornacek was head coach of the Phoenix Suns, he built an unorthodox lineup. He utilized two star-caliber point guards in Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic, and complemented them with a supporting cast that simply fit the system: Gerald Green, Channing Frye, and Miles Plumlee.

Hornacek managed to lead that team to 48 wins, which beckons the question: What if the New York Knicks embrace the rise of the Phoenix?

In this scenario, Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina would be a budding Bledsoe and Dragic, and Tim Hardaway Jr. would be an upgraded version of Green. Luke Kornet could fit the Frye role as a sharpshooting big, and Kanter would be a significantly better version of Plumlee.

Whether you view this as a lineup that can work in the short-term or a preview of what could be achieved with a healthy Kristaps Porzingis, it should be utilized—heavily.

Kornet is the closest thing that New York has to a simulated version of Porzingis as a 7’0″ sharpshooter who can block shots. Thus, while the Knicks will still miss Porzingis, they can develop the system and see if it works with this roster.

It’s on Mudiay and Ntilikina to be able to get the Knicks into their sets, but that’s the entire reason they were acquired within eight months of one another.

Must Read: Top 5 2018 NBA Draft options entering the All-Star Break

Wins may be tough to come by, but the New York Knicks can make progress towards discovering an identity by embracing these lineups and rotations.

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