New York Knicks: Five lineups to explore during closing weeks of 2017-18

The New York Knicks have seven games remaining on the schedule. What type of lineups should head coach Jeff Hornacek explore during that time?

The New York Knicks are nearing the end of a season that’s been as devastating as it’s been rewarding. The franchise player has been lost to a season-ending injury and the postseason has become an afterthought for a fifth consecutive season.

Thankfully, there’s still an opportunity for the Knicks to make the most of the 2017-18 campaign and build towards a brighter future.

Without Porzingis, anything New York does will need to be taken with a grain of salt. The system will be built around Porzingis on both ends of the floor, meaning the best the organization can do is attempt to emulate his presence.

Thankfully, there are five lineups that head coach Jeff Hornacek can utilize to prepare his players for the roles that they’ll be spending the offseason preparing for.

In some scenarios, the Knicks would be crafting a second unit that can best support the starting lineup. In others, Hornacek would be attempting to build a starting lineup that would provide the players with an opportunity to prove their long-term value.

There’s a limited number of games remaining, but the New York Knicks can make the most of this opportunity to explore the players’ individual and collective potential.