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.
5. A Potential Second Unit
PG: Emmanuel Mudiay
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Troy Williams
PF: Isaiah Hicks
C: Kyle O’Quinn
The New York Knicks need a second unit that can both create efficient offense and defend at a respectable level. There are various combinations that could achieve that feat, but this unit would provide the Knicks with a sustainable formula for success.
With a playmaker at point guard, a pair of two-way wings, an athletic 4, and a defensive-minded center, the Knicks would have quality balance.
Emmanuel Mudiay is a capable facilitator and slasher, and O’Quinn is one of the better passing big men in the NBA. Thus, the Knicks could combine an up-tempo pick and roll offense with the ability to slow the game down and create from the high post.
Hicks is a solid athlete at the 4, Williams is an explosive athlete at the 3, and Courtney Lee is more than sufficient with his speed and agility.
Beyond the physical tools, Lee would give the Knicks an efficient three-point shooter and Williams would give the team a rim-running wing. If Mudiay validates his emergence as a high-level playmaker, he could lead this unit.
It may or may not work out for the best, but the Knicks would at least be able to explore the potential of the players on the roster.
4. Embracing Michigan
PG: Trey Burke
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF: Troy Williams
C: Enes Kanter
Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. experienced resounding success at the collegiate level. As teammates on the Michigan Wolverines, both members of that star duo were named All-Big Ten and led the blue and maize to the 2013 National Championship Game.
With this lineup, head coach Jeff Hornacek would essentially be recreating the environment at Michigan with a unit that emulates what John Beilein put on the court.
With Burke and Hardaway leading the perimeter, the foundation would already be in place for a return to glory. Courtney Lee can be a two-way version of Nik Stauskas, while Troy Williams can be the small-ball 4 in the same manner as Glenn Robinson III.
Enes Kanter would essentially be a (significantly) better Jordan Morgan or Mitch McGary in the sense that he can dominate the low post and crash the boards at a high level.
There’s an admittedly questionable chance of the Knicks experiencing sustainable success with this lineup. Developing Burke and Hardaway should be a top priority over the next few weeks, however, and recreating a familiar environment could help.
If nothing else, this lineup would explore how fast the Knicks can realistically play with the roster that’s been given to head coach Jeff Hornacek.
3. All-Out Defense + A Facilitator
G: Trey Burke
G: Frank Ntilikina
SF: Troy Williams
PF: Lance Thomas
C: Kyle O’Quinn
Trey Burke has earned hype as a potential starter, but there’s no denying that his game is perfect for the role of a sixth man. He’s instant offense as a scorer and facilitator, and is at his best when he can focus all of his energy on creating.
With Frank Ntilikina, Troy Williams, Lance Thomas, and Kyle O’Quinn at his side, Burke could be the offensive spark for a defensive-minded unit.
This group has only shared the court for 48 possessions, but it’s played exceptionally well during that time. It outscored opponents by a margin of 8.3 points per 100 possessions, with ideal production on both ends of the floor.
For perspective, the Knicks outscored opponents by 7.5 points per 100 possessions on 40 possessions with this exact group, except Isaiah Hicks in for Thomas.
Thus, it stands to reason that the four-man lineup of Burke-Ntilikina-Williams-O’Quinn is one to continue utilizing. The only exception to that group’s success was its brief run with Michael Beasley, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
With an offensive-minded player in Burke leading a defensive-minded group of contributors, the Knicks may have found a second unit that could work long-term.
2. A Simulated Starting Lineup
PG: Frank Ntilikina
SG: Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF: Troy Williams
PF: Luke Kornet
C: Enes Kanter
In this scenario, the New York Knicks would essentially be simulating the scenario they’re preparing for. Frank Ntilikina was drafted as the point guard of the future and Tim Hardaway Jr. was signed to fill the 2-spot.
With the Knicks looking to acquire an athletic 3 and bring Kristaps Porzingis back at power forward, the team can simulate the starting lineup here.
Enes Kanter at center is a question mark, as the Knicks could draft a player at his position to provide superior two-way value. Luke Kornet clearly isn’t Porzingis, but he’s as close as the Knicks are going to come in the sense that he’s a 7’0″ sharpshooter who blocks shots.
Thus, the Knicks add athletic wing Troy Williams to a frontcourt that could at least stylistically emulate what the team is attempting to build and develop.
In the backcourt, Ntilikina would be tasked with filling the point guard role and Hardaway would be at his true position. Considering the Knicks are eyeing small forwards in the 2018 NBA Draft, it stands to reason that both players will soon be tasked with making that transition.
There are certainly question marks here, but this is as close to what the Knicks are building towards as the current roster can emulate.
1. New-Look Starting Lineup
G: Trey Burke
G: Frank Ntilikina
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF: Luke Kornet
C: Enes Kanter
Trey Burke has made it difficult to slot Frank Ntilikina in as the starting point guard of the future. Thankfully, the fact that Ntilikina looks so comfortable in an off-ball role certainly supports the belief that he could play the 2.
The question mark is if Tim Hardaway Jr. can thrive long-term at small forward, but this simulation of a starting lineup could provide some early answers.
With Burke, Ntilikina, and Hardaway in the backcourt, the Knicks would have three potential long-term assets developing alongside one another. Burke and Ntilikina can thrive in combo guard roles, which fits them due to the fact that both are capable of creating with and without the ball.
Hardaway’s defense as an undersized 3 will be the major question mark, but the Knicks could at least explore how well he’d play with the core players.
As previously established, Enes Kanter could walk in free agency or be replaced in the NBA Draft, but there’s a good chance that he re-signs. Luke Kornet won’t do everything that Kristaps Porzingis does, but he’s a 7’0″ sharpshooter who can protect the rim.
There’s no way to truly simulate Porzingis’ value, but this can give the Knicks a basic preview of what can be achieved with this unit.