New York Knicks fans are buzzing about Trey Burke’s play as of late, but would his style of play fit better coming off the bench?
For most NBA players, a starting position means a great deal. There’s something rewarding about being on the court when the ball tips-off, as well as the feeling that the coach has confidence in one’s abilities.
Despite the pride that comes with it, starting also comes with its share of burdens. Being a starter means playing a starter’s minutes, which means strengths will be highlighted and weaknesses exposed.
It would benefit both the player and the team if every starter had a well-rounded game with few weaknesses to exploit. Otherwise, it makes them difficult to play in certain situations that would highlight their flaws.
Coming off the bench is different. Coaches are able to maximize a player’s talents despite their flaws by inserting them into the games at the right times.
With fewer minutes, their flaws aren’t as noticeable and their strengths are put to good use.
As a midseason signing, Trey Burke has been a great surprise for the New York Knicks this season. Averaging 12.4 points and 4.1 assists per game, Burke has done a tremendous job of providing the Knicks with a jolt of energy in the 30 games he’s appeared in.
While plenty of fans have been pleading for the Knicks to give Burke the starting job over Frank Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay, his game seems better suited for coming off the pine.
At just 6’1″ and 191 pounds, Burke simply doesn’t have the size needed to defend the point guards of today’s game. Players like Russell Westbrook and John Wall would have size and strength advantages, which would only make Burke’s offense suffer.
Outside of Michael Beasley, the Knicks don’t really have any scoring options off the bench. Both Kyle O’Quinn and Lance Thomas play off others, while Troy Williams hasn’t yet proven that he can consistently create shots for himself.
Bringing Burke off the bench would allow him to focus on what he does best: Scoring and facilitating.
He would be able to run the second unit as he’d like, without having to worry as much about the other side of the ball. His matchups would be easier to score on as well as defend.
Plus, assuming he comes back next season, Burke wouldn’t have too many opportunities as a starter. The offense obviously runs through Kristaps Porzingis, while Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter need touches to be productive. This doesn’t leave much room for Burke.
However, coming off the bench allows Burke to focus on playing off instinct instead of worrying about the shot totals of his teammates.
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Trey Burke has definitely earned a spot with the New York Knicks, but if the team wants to maximize his talents, they may want to think about minimizing his weaknesses.