New York Knicks: David Fizdale makes another lineup change

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale made another lineup change before Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Three different starting lineups have taken the floor for the New York Knicks — four if Tim Hardaway Jr.’s one-game absence counts. Combined the groups are 4-11, tied for the NBA’s fourth-worst record.

The latest starting five of Hardaway, Emmanuel Mudiay, Kevin Knox, Noah Vonleh and Mitchell Robinson were blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 128-103. This unit shot 43 percent, and the Thunder had 37 points in the first quarter.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, head coach David Fizdale teased such thing Thursday, with the potential to “tweak some things.” That became the case before Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, Mudiay, Hardaway, Knox, Robinson and Allonzo Trier will start.

Trier started for Hardaway in the double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls when Hardaway sat and had 21 points, three rebounds and nine free throws.

Through 15 games, Trier has arguably acted as New York’s best bench player. With 11.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 47.5 percent shooting, he scored from all parts of the floor and became one of the few players who drew fouls to create free throw opportunities.

Trier’s work earned Fizdale’s confidence, which built from training camp and on, including making the roster as a two-way player and shattering those expectations.

As for this lineup, it’s a three-guard set with Hardaway and Trier as the tallest at 6-foot-5. That’s while Knox moves to the stretch four and replaces Vonleh, who goes to the bench for the first time since Oct. 24.

Vonleh averaged 7.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and nearly one block per game as the starter. He worked aside Robinson in the two-big man lineup that Fizdale attributed to slowing the team’s pace, which he wanted to be fast. The Knicks are 19th in pace at 99.0.

With Knox on the court, the Knicks have a 100.8 pace, per Basketball-Reference. With Vonleh, they have a 95.8 pace.

Of course, the rookie forward has struggled shooting, at 32.5 percent and 34.5 percent behind the arc. Will this shift make a difference?

However, there’s at least a threat of Hardaway, Trier and Knox to score on mid-range and three-point shots. It should space the floor more while Robinson patrols the paint.

The Knicks will debut this latest lineup against New Orleans at 8:00 p.m. ET. How long this variation lasts remains to be seen.