NY Knicks: Predicting the starting lineup as camp opens

Predicting the Knicks’ starting small forward: RJ Barrett

You can’t sketch out a starting lineup for the Knicks without RJ Barrett, so the only question is whether you start him at guard or along the wing.

As you will see on the next slide, I think the best options to start next to RJ are better suited for the guard position. Barrett has the size and length to match-up against bigger wings. And he should gain an advantage on offense when defended by slower forwards.

Barrett has shown a willingness to want to create for his teammates, but improper spacing has made it difficult for his unselfish play to turn into efficient scoring opportunities.

Last season, he ranked in the 93rd percentile for passing aggressiveness, a statistic created by BBall-Index to measure the propensity for players to pursue high-risk assists. Part of that can be viewed as a negative – Barrett had a lot of bad turnovers trying to force a pass that wasn’t there – but it wouldn’t be fair to only focus on the negative without recognizing his intent to involve his teammates.

With better players around him, who complement his offensive abilities and operate in a structured system, which Thibodeau will implement, those aggressive passes will turn into more scoring opportunities for the Knicks.

Expect Barrett to be the starting small forward on opening night.