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Knicks: 4 potential starting lineups for the 2020-21 season

By Brad Dressler

Jan 6, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau calls a play during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau calls a play during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina (11) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards guard Shabazz Napier (5) in the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Possible Knicks starting lineup: Frank Ntilikina, RJ Barrett, Alec Burks, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson

This one is for all my Frank lovers/cult followers, as well as my personal favorite lineup. Although Frank would be penciled in as the starting point guard, his ball-handling duties would take a backseat to both RJ Barrett and Alec Burks.

This squad would allow RJ to become the primary facilitator on offense and would surround him with enough spacing to become the slasher he was from back in his Duke days.

Obi would serve as both an offensive powerhouse down low, and maybe the best 3-point shooter on the floor if his college success translates to the NBA level.

Frank has proven again and again that he’s more than capable of locking down the best offensive weapon the opposing team has to offer, while Burks would guard the second-best scoring option at the 1 through 3 positions.

Mitch would act as a poor man’s Rudy Gobert in a defensive anchor type of role, allowing him to improve on the ridiculous 2 blocks per game he was able to muster up in somewhat limited minutes last season. With Obi and Mitch running the paint, I can’t help but be reminded of the Blake Griffin-Deandre Jordan Lob City days………BOY, would that do wonders for the Mecca!

Furthermore, this lineup allows Julius Randle to return to a role I believe he’s best suited in, as the 6th man, dominant scoring option off the bench, similar to his days as a Pelican. It might be difficult to convince your highest-paid player to lead the second unit, but if Julius agrees, the Knicks might manage to win ourselves more than 25 games this season.

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