How the New York Knicks can unlock their offense.
Start spreading the news! As this is being written, the New York Knicks are currently on a 3-game winning streak with a very winnable matchup against the Sacramento Kings — Fingers crossed they pull this one out too.
After crushing the Boston Celtics by 30 points and just nearly beating the Orlando Magic after a huge 4th quarter bounce-back effort, the Knicks managed to parlay a very up-and-down first half into a huge win in dominant fashion, beating the Warriors on the road by 15 points.
It seems the Knicks are starting to adjust to the zone defenses that have plagued them during their 5-game losing skid. Throughout their losses, the Knicks have maintained their elite-level defense, and leading the league in several defensive categories.
The major differences between their recent wins and losses have been the emergence of RJ Barrett’s near All-Star level of play and improved 3-point scoring. Over the Knicks’ 5 straight losses, they shot just 32% combined from deep. They also shot poorly against the Magic at a measly 18.5% from 3-point range, but managed to pull off the win with their defense, exclusively. The Knicks shot a whopping 39% and 46% as a team against the Celtics and Warriors, respectively, which has helped them tremendously during their current streak.
Through the last 3 games, RJ Barrett is currently averaging 23 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4 assists. He’s doing so while hitting 17 of his 20 free throw attempts which equates to 85% — a massive improvement over his 61% from his rookie season. What’s most remarkable is that he’s hitting 53% of his shots over the last 3 games, compared to his season’s average of just under 41%, and is shooting 40% from deep over his last 3 contests as opposed to 23% for the year.
This leads me to why I believe the Knicks truly need an upgrade at the point guard position, as it will help unlock the offense even more so. Elfird Payton may best defender and rebounder we have at the 1-spot while scoring a career-high 13.3 points per game, but I feel we can get similar production from other players that would better facilitate the offense.
Here are 3 ways the Knicks can upgrade at the point guard spot and help unlock the offense’s true potential.
1) Hand Quickley the keys to the offense
The time is now. I’ve seen enough of what Elfid Payton is capable of as the starter. Immanuel Quickley has shown flashes of greatness this season and I think if the training wheels were taken off, he could elevate this offense to new heights it has yet to see this year.
Sure, we lose a bit on the defensive side of the ball, but we gain a player that might already be a better finisher at the rim, has an incredible floater, and defenses must respect on the perimeter. I am tired of seeing Payton standing behind the 3-point line while the closest defender is standing 12 feet away from him. In 2021, a player shouldn’t be in the starting lineup if they only shoot 30% from deep unless they are an elite-level finisher at the rim or plays center. I think Elfrid Payton would maybe become even more valuable if the Knicks allowed him to work against 2nd unit players.
While Quickley did have a subpar performance against the Warriors, it was largely due in part to playing less than 11 minutes, as Coach Thibodeau chose to keep Payton on the court in favor of Quickley for over 37 minutes to keep the better defender of the two on Steph Curry. Before the Warriors game, Immanuel Quickley went berserk for 4 straight games in somewhat limited minutes, averaging 17.5 points and just under 4.5 assists per game.
The Knicks should look to surround their star players in Julius Randle and RJ Barrett with as much shooting as possible if they plan on staying in the playoff race. Making the switch between Payton and Quickley should be a no-brainer come the midway point of the season as long as IQ continues to prove that he belongs in the starting five.
2) Make a trade
Seeing how I’ve become the self-proclaimed internet GM of the Knicks, it only makes sense to discuss the idea of them trading for a point guard before the deadline to help improve the team. While I would love to see Immanuel Quickley one day become New York’s starting point guard, I do feel that he projects as more of a Lou Williams, 6th man, or off-ball guard more so than the primary ball-handler. That said, acquiring a point guard via trade before might just be the way to go.
The Knicks could go in a number of directions in the trade market. They could possibly look to reunite a guy like Ricky Rubio with his former head coach Tom Thibodeau, make a little splash by bringing Big Baller Brand and Lonzo Ball to the Big Apple, or they could potentially look to make a huge blockbuster deal and acquire a star such as Kemba Walker or a longshot in Ben Simmons.
I’d personally lean more towards making a much smaller splash in acquiring a Rubio or Lonzo, this way the Knicks keep the rebuild alive and don’t make the same mistakes they’ve been making for the past two decades.
The fact remains that an upgrade at point guard is a necessity, either this season or next. Once we missed out on LaMelo Ball in the 2020 draft, it further solidified this point. Right now, I think the Knicks’ front office should try to consolidate the talent on what is starting to look like a pretty deep roster into one player who can run the offense and fits both the Knicks’ offensive and defensive schemes.
I, for one, believe that bringing in Lonzo via trade as opposed to presenting him an offer sheet this upcoming offseason would be the best move for the Knicks, as once he’s in the building, he may agree to sign a bit of a sweetheart deal come free agency.
3) Let RJ run the point
The least likely of the 3 options, but by far my favorite. I’m going to run this idea into the ground until it happens. Nothing would make me happier than one day being able to watch RJ shoot around 35% from deep, surrounding him with three more competent shooters, and letting RJ be the main facilitator on offense.
This would allow RJ to play like an undersized Giannis with a jumper, and that would just be so much fun to watch. His slashing ability combined with a league-average 3-point shot would make RJ one of the more dangerous weapons in the NBA. Pair that with allowing him to attack the rim with good spacing to kick it out to a number of different knockdown shooters would make the Knicks a force to be reckoned with for the next decade.
Let’s say Thibs decided to let RJ Barrett play the point this season — this would obviously relegate Elfrid Payton to the bench and bring Immanuel Quickley into the starting lineup.
Quickley would play more of an off-ball role at the 2-spot and be a secondary ball-handler alongside Julius Randle. The Knicks could keep Bullock at the 3-spot for his defense, but seeing how his deep range shooting has been a bit streaky, Thibs may opt to put a better shooter in his place such as Alec Burks or Kevin Knox.
Those two moves, along with Julius Randle’s much-improved shooting this season, would surround RJ with just enough spacing for this concept to work out. Barrett averaged just shy of 5 assists per game in college, so we know the Knicks could look to run an offense through him as he gets older and his basketball I.Q. increases.
In my opinion, trial by fire would be the way to go so tossing RJ to the wolves sooner than later may just be what Thibs decides to do.