Why the New York Knicks can make the playoffs and thrive

The Knicks’ roster has a variety of roles

This Knicks team has something that is essential for any playoff team: The roles within the rotation. Some fans may not be 100% happy with the rotations every night, but it’s clear that the players themselves know their responsibilities for the team.

The starting unit is an all-out defensive blitz. The healthy starting five of Payton, Bullock, Barrett, Randle, and Robinson is full of physically strong players. They set the tone for the entire game.

Has the starting lineup had woes on offense? Absolutely, but again, they are the ones who establish the flow of the game that the Knicks want to set. They want to come out from the opening tip and let people know that this is the best defense in the league.

Then, the Knicks bench comes in, and it’s an entirely different game. The backcourt tandem of Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley is a drastic change from the starters and it’s a nightmare to gameplan against. Opponents have to worry about keeping up with the speed and shooting of the Knicks’ 2nd unit – A dramatic shift from the gameplan for the Knicks’ starters.

You have two completely different players – A veteran in Rose and a prolific rookie in Immanuel Quickley, who have thrived in their roles as bench scorers.

Then there are the franchise players. Julius Randle has completely transformed his game. His awareness on the court has taken a huge leap from just last season, and he’s become both the facilitator and scorer that the team can run the offense through. Immanuel Quickley called Randle “A role model, someone to look up to. ”

The Knicks’ most prized prospect, RJ Barrett, has very much been the Robin to Randle’s Batman. He may not be the leading scorer every night, but he’s taken some big steps in his game and is a significant part of the team’s success. There is zero selfishness on this team, and the commitment to winning as a group is paramount for playoff success.