NY Knicks: Starting Immanuel Quickley Can Benefit Elfrid Payton

The NY Knicks find themselves in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture with a record of 20-19, currently operating at a level of success that few imagined they would obtain. A fair amount of credit is due to the surprising play of 21-year old point guard Immanuel Quickley.

The rookie is averaging 12.5 points in just 19.2 minutes per game while shooting 38% from three. Many have clamored for him to become the starting point guard, discussing the importance of his shooting alongside RJ Barrett and Julius Randle.

Barrett and Randle also average just under 9 assists per game combined, which would certainly help cover up Quickley’s lackluster playmaking.

However, starting IQ could also help incumbent point guard Elfrid Payton step up his game. Payton is averaging a solid 12.6 points per game on 43.7% shooting, but his performance has taken a drop in other areas.

NY Knicks: Making Quickley the starter could help everyone

After never finishing a season averaging less than 6.2 assists per game, Payton is dishing out just 3.7 dimes on a nightly basis this year. He’s also shooting a lowly 25% from three, and he’s essentially become an afterthought for opposing defenses when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. Moving him to the bench could help him become more effective.

Among the NY Knicks’ 2-man groupings that contain Payton, only three are currently outscoring opponents per 100 possessions. Those three all contain teammates that happen to be bench players: Taj Gibson, Obi Toppin, and Alec Burks.

Payton’s ball-dominance works better with the reserves because Gibson doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact, Toppin needs a point guard who can get him the ball while he’s attacking the basket, and Burks can space the floor as a shooter.

Payton also has a reputation as an above-average defender, which can be useful as Toppin and Burks aren’t too polished on the less glamorous end of the court. He can control the game on offense and set the tone on the opposite side as a stout point-of-attack defender.

When Mitchell Robinson returns from his absence dealing with a fractured hand, Nerlens Noel is almost certainly going to be demoted back to the bench. Payton has formed some chemistry with Noel, with the two connecting for lobs almost every night.

If Payton were to move to the bench alongside Noel, they could continue to connect on alley-oops and help improve the 27-year old guard’s assist percentages.

Moving Immanuel Quickley to the starting lineup obviously helps out the rest of the group by adding some extra shooting alongside the team’s bruising top-scoring duo. Dropping Payton to the bench has a chance to elevate the reserve group even further, providing a steady floor general who gets guys in their spots while also providing some crafty finishing of his own.