3 Reasons why the New York Knicks should MOSTLY run it back

Knicks: Keepings the Bigs in the Big Apple

Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson have both outperformed expectations, especially after starting center Mitchell Robinson went down with a fractured foot.

While he doesn’t provide the same lob threat or offensive rebounding expertise that Robinson does, Noel certainly makes up for it with his defense. The 27-year old ranks 4th in the league with 2.2 blocks per game, averaging fewer minutes than every player above him.

He is completely erasing shots at the rim on a nightly basis, coming up with huge blocks to stall momentum for opponents.

He may be expensive to retain, but the payoff would be enormous as the Knicks would continue to have 48 minutes of elite rim protection when both Noel and Robinson are healthy.

As for Taj Gibson, he might not have many suitors in free agency but New York should look to retain him all the same. The hometown kid isn’t a kid any longer, as the 35-year old’s NBA career is winding down.

It hasn’t looked like it on the court, though. Gibson has replaced Noel as the team’s backup center and has looked terrific, proving a huge boost in the limited minutes that he plays.

He’s averaging just 5.1 points per game but shooting 60.9% from the field, the highest mark of his 12-year NBA career. However, his impact goes beyond scoring.

Gibson has always been excellent at setting screens, which is an area where Robinson and Noel can sometimes struggle. He currently ranks 19th in the entire league with 3.6 screen assists per game.

The veteran big has also been a positive influence on Obi Toppin, helping to guide the rookie through his first NBA season.