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NY Knicks: Comparing this team to the 2012-13 team

By Ken Tavarez

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 23: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) (L-R) Jason Kidd #5, Carmelo Anthony #7 and J.R. Smith #8 of the New York Knicks look on against the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2013 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Celtics 87-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 23: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) (L-R) Jason Kidd #5, Carmelo Anthony #7 and J.R. Smith #8 of the New York Knicks look on against the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2013 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Celtics 87-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Pablo Prigioni, NY Knicks. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

NY Knicks: 2021 Role players vs. 2013

Part of the reason the Knicks weren’t able to build on the success of the 2012-13 season was that they didn’t have enough good young players. The team was literally put together with scotch tape. The two rookies on the team Pablo Prigioni and Chris Copeland were 35 and 28 years old. Steve Novak was just a 3-point specialist that was approaching 30 years of age.

The only player they had under 25 was Iman Shumpert, who was 22 years old that season but was recovering from a torn ACL. As for the core players under 30; Carmelo Anthony (28), JR Smith (27), and Raymond Felton (28). Melo was the only player in that group worth investing in the long term.

New York Knicks, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin Mandatory Credit: John Minchillo/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports

This season’s Knick team is quite the opposite, it is one of the younger teams in the NBA with an average age of just under 26. Of the players in the rotation, four are under 25 years of age: Barrett (20), Quickley(21), Obi Toppin(22), and Mitchell Robinson(22). The other role players Reggie Bullock and Alec Burk who will turn 30 next season and Nerlens Noel is 27.

NY Knicks: 2021 Point guards vs. 2013

It’s no coincidence that the best season the Knicks have had this century was when Jason Kidd helped orchestrate the offense. Even at the end of his career, Kidd was the connector that made the Knicks’ offense click. His superior passing led to many open shots. It’s the reason the NY Knicks were the 3rd ranked offense per 100 possessions and shot 37.6% from beyond the arc, 4th best that season.

Part of the reason the Knicks have surpassed expectations this season is because of the acquisition of Derrick Rose, they are 19-8 with Derrick Rose. The play from the point guard position has dramatically improved as he commands more respect from the defense and makes better decisions than the starter, Elfrid Payton.

While Rose is one of the oldest players on the team, he is still a lot younger than Jason Kidd was when he joined the Knicks. Rose is 32 years old compared to Kidd who was 39. Rose still has at least 1 more season of high-level production left in him. So the Knicks have until 2022 before being forced to find a new point guard.

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